The Grape Ape

The Grape Ape was the family vehicle from the late 70's till around 1982. A cracked exhaust manifold led to a small engine fire that parked it temporarily. Ended up being 38 years.

Roadworthy now. Not a restoration. Just fixed what had to be fixed to make it drive-able and not horribly unsafe.

Here it is sitting at the edge of my parents yard June 2020. It spent most of the 38 years about 60 feet from here but was moved for a construction project a couple of years before.

I created this blog to document the journey back to the road, but I have added pictures over the past few years. At some point hopefully The Grape Ape will get another stage of repairs, new seals, suspension upgrades.. just some stuff to be more drivable. For now it is a local work horse and weekend cruiser.

1966 E-100 Econoline Van

This picture is probably from 1980. Taken at a family reunion.

Inside view after the clean out. Had been used as a storage shed and had begun to leak.

2 wheels scooting when we tried to move it. Dragged it to the other side of the yard to get it rolling. Here it is getting the brake shoes removed on the right hand side. Lots of hammering.

This count as driving? It's a roller! Dad pulling it with the tractor. Clutch releases, but motor stuck hard...so it has brakes of a sort.

Temporary home. Going to block it up and start taking off parts.

Looks like it was a Sears delivery van at some point. We didn't know this till the outer layer of paint began to peal in recent years. It was spot primered when dad bought it with a blown engine. The maroon was put on by the high school auto shop way back when.

These "vintage" aluminum wheels were some I bought maybe 20 years ago for another project that never happened.

The 240 is a loss. robbed of parts over the years and full of top end rust.

VIN decode info.

Apart with it!

We washed most of the moss off. Got to say I'm liking the "patina" look.

Donor Engine 1981 300. Went partners with my buddy Mike on a parts truck. Drove it around a little. The engine ran strong and didn't smoke.

Back to being a storage shed for it's own guts.

Out with it!

Engine and tranny out

Emptied and pressure washed.

Need to salvage the pan. Going to require some repair.

Worst of the rust. Worked it over with a few cans of "rust reformer" just to slow the rot.

Bottom side is solid. Nothing structural wrong.

booger scale 0 to 10 it's a solid 6 to remove

Factory option roof vents.

Brake drums took a little damage coming off. This one has the "HD" 2.5 inch shoes.

Seems like the seat hasn't been cleaned under in a while. Pull tab and screwdriver were under the driver seat.

The summer is sliding by but the Pandemic means more time. By the middle of July it was at the bottom of coming apart.

Some kludge repair to the floor pan may have happened.

These things were weighted from the factory above the gas tank.

It's alloy brake line not plain copper.

Spotted in the new season of Umbrella Academy a few times.

New drums on the front. Going to salvage a couple for the back.

The organ donor. Engine goes in the van. A solid 2 wheel drive is gonna get the 4x4 conversion. The truck was a lost title when we junked it. Title has been found, but a little late!

Not a rebuild. New outer gaskets, pans swap, and rear main.

'81 truck with '90 bearings. Not much wear.

And back together. A little help from my son with the pandemic hairdo.

Sunday, September 6th, 2020 The Grape Ape moved under power. My dog seems to think he is Scooby Doo and we are getting read to go solve some mysteries.

Back across the road at the parents house. Still running on a external tank and hot wired at the engine. No doghouse so a little bit interesting to drive even a few hundred yards.

Gas tank!

Duane Hester of the Econoline Ranch in Jackson, TN helped me out by digging into his stash of doghouse parts. Mine had some major rust issues. Duane is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world about these early Econolines and always willing to help.

Makes for an interesting ride. Get to know your engine.

Doing something about the gas tank. Conversion on a Mustang tank.

Throttle cable was broken. I was able to do a conversion on a aftermarket one that is working great with the truck connectors.

Had to get creative with the downspout but is all gas rated hose and holding.

Found some antique rolling papers in the window channel.

New Shoes. Jeff at B.C. Industries took care of me.

Summer gone and into the fall. Starting from the key now. All lights are working. Aftermarket blinker set-up but it works great.

Monday, November 2nd, 2020. Tagged and insured. Drive able and legal on the road. Still ugly.

Ugly is subjective. I've changed my mind.

Drove to work Friday and by the parts store for exhaust supplies. Quieted down now, but did run a little hot in Friday traffic. Developed a small radiator leak. The 55 years haven't been kind to to it and it isn't going to do the job in August. Have an aftermarket aluminum one in the works.

Out on a "test drive" Wednesday afternoon. Hanging with Overall and the grain bins down close to Big Sandy.

Function over form! This thing is hard to see out of.

Seat belts.

From the security cam. Not what it really sounds like lol.

Out riding around and randomly remembered my e-brake handle (pair of vise-grips) were clamped on a seat belt nut under the van. Stopped to get them and took a few more "glamour" shots.