Rusty92 Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 (edited) Hello all! This will be my thread for the 2019 Cannonball Run aka The Vannonball. This years theme is vans and I have selected the AMT Rescue Van as my kit of choice. I will be converting this to 4wd via the Dana V-Drive system, adding 8 lug wheels, a TBI 454 and lots of interior goodies. Below is the V drive system used on roughly 1600 Ford and GM vans. I will be doing this up as a news van "CBR Action News" so that it would blend in a bit more on the proposed route. I plan on opening the rear doors, detailing the interior, and making a realistic chassis so that the 4wd looks usable. I'll be posting more updates here in the coming days. Edited February 11, 2019 by Rusty92 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim B Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 That's pretty cool. I'm guessing that you're going to be scratch building the V-drive system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 Jim, I do plan on scratch building a lot of it. The rear suspension is a dana 60 that I have on the way. The 2 front differentials are closely related to dana 30s and custom control arms. It's interesting that the GM ones kept control arms but the Ford ones were I-beams. I figured VEMCO, the company that outfitted the vans, would have just made them more consistent across the board. And of course that transfer-case is going to be entirely scratch built or 3d printed if i can find someone to assist me. Thanks for the interest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 This'll be a cool one to follow. Where are you robbing the 454 TBI from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 34 minutes ago, mustang1989 said: This'll be a cool one to follow. Where are you robbing the 454 TBI from? Thanks for the interest. I'll be taking it from one of the 454SS Silverado parts kits that I have. Although the TBI unit is very crude, I can clean it up some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Rusty92 said: Thanks for the interest. I'll be taking it from one of the 454SS Silverado parts kits that I have. Although the TBI unit is very crude, I can clean it up some. That's where I thought you were going to get it from. Shaving some of the top of the TBI unit off will lower the air cleaner down where it's supposed to be as the air cleaner sits way too high on those AMT TBI 454's. Then you won't have to worry as much about how crude it is. This is how the air cleaner sits with no modification to the TBI unit: and this is after shaving some off of the top of the TBI unit: Looking forward to seeing this one in progress Jacob. Edited January 3, 2019 by mustang1989 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 And more progress you shall see! Last night I got the doors off, my first time doing that to a model. I also have a transfer case built for the V-Drive. It looks a little small, but when it’s next to the TH400 it seems to be in scale. I can always make another. I will sand off the excess putty and then start making drive shafts, output shafts, and hook it to the transmission. As cool as this setup is I know the front end will be a hassle to recreate. Patience is key for me! Thanks for looking, Jacob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Nice!!! Good start on that transfer case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 Thanks, Joe. Slow progress in the past few days but I got my order from Scenes Unlimited today. 8 lug wheels and Firestone tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalepeter Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Cool project. That drive train is new to me but looks pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 23 hours ago, Rusty92 said: Thanks, Joe. Slow progress in the past few days but I got my order from Scenes Unlimited today. 8 lug wheels and Firestone tires. Now THAT'S a cool score. I keep meaning to go and check that place out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezy Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 This looks like a great start to a cool project. Siked to keep up with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 Stance update. I wish I had chosen a different drive layout. This V drive is a headache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Repstock Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 You may be planning to do this anyway, but are you going to add the ribs to the roof? That smooth roof is kind of a major oversight. It's also strange that the kit gives you no interior door panels up front. Looks great so far though. I'd never heard of that drive system! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 10 hours ago, Repstock said: You may be planning to do this anyway, but are you going to add the ribs to the roof? That smooth roof is kind of a major oversight. It's also strange that the kit gives you no interior door panels up front. Looks great so far though. I'd never heard of that drive system! Yes I plan on ribbing the roof, being smooth really ruins it! This system is whacky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 A small update. The upper control arms became the shock mounts, as this has wild tubular control arms almost. I also cut down a differential to make the Dana 30. Doesn’t need to be exact. Just need to trick the eye into thinking it’s the right one! I’m nervous about making the control arms. Oh well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoDak1 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I also will be opening doors for the first time on my vannonball entry. Excited to see how you progress with that and maybe learn a thing or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 (edited) Small update. I made the spindles for the front, they look really unique for the V drive, but they are not done yet; I still need to make the mounts for the upper and lower control arms. I also have the drivers side Dana 30 done and the passenger side is under the knife now. Edit: these spindles are rough, very rough. The actual ones are way out of my skills to make. This is the basic shape of them, but no where near the level of detail. Edited January 28, 2019 by Rusty92 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Looks like you're moving right along on this one bud. Watching for the next update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 How is this progressing? I have been watching for updates. If you are like me, the Van is on a slight hold due to the B.R.B.O. having a much shorter deadline. Anyway, look forward to seeing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I'll second that motion on the updates Jacob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Hey fellas! Thanks for the interest still. Progress has been slow but tonight I finalized the cross member and coil spring mounts on the frame. Narrowed the Dana 30s a bit more. The interior is a bit bland. I plan on adding a projector so the co pilot can look at traffic updates and other news on a big screen on one side of the van. A cot, and probably a small fridge for food. Since this is a news van I plan on disguising some proprietary radar equipment on top as broadcasting equipment! The biggest win here is: it will sit at about what a stock V-Drive equipped van would have. A huge victory for me as I wanted this to look stock! I’m hoping to have the front end done this next weekend. The crossmember is gross looking right now, haha. Some putty and a file will help it look better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 Here is an update for all of you who have been waiting! Got the drivers side done except for steering components. I took some creative liberties here. I really like the outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty92 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Now THAT is a 4wd van! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Wow! In real life I don't anything would break in that final drive system. Definitely one of a kind and you pulled it all off well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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