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Old ex-SnapOn van refurb


alwaysFlOoReD

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Joined
Apr 13, 2009
Messages
15,217
City
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle Year
'06, '11
Engine
3.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
I'm not sure if I posted this van before and I dont feel like looking...I'm tired.
I bought this a number of years ago for $1,000. It's a 1980 Grumman body on a c30 Chevy frame and running gear. A tired 350 on propane. I loaded it on my flat deck and a friend towed it back to my place. That was sketchy... was wagging the dog anytime over 60kph. I put on some new tires and replaced the steering column at a cost of about $500.
Anyway, I removed some shelving at that time and installed 3 filing cabinets picked up for free. The following pictures are what it looks like now. I'm planning on removing the majority of the leftover shelving and put in 4 more free cabinets. I'll take some pics of the progress as it happens.

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That's the plan. It needs a new motor or a rebuild tho. It runs but very tired. I imagine that there is 1000's of hours of idling on the motor, never mind hauling many tons of SnapOn tools around for years. It's currently being used as mobile storage. I do have a 400ci out of a different RV that ran good last time I checked several years ago. I hope to r+r the motor in a couple months from now.
 
WOW! That is awesome, I wish I was allowed to keep one where I live as I would make it a 4x4 and use it for road trips and hauling. I can't think of anything better then a 7.3L IDI for it :-D

I think if you put a fairing across the front and down the side, with a pull down tarp (because you get a lot of snow in Canada), to prevent buffering and lift off, that this would be the ideal vehicle for a large solar panel installation and you surely have room under the body for a battery bank. You could use the solar for the glow plugs and to run a block heater and fuel heater too.

I would probably add a small bath room and black water tank for a toilet. Would make a good race day vehicle or contractor vehicle that way too. Contractors dislike going to gas stations to use a bathroom and leaving a job.
 
I have an old school bus that could be converted...
 
One question…. Did you find any free tools? There’s got to be a 1/4 drive socket or something lost in there.
 
Iirc I found an old socket, but not SnapOn. I did get lots of socket holders riveted to aluminum channel. I need to dig those out and use them.
 
Once you are done with the refurb I would lose the Snap On logos. Snap On trucks get broken into more than mailboxes. There's got to be a missing 10mm socket in there somewhere, they are like lost socks.
 
Once you are done with the refurb I would lose the Snap On logos. Snap On trucks get broken into more than mailboxes. There's got to be a missing 10mm socket in there somewhere, they are like lost socks.
Speaking of Snap-On and Socks. Anybody ever try the Snap-On socks? I used to get a pair every week from the Snap-On guy that came to our Shop. Best sock ever IMO.
 
Speaking of Snap-On and Socks. Anybody ever try the Snap-On socks? I used to get a pair every week from the Snap-On guy that came to our Shop. Best sock ever IMO.

I have sold almost all my snap-on tools ( Except Scan tools ) due to poor metal quality. But I WILL NOT ditch my socks. These are the best socks I've ever owned and is literally the only sock I have. I think I have well over 30 pairs in rotation at a time ;missingteeth;
 
Once you are done with the refurb I would lose the Snap On logos. Snap On trucks get broken into more than mailboxes. There's got to be a missing 10mm socket in there somewhere, they are like lost socks.

+1, I have a box trailer set up as a “mobile shop”. I did have a business name & phone # on the sides but removed them after I considered that all I was really advertising was “valuable, easily fenced tools inside”. My mobile mechanic business never really did take off, Hard to establish a customer base in this economy.
 
Missed this before, nice project

You need to paint over the Snap-on logos and replace with "hand painted" Pooper Scooper Pet waste removal service
It will NEVER be broken into :)
 
Speaking of Snap-On and Socks. Anybody ever try the Snap-On socks? I used to get a pair every week from the Snap-On guy that came to our Shop. Best sock ever IMO.
All I ever wore until I found "Darn Tough" socks made in Vermont. Absolutely NO turning back now!
 
All I ever wore until I found "Darn Tough" socks made in Vermont. Absolutely NO turning back now!
Never heard of "Darn Tough". Not sure they're even available this far south. I got my last pair of Snap-On socks over ten years ago, and still wear them. I have about 14 pair. I have actually had to toss a few pair in the trash, because I wear them around the house like slippers. I have no problem taking out the trash in just my Snap-On's. lol.
 
You should be able to order them, they are quite nice. I believe they are guaranteed so if you tear a hole in one they send you a new pair. I used them when I ran/rode bike a lot more, and then they found their way into my hunting stuff too. Wool handles sweat management a lot better than anything else out there for me. DeFeet is another brand I used frequently, but I don't think they have the replacement guarantee. I really like their "Woolie Boolies" for cold weather. They make lots of different bizarre designs and I'd wait for them to go on clearance and get them for a few bucks a pair. I'm not really concerned with what they look like.
 

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