Thanks Lee at least i know it will be done right : )

And it's a 97 Shorty Roof skin , fits awesome i was a bit worried it wouldn't work .

wow that is looking amazing, I am very impressed so far

Looking awesome! were you sitting in the van making motor sounds like a little kid? vroom vroom.

What is really impressive about this build.Joe is not really a welder fabricator by profession.He is how ever a vanner who has a dream about what he wants to see in a van build.He has a good friend helping him who has done a few very nice builds him self.
This is a true back yard project.Back yard is not meant in a bad way.The work that is being done in this back yard rivals allot of work that has been done in so called professional shops.
I like to use the saying "can't means won't".
Joe is a very good example of a vanner who has not said I can't in this build.Instead he has figured out How to solve what ever problem he has came up against.....

I really hope this thread and this build inspires other vanners to step out of there comfort zone and take on a project that they really want to do...

........Wookee

Well said my friend, well said...

Looking good.

I've read the whole post and all I can say is AWESOME. Not just the way the van looks [and it looks very awesome BTW] but friends helping friends build it, sharing their passion and experience. That makes it awesome if nothing else. I miss the old days of building stuff with friends and the fun we had doing it.

ENJOY and thank you for sharing!

well said joe

I have to admit when I first saw what you were going to do with the van I cringed. I am one that lives in a sort of comfort zone and believe certain things should stay the way they were built. I have a ’40 Plymouth and a ’38 Chrysler all done original down to the tires they wear. Now my van it is being changed, but only bolt on and no sheet metal or structural changes.

Until now!! That van you are building is turning out so coooool that I might step out, only baby steps at first like put a gull wing side door and go from there. Nothing to rad. I would have like to have seen your van going back to original, but I rather see what you are doing to it now then see it rust away and be sent to the wrecking yard. Too many vans are heading that way. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see it finished.
Richard