|
|
|
Aug 16, 2012 19:42:26 GMT
|
Hi there, this is my first post on here. I bought a sprite ariel today and want to renovate it and transform it into a shabby chic caravan for weekend trips. Could anyone give me some pointers please as to where to start with this. I want to repaint all of the outside - so how do I strip it and repaint it. How do I get rid of any little nicks and dents before painting it? I will hammerite all of the chassis and tow bar. How do I get the original hub caps to look like new? Inside - can I just do normal wallpaper or does it have to be special one? its currently got some wallpaper in but I just want it to be a cream colour. What is the best type of flooring to put in? What do others have in their caravans is it just Lino? It has a broken lock - the key doesnt seem to lock so I think the barrel is broke - is this easily replaced? The lights seem a bit grubby - how do I make these look like new? Thanks in advance Ste Attachments:
|
| |
Last Edit: Aug 16, 2012 21:22:34 GMT by sehaggan
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 16, 2012 21:33:06 GMT
|
|
Biggest worry is water getting into the timber frame so it rots away unseen. Often you will see damp stains on the inside and sometimes the corner handles will seem loose. The interior of the Sprite will be white hardboard so I suspect soembody has papered it before - maybe to hide damp so check carefully. Mine had alloy hubcaps that came up nicely with Brillo pads and then polish. Flooring is whatever you want. Carpet, vinyl tiles, cushion floor, laminate etc. The actual floor is ply and should feel solid. Any springlyness should be investigated. Door locks are semi universal on such older caravans so although you can buy new lock barrels probably easier to just get a complete lock assembly. Plastic light lenses exteriors can be polished with Brasso or similar metal polish to get rid of minor scrathes. Removing them and washing / cleaned with old toothbrush can get rid of a lot of the internal lense dirt.
Replace gas flexible pipe as a "matter of course" - cheap and not worth the risk of using old pipe.
Check brakes. Not sure of caravan age (I think mid to late 70's by pic)- could still be you need to flip a lever for reversing or might be autoreverse brakes.
Have fun.
Paul H
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 16, 2012 22:13:39 GMT
|
|
Thanks Paul thats Great :-D I cant wait to get cracking on it.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 16, 2012 22:27:38 GMT
|
|
|
| |
theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 20, 2012 8:25:18 GMT
|
|
mine needed the front and rear internal panels removing and the timber around the handles replacing,if the screws wont tighten up and they move about when you push them then yours is probably the same
The red lino and floor was good in mine so i just cut and fitted a carpet ,without glueing it so it can be replaced easily
Bought laminate sheets and glued them on the table and cupboards and trimmed the edges off
The roof vent is not available so be careful with yours
I bought new lights,old style ones so don't bother getting secondhand ones-also the hitch electrics is available new
The complete door lock is available new,think from memery is a caraloc 400 ( not bought mine yet)
rustoleum is better than hammerite for the chassis
I didnt strip mine just filled the dents and flatted back the old paint and primer and 2 pack painted it ( get a filtered airmask and do it outside) as the paints poisonous
If your round my way I do know a local car place that will paint it,and it wasnt a fortune,if you do the prep work first
All the window fillers and sill capping is available,the capping is a funny width and you cant get the exact size,but its the same width and the wheel arch capping.
had my wheels blasted and white powder coated £20 each and used a pair of new 145 tyres I had kicking about
|
| |
|
|
mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
|
|
Sept 24, 2012 15:48:27 GMT
|
|
I wonder how many people have come in here expecting to help someone remove the aerial on an Austin-Healey Sprite?
A genuine question on a roadster with no exterior boot opening..
|
| |
|
|
