hi i have a mini van and i would like to change it into a ute is this a good idea our a bad one ??

i say go for it, i'll be joining you very soon hopefully. i was advised not to chop one, and to buy a ute that was already done. seems like a good idea, but to expensive for me so im gonna have to do it myself. its pretty much each to their own, some people like it, some dont.

_________________
'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

i'd only do it if there was something wrong with the van part, or you couldnt find any doors or something.

I think it sucks as an idea. There are so few vans left and I'm still to see a convincing chopped ute. I've seen quite a few nasty ones though.

Tim

_________________
1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Check and see if how much you can get one for from the UK as well since you're in the states , not only would you have the conversion costs but you'd have shipping to the states and then engineering as well to register it . Might be cheaper and easier to sell the van you have here and buy a mini pick-up from UK/Europe .

_________________

i had it resprayed just before i left australia.in cherry black and grey on the roof but it still didnt do much for me. so thats what gave me the idea about the ute idea for looks ...is there some good body kits out there for the vans our what other ideas is there for vans??

zeemax kits are around. they make them for the vans. imo they look alright, but again each to their own. just beware of copies.

_________________
'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

Also if you cut it into a ute you're going to have to getthe bulk of the van resprayed again because of the welding , be much easier to spray a bodykit to match and fit that .

_________________

PM Andrew or contact him through the work address , they are the Australian agent for zeemax and he should be able to give you details on their kits .

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/profile.p ... ile&u=1225

_________________

true.where do i find these kits.. i need to build the 1275 engine i have our put something else in it..what do you guys think for the engine..

i've sat on this idea for a while, would you be able to pull the windscreen back so it doesnt sit so upright, not like really laid back, but just a little change in the degree. would it still be able to be registered?

but yeh, cut into it, gonna need a respray. depends if you like the spray job thats currently on it. if its a good job which cost a fair bit its probably not worth cutting it. if its a quick job and you want it redone, or another colour perhaps, then i say go for it.

my 2c worth
robbie.

_________________
'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

yeah the window idea might work but i have no idea if it well pass for rego?the paint job was dune buy a panel shop and they did a good job?

Don't do it unless the roof is really rusty. Every van that gets chopped up leads to the further extinction of the mini van.

_________________
DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT

sportspack flairs on 13x7 rims looks absolutely hawt for a pick-up!! (round-nose that is - not sure about clubby) id say go for it but the respray would have been a waste of time as you'll need work done after the chop...and i would assume you would need an engineers cert as your changing the structural integrity of the vehicle and would need to think about sourcing/fabricating panels for the window and the tray and whatnot. i want a pickup

Don't even bother chopping ANOTHER van.
Find a "ute" that someone has already 'converted' and given up on.