HJ Panelvan restore

[ncass11]

I have always wanted a Holden panelvan but they are hard to find around Cairns, but i have finally found one,

I found a HJ panelvan for $1600 but showing its age, there is a fair bit of rust in the front so i was thinking of letting it go but then i saw that the rear doesn't have to much rust so i decided to get, the front floors are full of rust but fixable

it has a GTS dash ( i think it is, dont know to much about the old holdens) and floor shifter, its also been mod plated, because it was converted to a 2 seater,
its a 253 but they say it is seized up, so ill put my rebuilt 253 in it,

i think i paid more then what its worth but i dont mind, i just love these old panelvans

plans are to basically restore it but since i cant do 2 projects at once i will be finishing my vk first, but i will do some work the the van as i go along, like get all the rust out and welded.

I dont have it yet i still have to pay it off

R/H guard

im not realy happy about the rust, but it is nearly 40 yrs old

 

[383 hatch]

Should be a fun project. She is a bit rusty, but should be all fixable. Hope you're not afraid of cutting and welding, you'll be doing a fair bit of it.

Definately a GTS dash, GTS mirrors and GTS steering wheel aswell (obviously missing the GTS horn pad). All hard to get parts. Probably around $800-$1000 worth right there.

 

[*uwishn*]

looks like a big project,but any thing is achievable.
keep us up to date.

 

[Hangman]

Nice one, mate. Fair bit of rust, but will be good when it's done. Vans are getting thin on the ground these days.

Mine has been put on hold for the moment as my LH is going to the blasters and then panel beaters
I might try and slap the van together just to get it on the road while the Lh is gone, and worry about the paint etc later.

 

[383 hatch]

Nice one, mate. Fair bit of rust, but will be good when it's done. Vans are getting thin on the ground these days.

Mine has been put on hold for the moment as my LH is going to the blasters and then panel beaters
I might try and slap the van together just to get it on the road while the Lh is gone, and worry about the paint etc later.

Hmm, i don't see a thread? Don't you hold out on us my good man....

 

[Hangman]

Hmm, i don't see a thread? Don't you hold out on us my good man....

Hahaha I stuck a pic in the pic thread after digging it out of the shed the other day

I'll start a thread when stuff starts happening, hopefully sort out a blaster this week and go from there.

 

[kingswood country]

Haha, the joys of old holdens!
That price is probably right, for some reason, commercials are worth much more.

Plenty if rust, but nearly every panel is replaceable from rare spares, but use genuine if you can as the rare spares stuff isn't quite as good, you probably know this anyway.

Full chassis helps, they're a good solid old bus

 

[snowy01]

Looks like a nice project.. id love to start stripping/cutting and welding on this puppy.
Keep the pics coming

 

[ari666]

you are gonna be poor FOREVER

 

[ajvx01]

Very nice mate! I'd love a panel van myself
I think in a few years when the vc is done I may investigate more.

The upside of your rig is the amount of money it takes to fully fill the back of this should equal just about spot on for the amount required to restore it! So really you got a two for one deal... Panel van and panel van money box