Hello again! Well it looks like I am restoring another mid 90's Dodge vehicle. This time, it is a 1994 Dodge Caravan. Thank you so much for visiting my page!
**JUST A QUICK NOTE WHY I CHOSE A CARAVAN FOR A TURTLE VAN...
...as everyone pretty much knows, the "real" Turtle Van was a VW. I did not want to go with a VW bus or van for many reasons, but more important are the reasons why I chose a Caravan. I chose a Caravan because they are easy to find parts for (at least where I live), easy to work on, comfortable for me to drive, and also for a family reason.
The Turtles played a huge role in my childhood, growing up with all my male cousins, playing Ninja Turtles while my Uncle Harry (Uncle Shredder) chased us around doing an exact voice of The Shredder. He used to drive us all around in his Caravan, and when I see one, I just think of the Turtles and all the memories.**
**ABOUT THE WORK...
...for anyone who thinks I am just a person who has "waaay too much time on her hands," I'd like to say that I built this van myself, while going to college full time, staying on the Dean's list and working a part time job as a cashier at a local market. I detail vehicles at my Dad's garage in the summer for some extra money.
The combined money from the market and detailing is what paid for everything on this van (as well as school books, gas money, insurance, etc.) I worked for it, paid for it, and made it all myself. Therefore, I am prepared to take all comments, both good AND bad. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who takes time to look and give me your honest opinion!**
So far I've done:
-New Anco wiper blades on front
-New steering wheel cover
-New spark plugs
-New air filters
-New Rain-X Lattitude wiper blade for back
-New licence plate light sockets
-New stock brake pedal (the old one was taped on!)
-Fixed clips on liftgate trim panel
-Restored headlights
-New front motor mount
-Complete removal of rust and repair on door bottoms, fenders, and rocker panels
-Three coats of truck bed liner underneath the van and on the rocker panels
-New head gasket
-New water pump
-New timing belt
-New fuel line bundle
-New passenger door dome light button
-Replacement hood prop clip
-New passenger side front parking light lens
-New Interstate battery
-New Polk db691 speakers x 2
-New Polk db521 speakers x 2
-New radiator
-New fuel pump
-New gas tank
-new sway bar bushings
-new driver side axle
-new passenger side axle
-new rear brake drums
-new compressor for the ac
-new steering rack
-new right inner tie rod end
-new right outer tie rod end
**The clear coat is now done! Here are a few pictures!
Got my summer tires today and put them on.
Mileage Plus II from Hankook.
Listened to everyone's suggestions and got bigger tires for the rear and smaller tires for the front. I couldn't vary the size TOO too much because of safety, but here are the sizes I chose:
185/75/14's for the front and
215/75/14's for the back!
The hood open and the matching hood prop clip I found! :-P
Page 1: EXTERIOR
Page 2: INTERIOR
Page 3: MAKING THE PARTS
Page 4: IN THE BEGINNING AND PAINT
Page 5: OTHER PARTS
The front and the back...
The driver's side and the graphic I painted...
Got my new plate finally! Cowabunga! :-P
The graphics I painted on the passenger's side... please check out PAGE 4 if you want to see the steps I took painting these.
Closeup of the back and the hood...
Here is a closer picture of the wing.
The wing and the guns are attached with bolts and duraglas, then painted to match. Check out PAGE 3 if you want to see how I made the parts!
Took the accuracy of the dish to another level... added the side attachment as well as the bottom one.
Some random pictures of the van...
Thank you for looking! If you want to see the interior, go on to page two!
Page 1: EXTERIOR
Page 2: INTERIOR
Page 3: MAKING THE PARTS
Page 4: IN THE BEGINNING AND PAINT
Page 5: OTHER PARTS
