Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 10:28:42 GMT
|
Hi Folks. This is my first post so I just wanted to say a quick hello! I found my way here having searched for panel making information on the web. Of course the first useful hit was the "Making panels" thread started by Oldbus & tonybmw right here. And what a resourceful forum you have! I've only found the place and already I have found some incredibly useful tips, so thanks all!!! Looking at some other threads here it seems I'm in good company, having seen some of the projects here on retrorides, it appears I've found some people equally as crazy as I am. ;D Anyway, enough of that, heres my "ride"... Photo taken in 1995 when it was in good shape.  Its a 25ft coachmen camper sitting on a 1980 GMC Vandura G3500 chassis. 6.6L V8 petrol engine. It needs a LOT of work, but I'm getting there slowly... It has had some extensive rot in the bulkhead area and I'm having to make a lot of panels to replace the parts that are gone. I was able to source replacement doors (secondhand - UK) and nearside wing (new - USA) but I struggle to source the welded sub assembly panels so I'm just having to get on with making them from scratch using whats left of the old for patterns. Heres some more recent pics - (With my 12 y/o daughter - helper   Cardboard templates.  Kevin |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 13, 2013 13:58:55 GMT by Blag
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 11:41:56 GMT
|
|
Welcome to the forum. The extent of that rot is remarkable, you can pretty much put whatever you want back in that hole.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 11:57:32 GMT
|
|
Wow. I'm amazed the front of the camper didn't simply fall off.
|
| |
Currently: 1974 Beetle - Golf -
Previously: e38 735i, e34 525iSE, 1972 Beetle, 1991 Scirocco Scala, Morris Minor, 1983 Polo Breadvan, 1991 Mazda MX6
|
|
GT4ME
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,729
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 11:58:33 GMT
|
|
Wow, thats a scary photo!
|
| |
|
|
jamesp
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,828
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 12:15:37 GMT
|
|
wow thats crisp , how diffrant is the cab to g20 do toy think ?? i have a van to break up ??
|
| |
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 12:39:49 GMT
|
wow thats crisp , how diffrant is the cab to g20 do toy think ?? I have a van to break up ?? I'd be interested in finding that out myself James! Do you have any photos of the bulkhead in your G20... for comparison? I've been trying to find a parts van for quite a while but most I've found so far have rotted out in the same place. If you could put up a photo of your van, that'd be great! I am good pretty much with the bulkhead.... BUT the upper section in the wiper well area is tough to replicate when I have cobwebs & thin air to use for reference   Heres a pic of another van. This is what it SHOULD LOOK LIKE... |
| |
Kevin
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 12:43:40 GMT
|
|
|
| |
Kevin
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 12:55:13 GMT
|
Wow. I'm amazed the front of the camper didn't simply fall off. Me too.. ;D Nah, surprisingly the main structure of the cab is in good shape . (using that term loosly  ) The A pillars, B pillars, floors, wheel arches, chassis etc are in good shape and the cab is square & structurally rigid. The rest of the vehicle, the coach, it is also in pretty good shape along with the chassis & rear running gear. For the cab... well... I just need to cut off the rusty bits and stick new bits on... ;D ;D ;D Welcome to the forum. The extent of that rot is remarkable, you can pretty much put whatever you want back in that hole. Not quite, but there is some wiggle room for improvements... The Photos I've attached are a lot more dramatic since I've taken out the blower & ducting and wiper arm assembly. These items really will determine what the upper bulkhead and windshield wiper well will look like and theres not much room there to get too creative. I'm trying to ensure all of the original "bolt on" equipment goes back where it should, keeping it as original as possible. For anyone interested in the background story, I have a little refurb blog going on another forum - www.motorhomecraic.com/forum/topic.php?t=2063&page=fst_unread&highlight=
(Mods, if you frown on users linking to other forums then my apologies and by all means remove this link). |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 13, 2013 16:02:56 GMT by Blag
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 14:01:35 GMT
|
|
Wow, cool RV. I know this is a car forum but any more info on the TZR shown in the first pic???
|
| |
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 14:48:01 GMT
|
Wow, cool RV. I know this is a car forum but any more info on the TZR shown in the first pic??? The TZR was my brothers. He tricked it out to the last with all sorts of goodies. Stage 2 tuning, ported & polished heads, tuned lightweight exhausts w/carbon fibre cans, ignition advancer, you name it, he did it.... no expense spared. It never saw a track day, but he enjoyed "using it" on the roads. He traded it in '97 for a fireblade. I don't know what happened to it after that. The FZR 600 behind it was my weapon of choice at the time. I'm more into cruisers these days. Heres another pic. Looking closely at this photo, it appears to have the original exhausts so I'll bet this pic was taken when the bike was pretty much stock!!  edit: found another pic with the upgraded exhausts & polished frame! I see the StanStephens sticker on the fairing so I guess it was tuned at this stage...  Holy cow! Has there ever been a gramme of paint or primer in the engine bay? Looks like it has been rotting under the sea the last two decades! You're not far wrong there. It was parked 100 yds from the salty atlantic. The salt air took its toll on the bodywork. From what I can tell, the drain holes in the wiper well got clogged and water pooled there (for 7+ years). Literally destroyed the bulkhead. A shame that I'm hoping to put right. The interesting thing is that some parts of the cab are generously zinc plated underneath the primer & paint. Wheel wells, rocker panels, upper valance & lower valance, portions of the grill sub-assembly.... And then the bulkhead was only given a light dusting of ultra thin paint...? I don't understand why the manufacturer would do this?? It baffles me. |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 14, 2013 19:48:41 GMT by Blag
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 18:36:57 GMT
|
|
Holy heck you're brave!
Welcome to RR!
|
| |
Koos
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 2013 23:50:15 GMT
|
|
Wow that shocking how its dissolved away
Good luck!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2013 21:46:36 GMT
|
|
Wow! That's so incredible, I thought I would use my first post here to congratulate you on your efforts! I particularly like the way you seem to have removed part of your house to work on it. Utter lunacy! (in a good way)
|
| |
67 VW Split bus
69 Beetle Cab
96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
|
|
l10mcu
Part of things
Posts: 62
|
|
Feb 14, 2013 22:01:54 GMT
|
|
Looks similar to a CF with the panels removed?
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wouldn't it be easier to cut the cab on the van & unbolt both & swap them over?
|
| |
theres more to life than mpg & to much power is just enough.
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
|
|
wouldn't it be easier to cut the cab on the van & unbolt both & swap them over? I don't have "another van" at the moment. The pic I showed of what it should like is one of a friends van who provided me with loads of reference photos. I've been looking for a parts van for quite a while but most i've found (over here in ireland) are either in a very bad way or the owners are asking too much money for them. So I'm doing what I can with what I have for now. :-) Getting one in from the UK is also a bit prohibitive cost wise but I'm following a lead at the moment which looks promising.... :-) The cab is whats called uni-body and its welded to the chassis so its not as easy as just unbolting the cab and swopping over. But it is something I am considering IF I can get the right donor vehicle. |
| |
Kevin
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
|
|
Wow! That's so incredible, I thought I would use my first post here to congratulate you on your efforts! I particularly like the way you seem to have removed part of your house to work on it. Utter lunacy! (in a good way) Thanks... No I didn't remove part of my house.. (the wife isn't THAT understanding )... BUT I did have to improvise. The wagon was too big to fit into my workshop so I made up some temporary shelters on either side of the cab to allow me to open the roller door and work on the camper without being exposed to the elements.   Inside view (this pic taken on 'day 1' of the tear down)  Its not perfect and some rain still gets in, but it keeps the cold & wind off when I'm working on it... |
| |
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 15, 2013 11:35:02 GMT
|
|
BONKERS !!!
That is such a perfect solution to the weather and a total teardown.
I will watch this with interest.
Please keep us updated, regularly.
Ohhh, and an extra 107 Bonus points for your daughter helping you. (do not get me started on my son)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 15, 2013 12:36:07 GMT
|
|
Oh I see! That makes a lot of sense. I've got a retro-ish Hymer motorhome and doing the head gasket outside in the rain and darkness was no fun at all.
Kep up the good work, how is the aluminium/wood bit?
|
| |
67 VW Split bus
69 Beetle Cab
96 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport
|
|
Blag
Part of things
Posts: 22
|
|
Feb 15, 2013 14:22:32 GMT
|
Oh I see! That makes a lot of sense. I've got a retro-ish Hymer motorhome and doing the head gasket outside in the rain and darkness was no fun at all. Kep up the good work, how is the aluminium/wood bit? Its in pretty good shape. It does need some minor repair work here and there, the worst of which is in the ceiling in the cabover. The skylight must've leaked at some time and the ceiling has sagged a little so I'm assuming the worst and I'm predicting some carpentry will be required in the ceiling frame. The leaking skylight was repaired at some stage as there is no water getting in now. I'll eventually take the ceiling down in that area only and repair it properly. No other leaks. The walls & floors are good (no damp). The rest of the coach is in very good shape but a little tired after 33 years. All of the electrical & plumbing appliances work 100%. My good wife is going to supervise the coach refurb, replacing soft furnishings & whatnot.... once I deal with the dirty bits... I'd consider the coach refurb to be the fun part once we get passed the cab repairs!! In general I really prefer the look of the older vehicles, this one in particular. The retro shapes inside and out have a lot more character than some of the newer MH's IMO. I don't really have any pics of the accomodation unit. Only this one that I took by chance. Its a pic of the very back of the wagon. My Mrs is planning on replacing the seat covers, curtains and pelmets with more modern materials (maybe even venetian blinds in the windows instead of curtains)...  |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 16, 2013 19:19:30 GMT by Blag
Kevin
|
|
|
|
)
