New build

So it's warm enough, at last to get out and start work on my van, managed to get two windows installed, but now need a trip to the tip to get rid of some of the woodwork that came with the van

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what happened to your other project? did i miss something.

I did have some problems with both the base vehicle and with the exterior ply that I used. Once the temperature dropped the ply started de-laminating, and after a bit of tinternetting discovered that most of our exterior ply comes from China, and subbed out to Turkey, in other words it was crap! I did camp out at Hawes and a couple of other places when a hooley was blowing, and I have never been scared in a van before, but the VW seemed to have very little stability, so the decision was taken! I stripped the Vee-dub and sold the chassis, and went looking for a van to convert, so that's where I'm up to Frank.

Glad you have explained Debbie we were puzzled as well, good luck with this one.

Methinks I should have got a van in the first place, but hey ho, we do what we think is right, and sometimes make the odd wrong turn.

Is that an Iveco 35s12?
i've got an Ex Parcel force one!

oh well,onwards and upwards.good luck with this one.

theredrooster wrote:

Is that an Iveco 35s12?
i've got an Ex Parcel force one!

Mine is a 35s14, but was not ex GPO, it belonged to a roofing and general builders repairs firm. Its a 2007, and was one of the new facelifts. It does look like GPO paint, but the owner must have liked red, certainly makes a change from white.

best of luck with this one Debbie, know you will get it right this time.

Hi Debbie, Is it a 3.5t or more as the Ivecos have a good payload?

Hi Mark, its 3.5t, and I will be glad when I get some weight in it to stop it boinging down the road.

Hiya Debbie will it be ready for the beer and sausage fest you've got your name down for that 

Hi Adele, I hope to have it in a usable condition, albeit unfinished, the break will do me good.

Today I managed to get the rest of the floor out, and not without difficulty. Underneath was full of crud as expected, and of course the obligatory cement. There was a bit of surface tin worm to treat, and when those areas are dry, I will fibre glass the screw and bolt holes. The floor will be going back in, but raised approx 50mm for insulation.

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Looking forward to following the transformation

Phew!!  Many thanks to Tugga for directing me here....I was quite concerned at the way Debbie's other thread suddenly ended.  Hope this one goes smoothly for you Debbie!

Debbie, good luck with this one, looks like a nice van and project.

Debbie good luck on this build.
What floorplan are you thinking of?
If any of my pics on my one '54 reg 35s12 are of help, I'll fire them through!

My floor plan is done, and it is based loosely on the Canadian design that Roadtrek and Pleasureway use, but it is always interesting to see other peoples vans, so put the pictures up if you wish, and we can all have a look.

Yes we are a nosey lot on here aren't we 

Long day today, first had to go food shopping, then wood shopping, then home and do some more on the van

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Looking good already Debbie, soon have it comfy n warm.

Hope so Bob, not very good at doing cold, but do like winter, makes you appreciate spring and summer, and especially autumn!

Was not intending doing anything today, but the sun came out, and I thought, just go out and make a start on the forward bulkhead. Done that, and very shortly will be going for a hot soak with a glass of red.

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Great job keep it up.

Here is my old drill and its cheapie replacement, and a view of my workshop and today’s work

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Coming along well Debbie, keep it up, hope the weather warms up a bit for you as it cannot be comfortable working out in the cold.

  Debbie.

It's that time of the year, the sun is shining, we are getting hail showers, rain showers, and it's flippin draughty.
Still, managed to get out and do a bit more to the van. Had to make a small change to my design as where I was going to put the the gas locker behind the back door, it would have left the seat/bed too high. My gas locker will now be positioned  to the right of the space immediately behind the sliding door, and there is already a hole there with a rubber bung in it for the drop out - sorted!

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Got a bit more done even though there was a pretty cold wind blowing, The one downside with a van, is of course, it's a funny shape when it comes to panelling. Still got the insulation and the second skin to install

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Looking good Debbie, and the van coming along as well 

Well, what a difference a day makes, lovely day here yesterday, so back on the van. First job, install new aerial for radio at back. Then prepare for cutting of hole in roof for Mini-Heki, got three different levels on roof just to make it interesting, had already been to local double-glazing company who allowed me to have a ratch in their rubbish mountain for some plastic strips. Finally got roof level for Heki frame to sit on, then installed the Heki. Not the most straight forward job!  Then cut hole in floor for Trumatic heater, and started making shields to prevent water and muck from getting to where it disnna need to be! Have also started putting wiring in.

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So today, Had to go out am on errands and more wood so that pm I could start putting the rest of the floor in.


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Coming along nicely Debbie, hope it stays nice for you so you can crack on with the jobs.

I bet the Heki has made it a lot lighter in there!
Also insulated floor should keep some of the cold out.
Good work Debbie 

Hia

Yes coming along nicely

I've done a build so if I can help in any way just sing out, I have loads of pictures and can either post or link to them.

Kev.

debbielectric wrote:

Today I managed to get the rest of the floor out, and not without difficulty. Underneath was full of crud as expected, and of course the obligatory cement. There was a bit of surface tin worm to treat, and when those areas are dry, I will fibre glass the screw and bolt holes. The floor will be going back in, but raised approx 50mm for insulation.

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I wouldn't do that, fibre glass is good, but you'd be better off getting some red lead, (B&Q) you'll need some for any cut edges and any rust spots you've rubbed down, once it's dried apply enough StiXall to the holes and sort of mushroom it so you have a plug inside and out, I did this with mine and it's rock solid after 3 years, also a good plan for any steel screws you use which go through the floor, red lead them outside and put some StiXall onto them.

Hi Kev, I used fibre glass cos I had some laid in the cupboard, but I wire brushed the holes and used Kurust and zinc paint prior to glassing.

The trouble is it's rigid and most van bodies flex, so over time it'll slowly come away from the metal and be a possible leak & rust point, When I posted it was at the post mentioned, and I'd not read the whole thread so obviously I missed the boat, looking good though.

I was annoyed with myself on Friday, as I discovered my Heki had sprung a leak! mutter mutter, so I removed the whole thing, cleaned it up and re-instated it, I found where the leak was and it was tiny!, but that's all it takes, I did wonder if that three level roof would come back to bite me.
Have made the floor fitting for the Trumatic heater, aluminium would have been easier, but I used one of the window cut-outs, then today was about doing the over-cab, which is coming on nicely. The struts in the middle are there for support till the Stixall sets. Hmmph, looks like the flash did not go off!

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I'd never have thought of closing off the cab like that, are you fitting a sliding door to make the hab warmer at night?

Morning Kev, and yes I will be making and fitting a sliding door to go on the cab side, so that it slides behind the passenger seat. On B and C class motor-homes the cab is the biggest problem for losing heat. The cab heaters were never designed to heat the whole van up, and even without the door, my cab is considerably warmer

I was puzzling how you could make it neat, and cheap, I wonder if a couple of full extension drawer slides might just do it, a few lengths of the brush type draught excluder to keep it warm, magnets to keep it closed/open.

Have now got my nuclear power station fitted, flue for the trumatic heater, ceiling fitted, and started lining out. Feel like I'm getting somewhere now!

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As usual going along nicely Debbie, keep it up and soon you will on the road again.

Certainly looking forward to getting out Bob.

Looking forward to the weekend in deepest Lancashire for a well earned rest. Van not finished but is usable.

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Start of kitchen

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Part of the bed/seat.

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Getting there !

You should have give us all a job to do, we could have finished it over the weekend, too late now, for health and safety reasons you need to give a weeks notice

Sounds like a politicians statement.