Excited to be here :)

[Maverick]

Yes Sammy, it's fairly solid. Haven't gone over it with a looking glass yet but the only rust seems to be what I see as just beginning in the gutters and that is mostly surface looking rust I think.

[erics8]

Sweet van, looks a good base to start from 

[rumax]

Good choice for your first restoration, Maverick as options are only limited by your ideas.
Hope you know how to mig weld, cos once you start, you and your mig will be best friends for a while.   
You will know what I mean once you check out the "surface rust"

In fantasy land, I would have a V8 commodore EFI motor & 4 speed auto, 3.5:1 diff, upgraded brakes and standard wheels.
It would look stock, but go like hell. 

[Maverick]

howdy erics8 - thanks; and rumax cheers, am ok with most weld techniques but the light sheet metal will keep me on my toes! and yeh like the engine config you suggest but need to look at the whole project and see if that's in the budget from the beginning.

this link is to my gallery that shows the van inside and out, boy howdy I'll be happy when it looks different 

http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=8&g2_itemId=46701

[wendyh]

hey Welcome Maverick!
yeah  another slider....great for summer...but brrrrrr in winter LOL
anyway have fun and enjoy ur beddy 

[Warren]

Welcome Maverick.

Yep looks like a pretty good start to your project

Warren

[Maverick]

Thanks for the welcoming comments again , I love this site for what it offers to all Beddy lovers.

For me to start some little jobs and work out the running gear set up i have 3 queries I'd like to put forward for advice and welcome suggestions or comments.

1. getting the front right guard that is reasonably dented back into shape, what is usually the better way to go? panel beating repairs (I have done some  but not this level of repair) or find a donor part to cut and replace. If the cut and replace is the result that will require me just to start shopping on line etc as I guess there is no equivalent of rare spares for us?

2. items like door rubbers/seals is there a supplier in Oz for these sort of items or importing from somewhere or an after market option that is know to work well?

3. the biggie, what experiences are there with the 173 engine and 3 speed manual - this project isn't good enough to be on the road for me to find out yet. Is it thought of as a good enough machine? or If i'm after best power and dive line combinations without the need for engineering certification what is some of the better options?

I have read some articles in the technical section and haven't quiet worked out what I'd like to do 

[BusyKiwi]

The dent needs to be pulled out the same way it went in, even if you replace the guard you still want to knock it out first to help stop stretching. Work from the arch first, weld a tag on the edge and with a slide hammer (or chain and wheel rim or whatever) work your way along the arch until it's back to where it should be, don't worry about the top dents (if they don't pop out doing the guard) until after.
If you knock out the top dents first you could actually make it harder for the arch to come out.

If you don't have a slide hammer or welder, use a hunk of steel (round the corners and edge so as to not cut the steel) or lump of wood and try knock out from the hole in the inner guard, remember to knock the arch out first.

[rumax]

BusyKiwi is right about the bodywork.

Rubber kits are available from rare spares- but others do them as well- my kit is just over $600, but includes a new $120 steering coupling.

Engine... personally, I think it's all about the gearing as CF's are too low- look at your diff/tyre combination. 202's are a dime a dozen and would be my first choice if the engine needs changing. And I deliberately say if..... I'm not sure re your states engineering rules, but by keeping it (relatively) standard, you will have less hassles and a red 6 will bolt straight in. Blues & blacks need changes to the engine cover and a slight floor cut, as the inlet manifold is wider. Gearboxes 3/4/5 speed manual or auto 3/4 speed are all options that have been done before.

I have a 186/trimatic & 3.5 diff. That gives me 2700 RPM @ 100K… and I think that is high, but better than the 3600 with the old (4.454) diff. If I could get away with it, I would put a 4 speed auto commodore box, but that mod won’t give me historic rego.

[Dano]

I remember when I started my custom van, I had a plan, a 4 week plan ... many years later and I'm still going - without a plan lol

LMFAO.......Yep...... I should have grabbed a $1 off of everyone who has said "finished that van yet?"......I'd be sitting pretty now!!!  .. BUGA.

Twas the Christmas of '98'........"just want to fix that rear door seal, and give it a quick lick of paint to seal it before we take off" (around Australia)... DOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!

Welcome aboard Maverick, all the info and help you need is right here bud, all the best and enjoy the ride mate, it's a Doozy! You'll have a blast / cry /cry /cry blast !!