Thread: Need help straightening van floor

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I can understand the "cheap" thing but you will probably do more damage to the van by beating and tugging on it with jury rigged equipment then a nice slow pull on a frame machine. The thing is, the frame machine will hold the van as it is pulling out the dent. There is a lot to be said for that. If there is no structural damage it should go pretty easy and quick.
Another point to think about is, if there is no strutural damage, just cut it out and put in a new piece. Why go to all the work of straightening if you can simply replace the panel.

Thanks for asking about Bad Ast... I haven't been working on it. I lost my job (it was good job) in early December due to another company buy-out/cleaning house of our engineering and design division. I have been doing other things, working on customer projects and trying to find a new job since then. No time to play now. I'll get back on it though, I have hooked up with a fellow from California and we are in the process of setting up/starting a muscle car design and build company. We have a long way to go but it is really falling into place so hopefully, in a year or so, I won't need to work for someone else...
Mark

Cutting out the donor section was my original intent. I'm trying to get as many ideas of what to do as possible. I'm getting my donor van (94 Cargo straight body bad drivetrain) from work. We are relocating our office and they want it gone. Problem is they cant find the title. And I want a window van because my daughter has been sitting sideways looking out the driver's window of my wife's extended cab S-10. Its time she has a panoramic view on long trips.

When I'm done with robbing parts of off the Cargo van I want to put in a Big Block Chevy. My idea is to mount the motor trans and rear to seperate frame that will fit into the frame rails of the Astro. The new sub frame will pivot at the front and have coil overs at the rear. But that project will happen after my GMC's airride is where I wnat it and my F-100 is on the road.

This van (the 88) will be lowered a little and get a V8.

Thanks for the help

Lon

Some other pictures. Front damage and drivers side.

Yea, not bad in the front. A new bumper, closeout panel, fender and grille and you'll be good to go. I did the same a few years ago with an '89. Bought it wrecked for cheap and put 400 dollars worth of junk yard parts on it. Drove it for a few years after putting a 350 in it and then sold it for a grand... It didn't owe me a dime when I got rid of it...
Mark