1969 Dodge A108 Panel

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jun 28, 07 9:54 pm

Thought it was time I showed a few pics and progress of the big white fridge...Not to everyones taste, but I guess I'm just a hippy at heart.

I wanted a panel A100 or A108 for some time and found this one on the web. Shipped it from Arizona and put it on the road for a year or so to see a bit of the country and enjoy some shows. Some of you may remember it from shows a couple of years back. It's been in the shop for nearly two years now and this is how it looked after ripping off most the bolt on items -

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Jun 28, 07 10:05 pm

After removing most items I stripped a panel at a time to bare metal. Here's the underside. Little rust as these were galvanised from the floor down -

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Jun 28, 07 10:32 pm

Cool van

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Jun 29, 07 12:13 am

i quite like em nice one

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Jun 29, 07 9:44 am

Great work Steve, I love those vans, much more exclusive than the old VW splitty.

latil · Post by **latil** » Fri Jun 29, 07 9:55 am

vans,them. Why didn't they galvanise the bottom 1/2 of the damn cars

Steve Chapman · Post by **Steve Chapman** » Fri Jun 29, 07 6:04 pm

Nice

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jun 30, 07 1:03 am

splendid! didnt know they thought of galvanizing things back then. i like it in white too.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jul 02, 07 1:46 pm

Thanks for the encouraging words guys.

I got bored of panel work part way through (a bit like porridge and never ends), so started building the engine.
Had a 74' vintage 360 bored 40 thou and crank machined. Got a few new parts sent over from the states - 9.5:1 hypuretectic pistons, gasket set, hi-vol oil pump, bearings etc. Cleaned up the heads and matched the ports. I always degree my cams in (even if stock) and installed a mild Comp Cams cam in for mid-range torque. After spraying each part separately in Hemi Orange and assembling it all another engine came up for sale cheap.

So, I probably need not post these pics, but I guess it's good to see the changes in a project. The other engine is a low mile, injected 5.9L which, fits the torque/economy bill alot nicer (wiring it in might change my mind though!)...

1st pic - degreeing cam in.
2nd pic - building oil pressure before storage.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Oct 12, 07 11:55 am

This pic's a few months old now. I've taken each panel back to metal, etched and a quality primer on.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Oct 12, 07 12:06 pm

After endless hours working on the body, it's all in primer and guide-coated. Wet sanding anyone?

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Fri Oct 12, 07 1:09 pm

Great stuff

keen to see how this progresses

I think I saw one of these on Batman the other nite (BBC4) - Penguin & his cronies were getting into one and speeding away from another crime scene

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Oct 12, 07 5:47 pm

Love 'em! Looks like you're making a nice job of it. Just out of interest what did you wind the speedo back to?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Oct 12, 07 7:38 pm

Thats fantastic. Nice to see such a thorough job on a van like that.

I have to say, if it was mine, when it came to paint I think I would be thinking 'Scooby Doo' and 'Mystery Machine'.

I bet its a real hoot when that engine goes in.

Keep the pics coming

bruvmopar · Post by **bruvmopar** » Sat Oct 13, 07 6:17 pm

Great Work, Well Done, keep us all Posted.

Baddie was driving one, in one of the Man from Uncle Movies!! Got the Box Set!!

(Sad or What!!)..