Thread: 1985 Astro V8 "Ole Yellar" Project Van

Tweet

Corner gussets won't do much, the big problem is the door openings at the jambs on top!!! They need very good support, if the jambs move and you don't catch it and straighten them, you'll have a van full of grief forever!!! Don't know that a halo would do much, good bracing with a few X's for added strength would be better. Bracing is more to do with the correct structure then anything else.

Dave I looked again at the(yellow) shop van.Only the one rear door is not lining up.All the rest of the body lines are ok as well as the other doors.Beginning to think it is the hinges on that one door.There is a fair amount of play.Still want to play it safe.I think I know what you are talking about with a x'ed in braces.We will do that as a safety measure.I can also leave the roof bows in place until the high top is attached.I'll get up some pics as we go along.

Thanks.

Here I am showing a example of a pipe lift on the sub frame that is a 4" lift.You can see where it is welded to the sub frame mounts and the stock rubber mounts then are slipped into the pipes by opening the stock frame mount holes so you can use the stock normal length bolts.Mine will be only 3"s.



This makes working on a V8 conversion very easy and allows for a bigger tire.