I was never a hippie but I have to admit to some of those things you mentioned... Mine was a truck and transportation, not a party van. Vans never hit here very hard, I never found a club or truck-in. I did camp in it quite a bit, but it was always rough. I cut the kick out of the floor in front of the rad and put in a tunnel to get more air to the engine. I also put tubes in the block behind the water pump to move more water to the rear of the engine, not much trouble after that.
I hung out at Brainerd International Raceway, was there for the first race in 1969 and volunteered for 20 years as a flat tow for most of the road races until they cut the track in two and made it unsafe for the spectators.
I bailed then but I had gotten interested in sports car rally so it was no big deal. I switched out the van for my '62 and built it up for sweeping, did that for 25 years. THAT was fun! High speed dirt roads in the woods at night in the rain, it just doesn't get much better than that.
Then I got the bug and bought this dang fire truck, oh well. I like it but most people can't tell it from a new truck so that is a little discouraging. I love that there is no computer, very easy electrical system, and a Chev V8. It would be better with a Turbo 400 though.
