Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

So, as we have all seen, OldFatGuy made a really sweet track day hauler from the red molester van. Went to a track day with him in June and was so impressed with his setup, I'm basically doing the same thing, but with a conversion van rather than a cargo van.
So, I've been shopping around for several weeks looking for a cargo van like oldfatguy's, but had no luck. They were either really new and expensive, or old and still way more $$$ than they are worth. Seriously. Oldfatguy got super lucky with finding and winning the bid on his - it's sweet, trust me!
I finally found a 1995 GMC Vandura 2500 (3/4 ton) with the Gulf Stream conversion. Test drove it and it seemed ok. One problem is the driver and passenger windows don't work, since they're power. Will look into that and fix soon, not a big deal.Another problem is the rear end is making a noise like possibly a bad axle bearing, but once again, I really don't care. It is what it is. Asking price was $2,300 and I offered $1,500 and it was a done deal. It's actually quite nice for the price and everything else works great. Lights all over the place, TV/VCR, captain's chairs etc... I may leave one of the chairs in back, but undecided.
Anyway, will post the process as I go along like Duane did last year. Here's some pics as is:

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Here's the pics... http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/a...anoutside2.jpg

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Looks like it'll work great. Good luck...

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

woot ya got party lites up in that beast

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

dude that is gonna make one sweet a$$ pimped track day hauler. all you need now is a couple of umbrella girls;)
heck, you can even sleep in that thing the night before at the track, watch movies, the whole deal.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Yeah, it's a regular pimp mobile. My camera decided to take a dump, so I'll have to get more pics later.
So far I've changed the oil, flushed the cooling system and put in the recommended dexcool. I've also tinted the rear door windows, side door windows and driver/passenger windows. Picked up a ramp today and have that fitted. Will be doing more mods to the ramp so I don't put my foot through the slots. Only things to go are to yank the seats and mount a chock, or two.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Here's the ramp I bought. Got the same one as oldfatguy from harbor freight for $79 on sale, so the price was certainly right. His worked quite well on his chevrolet, so it'll work good on my gmc since it's practically the same. I added the 3/8" plywood so it'll give the wheels an easier transition and also so my foot doesn't get stuck in between the rungs. I then coated it with a wood polyurethane to waterproof it. Then I added the 3M grip tape for extra traction.
For traction, I also hear of people painting the surface, then sprinkiling on play sand while the paint is wet. Then the sand sticks to the dried paint.

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/5B76EC1740F74544BCA2C223A7F3C17B.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/A6975D6383C942FFB988F135F0901133.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/AD2C50CF3CB64A3091946FC9D6A46EC4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/97BE50614108424DB470D7618B1B1AFE.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

its the new trend, i want one!!! keep us posted

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

I'm a trend setter.... what can I say! :D:D:D

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Hahaha, these are awesome.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

So, today was the start of the tear down for "remodeling". Pulled out the rear section that used to hold the speakers and rear AC vents. It was located near the rear doors, up on the ceiling. I would have left it as it was, but I had no clearance to pull the bike in. Also yanked out the rear bench/bed. That was a huge pain, more than I thought it would be. All bolts that held the seat to the mounting subframe were hard to get too. After pulling that out, I had a hell of a time pulling out the rear seat subframe itself. Had to crawl under the van and unbolt it that way with the impact. All bolts there were rusted and seized. Good news is that I don't think I'll have to add any hardware for the ratchet straps to secure to. I should be able to use the seat mounting points, or the seatbelt mounting points. The front captain's chairs are easy to take out, they're quick release. I think I'll leave one in if I can.
There are also pics of my new lawn furniture. It was my thinking chair for the day. You'll notice the end table near by. Then I moved it all inside the garage and set up a nice ensemble. You'll be quick to notice that my subtle use of tones and colors really pulls the room together. It gives it that "lived in feel".
Tomorrow when my chock arrives in the mail, I'll bolt that in somehow. I also have to replace the front brakes tomorrow too. The old ones are shot. Starting to squeal and the pedal is extra spongy.

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/F29943082AF24D509BFFBA55B845B017.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/E7D5C781394F4C0F8052A7DCC9A85A4E.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/C667350C110141CEBD37C6A13C1FEC64.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

make sure you keep this thread updated,the more I see of your project the more I wanna do this...

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Well, it's all done. Since these pics were taken, I cleaned up my mess inside there. What I didn't take a pic of, and will do later, are the shackles that are mounted to the former rear seat location. Then the ratchet straps go through those. The canyon dancer is strapped to the passenger side seat plate and the other side is secured to the driver's side rear seatbelt location with another shackle...will take pics soon.
To secure the ramp when folded inside, I used lag eye bolts and went right into the interior wood trim. It's thick wood, maybe 3/4" to 1" so the lag eye bolts hold in very well. I also did the same to secure a tool box and some other miscellaneous crap.
To secure the ramp to the van before ride up/down, I used the 1/4" pins that hold the hinges on the door. I just drilled a 3/8" hole through the ramp tangs and directly into the body of the van, near the bumper. These aren't structural, but just keep the ramp from comming out of location. Oldfatguy did the same, so I swiped the idea from him.
The only real thing I have to take care of is welding two bars to the chock, in the up/down position to give it more strength and keep from flexing so much. Going over to a friends this weekend with a sweet welding setup. I drove it around today, and noticed that while braking to a stop the chock gives a little with the weight of the bike up against it. I should have ordered a chock with the bars already on, but I cheaped out on that.
Here's the pics

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/B4349B2B847540C9A7D81B775E764B43.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/37A4DBA243CD463F96D7F21066B7C5FD.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/CB6839A306DD4671B6156F1465D6A8FA.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

and a few more...

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/F2929E31950041C9BD05505DBA29E1D6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4409/D42A1BF4C9EF4D04A8B195FF54ACED4C.jpg[/IMG]

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Very nice!!! Looks like it wasn't that bad to complete. Great pics.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Awesome!! I had a similar idea with a short bus (The ones with the hydrolic lift). Looks good! You should back the bike in so you can ride it out in style. Everybody would be like, "DAAMMNN!"

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

that is cool as hell, I love it. Nice work!!

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

looks like it would be kinda close to the roof while you are loading it,do you have any problems riding it in there???

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Oh man... that is hella sweet.:D That gives me all kinds of idea's for my "winter ride" that I'll get here at some point. Very nicely done!

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Not too bad at all. It's close, but if you go into full tuck you can easily clear it.

As an update, I just got done changing out the rear axle bearings. The passenger side was totally shot and the bearing rollers had some flat spots on them. Also wore a grove into the axle on that one. Had the whole rear end torn apart...dropped the spider gears into the rubbermaid tub full of GL5 gear oil about 7 times. After lots of cursing general motors, all is well and no more bearing rumble! Will post pics of that too.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

This is a nice van and all that dwhite has.... but seriously, no one can even begin to think that it competes with my beauty!:D:D



Attachment 80897

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

There's no doubt here! One of these days we'll have to drag race 'em for bragging rights.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Where did you guys get you Wheel Chocks from?

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

I got mine from Dennis Kirk, it was something like $25-30 shipped. Important note, if you or anyone else gets a wheel chock, make sure it's the kind with the vertical braces running up/down on the sides of the chock. I had to add some braces myself because the with the bike all strapped down, it would flex the chock a lot under braking of the van. It bounced around, but only up/down. It didn't come loose or anything, but was flexing more than I liked.

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

Very nice job on the conversion to the conversion van. Sweet idea.

Have you guys seen those European style cargo vans... the ones with the super tall roof/ceiling? Those are sweet.. everytime i see one it makes me want it.
http://www.alfarent.com/index.php?id=22&L=1

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

great work!!

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

underneath the first old fat guy it says.... "GVW 12000lbs"

looks like you got four of those fat guys in there, are you ok as far as the weight is concerned?

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

lol what's up with fat guy anyway?

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

You mean like a Dodge Sprinter?

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/sprinter_1.jpg

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/sprinter_2.jpg

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/sprinter_3.jpg

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

finally i have been searching and searching for a good deal on a van and i found a dodge 3/4 ton with a 318 in it with 85,000 miles... motor is sound trans is perfect and it starts right away...but get this... the guy doesnt know how to do brakes and the rear brakes are shot and he doesnt want to stick money into it so i got it for 175.00 and he is dropping it off!!!!!!! i am going to put a false floor in the rear though for water to run off because i am also going to haul the snowmobile and the 2 4-wheelers with it along with mine and the fiances bike.. i already have the chocks and the ramp from my trailer so that i am set...

i just sold one of my trailers for 200.00 and i am putting the other up for sale for 250.00 so i am actually going to make money off the deal even after the brakes and registration...

RE: Another Track Day Hauler...part 2
 

wow no ones posted in here for ever but these things are awesome. ne ways old fat guy did you buy ur truck from the company that was on the side? cuz ik that were i used to work in ohio we had vans like that for next to nothing....im talkin 150 bucs for some. just the old ones that we didnt want ne more. if u check alot of buisness that have trucks and vans like alot of tyco fire protection (who i worked for) they are always getting rid of vehicles... maybe this will help those guys looking to make one of these them selves. i actually prolly might when i get back from my next deployment! ill keep up dated.

can someone please rehost the pics? I'd dying to see this thing!