Night Driving

Sold!

Green Machine is sold. It's being picked up on monday so I'll have to enjoy it doubletime this weekend! Really mixed feelings, sad to see it go but glad to go on with a new project.

Have a good weekend. I know I will!

Buy it now!

All good things must come to an end. I have enjoyed my Custom Van "Green Machine" for more than 2 years now. I have had many repairs in the beginning and lots of fun after that.

It is just about finished now, so it's time to move on to a new project: the Tatra Aircooled V8 Ledsled.

I need time and cash for that, so I'm selling my beloved Van! Check out the evilbay auction here. Happy bidding!

Woop woop! It's the sound of the police!

From Bubblevisor blog.

Chain gang

I have some time after catching up with customers work. So I have been busy with the Green Machine. Mounting chain licence plate frames. Lookie:

And the chain steering wheel! Sweet!

Out and about...

Brought out the beast to stretch it's legs after a long hibernation.
You can hardly spot it between all that greenery, with it's camouflage kolors!

Arty Farty

In the dark building where my workshop is located, my van was fotographed using a long shuttertime and someone dancing around the van with a light in his hand. It resulted in this cool effect.

Photographer unknown, pics sent by Zino.

Goodies!

Santa has come early this year and I've been a good boy. No really!
Check this out: some vinyl murals to sticl on the side of your van, for instantcoolness, two license frames, wire wheel style, (check out the little spinners, as well!) and a scroll striping decal set.

And then, my precious! These will go onto the Green Machine, baby!

Pondering Flares

The fender flares and front spoiler on the Green Machine are cracked in several places and the paint's chipped and scratched too. Luckily they are only bolted on so I think I'll take em off this winter to repair the 'glass. Matching the original green kolor is proving to be a hassle. It's a kustom-mixed base kolor topped by clear with silver & gold flakes mixed in, faded by 25 years of So-Cal sunshine. Try to match that!

I ran into this problem when I wanted to respray the faded roof. I just mixed a new shade of dark pearl green for that and I'm thinking of using that for the flares as well. I'll probably also switch the amber lights for clear ones.
Here's how it looks now:

 And here's a photochop of the new kolor on the flares.

Tell me what you think, I'm open for suggestions!

Also, I'm still looking for replacement clear sidemarker lights! Anyone know of some that fit?

I need it!

Chrome taillight bezels for 1971-1977 Dodge Tradesman or portsman. Let me know if you got some or know of some.

Make that ass look even better!

Oh yeah, and clear lenses for the side-marker lights.

Hit the deck!

Here's some skateboard decks designed by Jason Cruz, featuring his own van, the Dice van and the Green Machine. Yowza!

It's the Wheel Deal!

I was at the Rockin Jalopy's Motorama show the other weekend and my neighbour was the ever friendly Jack Hammer, who sells all kinds of bolt-on goodies.

He had some bitchen' Grant Metalflake steering wheels. I had my eye on a green one and the kolor seemed to magically match the green flaked panels on my van. I scooped it up and took it home. I already had a wood Grant wheel so mounting the new one was easy-peasy.

It looks great! Can't wait to drive it!

Unfortunately, winter has landed in the Low Countries. That means salt on the roads and all kinds of wetness and grime. That does not go well with the pristine So-Cal untreated floors, sills and chassis of the Green Machine. So it will stay indoors until all the snow and salt have disappeared. Bummer.

Because two steering wheels is a bit over the top, even for a show van, my vintage Grant wooden steering wheel is for sale:

It's in excellent condition. Chrome is good, wood is not cracked or dried out. The wood could do with a good cleaning and some oil. Will make a great addition to any Custom Van.
Mail me for pricing.

Hail Floris!

It's the big man caught in a little man's body: the great Floris Velthuis!

Floris has already shot many great bikes all over Europe and now he has done his first car; my Dodge "Green Machine". Last saturday we spent the day at two locations, shooting pics form every angle, inside and out.

 Here he is, always lying down on the job.

We tried to copy some pics from a photoshoot of this same van in Vans & Trucks magazine of october 1984.

 Here is one shot from 1984:

And 2010:

You can see the interior has had a major makeover at some point. Even the model was changed. A good thing too, the old one was getting a bit wrinkly after 26 years!

Sometimes though, it's not so nice to have a photographer following you around all day! Woops, caught in the act...

More later this week when I get the CD with all the pics from FLoris.

Not good!

Yesterday (yes, friday the 13th) I was cruisin along, minding my own business while suddenly: SNAP, BANG, SHAKE, VIBRATE!!!

What the? Van is shaking all over the place, weird sounds coming out from underneath. After a quick inspection by the roadside, couldn't see much. So I limped to my workshop to have a better look.

Well there's yer problem! One of the bearings of the universal joint on my driveshaft has left the building.

Will have to fix that after the weekend, when I get the parts. Shame because today I was supposed to be at a photoshoot of the Green Machine with world renowned photographer Floris Velthuis. Hoover Dam! We'll have to postpone that...

I have an idea why the van spat out that bearing. It's just too low. The driveshaft isn't made to operate at the extreme angles it is forced into when it's this low. And it causes other problems, as well. Like the rear tires hitiing the wheel arches in corners and when I hit bumps.

This is the front suspension. You can just see the rubber bumpstop (is that what it's called?) that is supposed to stop the suspension arm hitting the chassis at the end of the suspension travel.

Unfortunately, when the van is on it's wheels, it's already resting on that rubber block. Hitting bumps means pounding the rubber block to bits. I fitted a new one a few weeks ago and this is now almost destroyed. It is supposed to be pyramid shaped but now it's split and bent way outta shape.

Project for the winter: fit new front and rear springs and raise the ride height at least 5cms in front and about ten in the back.

Hotrod Hayride 2010 part 1

Well, I'm back in the land of the living after a great weekend in the UK at the Hotrod Hayride.

I'll be posting a lot of pics this week cuz it was grand trip and I think more people need to go there next year! Hats off to the Executioners cc and everyone involved for organising a great event. Here we go:

I took off on thursday morning, on my way to pick up my travel companion LeShawn when I noticed the charge meter going off the scale. A quick diagnose pointed to the voltage regulator. I'm sure the electrics in my van wouldn't last long at 20 volts or more and with the alternator disconnected, neither would my battery. After a few roadside calls, I found a company called Van Dijck USA parts who had a replacement regulator in store but unfortunately he was closed. After some persuasion, he agreed to let my friend pick up the item at his house, thanks man! I drove with the alternator disconnected and fingers crossed for another 120kms to my friends house, who had already picked up the regulator when I got there. Amazing how long the ignition keeps working on the battery alone. After a quick fix, we were on our way again.

We drove to Duinkerke (F) to catch the ferry across the channel to England, stopping at nearly every gasstation on the way. I have a small LPG tank of 50 liters which only lasts around 200kms.

After the ferry, we had about 150kms to drive to Bisley and we arrived at around 21.00hrs, only to find an almost empty campground. Parked the van and headed off to the pub, where we met up with Henry & the Ford brothers from Holland. Henry is the guy who initiated the Rockin' Jalopy's Motorama Show in Rosmalen (NL). He also built this crazy Excalibur hotrod:

After a few pints, I hit the sack in my home for the weekend.

Next morning, we headed off to the nearest pub for a gruesome breakfast. Horrible coffee, burnt toast and the most rancid sausages I've ever tasted in my whole meat-eating career, blerk!

After that fiasco, we went for a cruise around the grounds to see if there were interesting cars coming in. They were, this rat Willlys for example:

Ford Pop with a nice 70's look:

The meeting grounds belong to the NRA (National Rifle Association) and during the entire year, shooting contests are held and members are practicing. I'm telling ya, the sound of constant gunfire adds extra atmosphere to a car meeting! The grounds are also filled with old barracks, club houses, canteens and so on, making for a picturesque backdrop.

This Dodge truck would make a great camper!

Lots of rusty pickups and panels around, this one was one of my favorites:

Goldmember pro street.

That's enough for now, next time, more pics of the oval race, bikes & cars and the coolest place to hang out.