Pretty much the first pic is just the info sheet on the 250 watt solar panels. I have two of them to mount flat on top. Eventually will build in a tilt to either side, that's just for the tech junkies out there. They measure basically 700mm x 1100mm. they will be wired in series to a Renogy 30amp controller and one 100ah lithium battery to start. I want 300-400ah in the long run, but if I stay with the 9kg 100ah I am looking at I can do it in eh, a year I it will be at 400. definitely 200ah in 3-4 months.
The second shows the passenger tray and the cancer holes
The third is the passenger door with the panel removed. I will be cutting new ones, and covering them in some sort of cloth I think.
Fourth is outside the passenger side, trim removed
The fifth is the front. The bull bar will be removed and that bent and damaged front panel under the windshield we'll be repaired. I will also add an led light bar down the road. The lights will be polished up
The sixth is the driver's side you can see the tape covering the worst rust holes. I will remove the rain gutters, the rust damage on top is extensive and will be lap welded with long strips. I am thinking of removing the windows as well and flat paneling them. I would leave the rear door window and the side gate window. plenty of light from those.
The seventh is the back bumper. trailer hitch, and half the rear door. Currently, this door is unopenable and will need to be persuaded open and then fixed, and then hung with new gas struts. Once it is open I can prop it, so that is a down the line upgrade.
You can see the van is not in terribad condition, but it is pretty poor overall. However, after inspection the interior and frame are fine. Fix these body rust problems, get her sharp and ready to coat the outside, then we can start building into the back. The front seats are positively destroyed, and I am looking at having a bus seat upholstery firm redo them with commercial foam and long-lasting cloth. I hope to be at that point by the end of January. the back will have a wood floor, but the front will be a tough industrial carpet with an underpad.
The most interesting thing about this van is there are no interior wheel wells in the back. this is actually a huge space loss in most minivans, and I will not have that problem. Half the roof will be solar panels, and the other half will be a stand-on black roof rack. This minivan is going to have an enormous amount of space, and still be at under 2.2 meters tall unloaded. the interior roughly measures 2.5m long, 1.5 wide at the floor, 1.2 at the roof, with 1.5m to the bottom of the roof strut.
Right now it's work a bit here and a bit there. Next will be the interior panels in the rear, two of which are missing. I work until my foot or my leg starts getting painful and swollen and then go home. but what you saw done was just two days of really exploratory work. Interior panels need to be as much as possible removed so I can heat sink behind the panel welds if I need to butt-join the weld.
Possum3 said
08:00 AM Dec 4, 2020
I note Numberplate quite visible not a good idea if posting photos. The turret "red ant feast" in gutter will be difficult to exterminate, (from personal experience with a high turret ford falcon), but it is of critical importance for structural integrity.
A lot of work ahead of you, I hope you enjoy it.
rgren2 said
09:09 AM Dec 4, 2020
Permalink Reply Quote
I note Numberplate quite visible not a good idea if posting photos
Why?
Grandad5 said
09:15 AM Dec 4, 2020
That passenger side floor looks pretty daunting. What's your plan of attack on that area?
Do Rare Spares carry any replacement floor pans for Econovans?
Jim
Cupie said
09:55 AM Dec 4, 2020
rgren2 wrote:
Permalink Reply Quote
I note Numberplate quite visible not a good idea if posting photos
We are committed to delivering you a better, safer experience.
That's why we have started blurring number plates on all photos uploaded to the site and removed the rego plate number from the ad details section. This is to protect the car from identity theft and plate cloning. The automatic plate detection technology is still learning so please bear with us during this exciting roll out.
If you are selling your car registered, please note that we require at least one clear photo of your registration plate uploaded on your ad for verification purposes. When your photos appear in your ad on the site, our system will blur these out.
Seems like they believe its an issue of potential identity theft or plate cloning.
Looks like a long labour of love getting the van ready. How is it mechanically?
Possum3 said
10:16 AM Dec 4, 2020
rgren2 wrote:
I note Numberplate quite visible not a good idea if posting photos
Why?
As answered above by others;
Copying of numberplates and matching with similar vehicles is a big problem, with copy plates being used mainly for "Petrol Station Dive-offs" or other nefarious uses. NSW Highway units are currently catching dozens of copy plates with their plate recognition technology, but it does cause a lot of angst with the genuine plate owners being initially accused.
Whenarewethere said
11:11 AM Dec 4, 2020
& if you post a photo of another car blur their plate.
cunningstuff said
02:28 AM Dec 6, 2020
Plate blurring noted, and I will change that in the Flikr link.
Questions to answer.
The turret "red ant feast" in gutter will be difficult to exterminate-- Not really a question but a statement of fact, and a good observation. I will be removing the gutter, lap welding a plate over it, and then strengthen with either angle or square tube stock. I will be consulting a long time body man on my plans for it. There is also a long-term idea of raising the roof to standing high in the long run as a wedge from front to back, or perhaps a full roof pop up.
Permalink Reply Quote
That passenger side floor looks pretty daunting. What's your plan of attack on that area?
Do Rare Spares carry any replacement floor pans for Econovans?
--- I won't replace that with a tub, just exterminating the rust and putting in a flat plate. I am a single nomad and may even drop the passenger seat altogether, instead creating a flat storage area. The rocker underneath is solid.
Looks like a long labour of love getting the van ready. How is it mechanically?
I will start in earnest in January, I expect to be done with the metalwork, grinding, and paint prep by February. I am currently waiting on my body guy to bend his ear, I need to know the exact gauge of the metal sheet to lap weld with. I am saving up for the welder and the metal currently. He may decide to help me, as he is keen on camper modding himself. Mechanically is the good news, well I think it is, the 2.2 R2 diesel was rebuilt at 524,000 km, and it has 541,000 km on the odometer. These drive trains are known to do 1 million Km, and it is all solid, clean and does not leak. It starts as soon as you hit the key, every time, and is my daily driver. I have driven on hot 41c days and cold 12c mornings. The brakes are solid, the clutch shifts well, the linkage is probably due for an upgrade, but still, shifts without much if any effort.
cunningstuff said
02:51 AM Dec 6, 2020
Uhmmmm
I do not know why but I can not get an edit on my post. www.flickr.com/photos/151483692@N02/shares/rCi202
that will get you all the pictures, the solar tech pic is last now. I will try and organize tomorrow, and perhaps holler at a mod to help me out with the editing
Whenarewethere said
10:33 AM Dec 6, 2020
Stick thermal insulation in the van. Keeps heat out & stops condensation in winter on trim panels.
It is more expensive but acoustic insulation is really good thermal insulation.
Use 1 mm "cold rolled " sheet ...... easy to bend and form - nice to work with and most Sheet Metal workshops have it in stock or will cut a bit off for you .
I use .6mm wire in the MIG for panel welding.
Also spend $100 or so on an "Air Punch Flange Tool" and some "Cleco Skin Pins " (all on EBay - shop in Shepparton , Vic. ) makes panel work so much easier and less frustrating and lets you make a better job.....
Aus-Kiwi said
02:36 PM Dec 6, 2020
Yes even self tapers work fine till spot welded . Then weld over where screw was .I used zinc coated panel and treated inside area for rust . I used KBS rust treatment on inside panels . Made sure there was drainage for moisture etc .
cunningstuff said
03:30 AM Dec 7, 2020
thank you for the tips! I will use the 10 amp plug bossweld gasless mig from bunnings, it is 300 bucks but comes with an automatic lens helmet, which I don't have. 1mm seems a bit thick, I was planning on matching the gauge of sheet metal as close as possible, barring that I think I can get .4mm zinc coated. if it is 20 gauge I think it's around .37mm.
I was looking for a flange tool, but I don't have a compressor for air power. I had a manual one I used in the states, just a modded vice grip. Any source for one of those? Worst comes to worst I can flang half the butt weld, or just focus on using lap welding.
Sourcing this metal seems to be quite difficult, it is like suppliers hide from the public almost. In the states I could find almost anything, but here it's really hard. I think it is just a lingo difference. My first source would be industrial salvage in the states but I can't find that anywhere. However I do have an old body man I can talk to, he is out this weekend for a weekend jaunt, but I will have some time getting his sources and advice coming this week.
I will look at the acoustic insulation link as well.
Whenarewethere said
06:56 AM Dec 7, 2020
Make sure you cover up completely. No exposed skin anywhere due to the extreme UV welding creates. I have done both first year arc welding & oxyacetylene.
I had an automatic mask when they first came out. Have the darker glass for arc welding. They cost $700 back in the 1980s.
cunningstuff said
11:57 PM Dec 11, 2020
Thank you for the coverup tip. I have an old flannel, a welding apron and welding gloves, plus some hard yakka work pants and leather workboots for welding/working.
Some great news I received today. My friend the bodyman returned my calls, and on discovering my scheme to go live the van life has bent over backwards in helping me. Using the .4 mm plate is fine, and he has also given me a metal supplier to contact. He is looking for a real MIG gas welder to loan me throughout the body repair process. He has asked me for measurements on the metal sheeting I need and hinted at supplying that. He has even come up with 3 12v deep cycle batteries and a solar controller, leaving me to just get the wiring and set up. I will now have to set up outside vents for the batteries but that's fine. I had only two questions, but funny enough we spoke for almost 20 minutes, that's two no-nonsense DIY guys over 50 mind you, who hate phones. This could allow me more than 1000 in the bank as I roll off on the road, which for my penniless ass is a saving grace.
Hopefully finding myself includes finding a sizable income for a person who has my get it done attitude. If this all works out who knows where I can go with it. I can say this, choosing this path has already considerably changed my attitude and my expectations for the coming year. Being miserable at my own hands is starting to recede and having a life worth living is starting to look like the light at the end of the tunnel.
cunningstuff said
01:01 AM Dec 17, 2020
omg the rain this week in Sydney.... nothing getting done atm, because my workspace is outside with no cover. However more good news from my bodyman buddy, he is going to come by this Saturday and look at the van and have a jaw wag. Life is looking better all the time!
cunningstuff said
10:13 PM Jan 9, 2021
A quick update -
https://youtu.be/mSGn6hGsk-c
Short video during repair week last week. I have some industrial one coat paint next to give her a makeover on the outside, and then we go inside. I will be posting a weekly update on youtube and drop a link here but, SHE IS SKINNED! No more mini waterfalls coming inside, she is watertight!
During the paint job, I will do a bit of filming. I have a way to hold my phone now while I film.
Possum3 said
12:59 PM Jan 11, 2021
I was unable to get youtu.be/mSGn6hGsk-c to show any video/s. It may be just me, but copying and pasting it doesn't work.
Whenarewethere said
02:13 PM Jan 11, 2021
Opened no problems on my phone.
Looks like you have a large spray painting booth, maybe enough to do the whole van!
Hello everyone! I have introduced myself earlier, and now getting into the nitty-gritty of the work on my future home.
Pictures!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151483692@N02/shares/477TLd
going left to right, top to bottom ofc
Pretty much the first pic is just the info sheet on the 250 watt solar panels. I have two of them to mount flat on top. Eventually will build in a tilt to either side, that's just for the tech junkies out there. They measure basically 700mm x 1100mm. they will be wired in series to a Renogy 30amp controller and one 100ah lithium battery to start. I want 300-400ah in the long run, but if I stay with the 9kg 100ah I am looking at I can do it in eh, a year I it will be at 400. definitely 200ah in 3-4 months.
The second shows the passenger tray and the cancer holes
The third is the passenger door with the panel removed. I will be cutting new ones, and covering them in some sort of cloth I think.
Fourth is outside the passenger side, trim removed
The fifth is the front. The bull bar will be removed and that bent and damaged front panel under the windshield we'll be repaired. I will also add an led light bar down the road. The lights will be polished up
The sixth is the driver's side you can see the tape covering the worst rust holes. I will remove the rain gutters, the rust damage on top is extensive and will be lap welded with long strips. I am thinking of removing the windows as well and flat paneling them. I would leave the rear door window and the side gate window. plenty of light from those.
The seventh is the back bumper. trailer hitch, and half the rear door. Currently, this door is unopenable and will need to be persuaded open and then fixed, and then hung with new gas struts. Once it is open I can prop it, so that is a down the line upgrade.
You can see the van is not in terribad condition, but it is pretty poor overall. However, after inspection the interior and frame are fine. Fix these body rust problems, get her sharp and ready to coat the outside, then we can start building into the back. The front seats are positively destroyed, and I am looking at having a bus seat upholstery firm redo them with commercial foam and long-lasting cloth. I hope to be at that point by the end of January. the back will have a wood floor, but the front will be a tough industrial carpet with an underpad.
The most interesting thing about this van is there are no interior wheel wells in the back. this is actually a huge space loss in most minivans, and I will not have that problem. Half the roof will be solar panels, and the other half will be a stand-on black roof rack. This minivan is going to have an enormous amount of space, and still be at under 2.2 meters tall unloaded. the interior roughly measures 2.5m long, 1.5 wide at the floor, 1.2 at the roof, with 1.5m to the bottom of the roof strut.
Right now it's work a bit here and a bit there. Next will be the interior panels in the rear, two of which are missing. I work until my foot or my leg starts getting painful and swollen and then go home. but what you saw done was just two days of really exploratory work. Interior panels need to be as much as possible removed so I can heat sink behind the panel welds if I need to butt-join the weld.
A lot of work ahead of you, I hope you enjoy it.
Permalink Reply Quote
I note Numberplate quite visible not a good idea if posting photos
Why?
Do Rare Spares carry any replacement floor pans for Econovans?
Jim
I wondered the same so had a quick search
Found this from carsales.com
...........................................................................................
Registration Plate Blurring
We are committed to delivering you a better, safer experience.
That's why we have started blurring number plates on all photos uploaded to the site and removed the rego plate number from the ad details section. This is to protect the car from identity theft and plate cloning. The automatic plate detection technology is still learning so please bear with us during this exciting roll out.
If you are selling your car registered, please note that we require at least one clear photo of your registration plate uploaded on your ad for verification purposes. When your photos appear in your ad on the site, our system will blur these out.
................................................................................................
Seems like they believe its an issue of potential identity theft or plate cloning.
Looks like a long labour of love getting the van ready. How is it mechanically?
As answered above by others;
Copying of numberplates and matching with similar vehicles is a big problem, with copy plates being used mainly for "Petrol Station Dive-offs" or other nefarious uses. NSW Highway units are currently catching dozens of copy plates with their plate recognition technology, but it does cause a lot of angst with the genuine plate owners being initially accused.
& if you post a photo of another car blur their plate.
Questions to answer.
The turret "red ant feast" in gutter will be difficult to exterminate-- Not really a question but a statement of fact, and a good observation. I will be removing the gutter, lap welding a plate over it, and then strengthen with either angle or square tube stock. I will be consulting a long time body man on my plans for it. There is also a long-term idea of raising the roof to standing high in the long run as a wedge from front to back, or perhaps a full roof pop up.
Permalink Reply Quote
That passenger side floor looks pretty daunting. What's your plan of attack on that area?
Do Rare Spares carry any replacement floor pans for Econovans?
--- I won't replace that with a tub, just exterminating the rust and putting in a flat plate. I am a single nomad and may even drop the passenger seat altogether, instead creating a flat storage area. The rocker underneath is solid.
Looks like a long labour of love getting the van ready. How is it mechanically?
I will start in earnest in January, I expect to be done with the metalwork, grinding, and paint prep by February. I am currently waiting on my body guy to bend his ear, I need to know the exact gauge of the metal sheet to lap weld with. I am saving up for the welder and the metal currently. He may decide to help me, as he is keen on camper modding himself. Mechanically is the good news, well I think it is, the 2.2 R2 diesel was rebuilt at 524,000 km, and it has 541,000 km on the odometer. These drive trains are known to do 1 million Km, and it is all solid, clean and does not leak. It starts as soon as you hit the key, every time, and is my daily driver. I have driven on hot 41c days and cold 12c mornings. The brakes are solid, the clutch shifts well, the linkage is probably due for an upgrade, but still, shifts without much if any effort.
I do not know why but I can not get an edit on my post.
www.flickr.com/photos/151483692@N02/shares/rCi202
that will get you all the pictures, the solar tech pic is last now. I will try and organize tomorrow, and perhaps holler at a mod to help me out with the editing
Stick thermal insulation in the van. Keeps heat out & stops condensation in winter on trim panels.
It is more expensive but acoustic insulation is really good thermal insulation.
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65443581/car-acoustic-insulation/
Use 1 mm "cold rolled " sheet ...... easy to bend and form - nice to work with and most Sheet Metal workshops have it in stock or will cut a bit off for you .
I use .6mm wire in the MIG for panel welding.
Also spend $100 or so on an "Air Punch Flange Tool" and some "Cleco Skin Pins " (all on EBay - shop in Shepparton , Vic. ) makes panel work so much easier and less frustrating and lets you make a better job.....
I was looking for a flange tool, but I don't have a compressor for air power. I had a manual one I used in the states, just a modded vice grip. Any source for one of those? Worst comes to worst I can flang half the butt weld, or just focus on using lap welding.
Sourcing this metal seems to be quite difficult, it is like suppliers hide from the public almost. In the states I could find almost anything, but here it's really hard. I think it is just a lingo difference. My first source would be industrial salvage in the states but I can't find that anywhere. However I do have an old body man I can talk to, he is out this weekend for a weekend jaunt, but I will have some time getting his sources and advice coming this week.
I will look at the acoustic insulation link as well.
Make sure you cover up completely. No exposed skin anywhere due to the extreme UV welding creates. I have done both first year arc welding & oxyacetylene.
I had an automatic mask when they first came out. Have the darker glass for arc welding. They cost $700 back in the 1980s.
Some great news I received today. My friend the bodyman returned my calls, and on discovering my scheme to go live the van life has bent over backwards in helping me. Using the .4 mm plate is fine, and he has also given me a metal supplier to contact. He is looking for a real MIG gas welder to loan me throughout the body repair process. He has asked me for measurements on the metal sheeting I need and hinted at supplying that. He has even come up with 3 12v deep cycle batteries and a solar controller, leaving me to just get the wiring and set up. I will now have to set up outside vents for the batteries but that's fine. I had only two questions, but funny enough we spoke for almost 20 minutes, that's two no-nonsense DIY guys over 50 mind you, who hate phones. This could allow me more than 1000 in the bank as I roll off on the road, which for my penniless ass is a saving grace.
Hopefully finding myself includes finding a sizable income for a person who has my get it done attitude. If this all works out who knows where I can go with it. I can say this, choosing this path has already considerably changed my attitude and my expectations for the coming year. Being miserable at my own hands is starting to recede and having a life worth living is starting to look like the light at the end of the tunnel.
A quick update -
https://youtu.be/mSGn6hGsk-c
Short video during repair week last week. I have some industrial one coat paint next to give her a makeover on the outside, and then we go inside. I will be posting a weekly update on youtube and drop a link here but, SHE IS SKINNED! No more mini waterfalls coming inside, she is watertight!
During the paint job, I will do a bit of filming. I have a way to hold my phone now while I film.
Opened no problems on my phone.
Looks like you have a large spray painting booth, maybe enough to do the whole van!