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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #150 on Nov 1, 2009, 7:28am »

Hey Rolly
Thanks for the tip

Had never thought of that
Sadly I would need a hell of a lot a fridge doors
Used all 30mtrs and still need another 10

Cause we haven't done the roof hatch yet :'(

Parsimonious: "Tendancy to be very careful when spending money"
Had to look it up ...... didn't have a clue you meant

Arn't we all Rolly?
A dollar of my money in my pocket is always a better thing than in the shopkeepers

It's all good

The box mould that I made and posted on this thread earlier

[image]

Was to make ............

THIS

[image]

Then it was primer filler sprayed and topcoated
[image]

Had to make a floor for it with ply covered in laminate, a base in timber as well as a door

The door was timber framed and the panel was gelcoated fibreglass

[image]

Where does it go?
HERE
[image]

Added a little seat for the top and can be used as a night stand

Another project comes to a close

Stay tuned
More to come

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Nov 8, 2009, 9:54am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #151 on Nov 9, 2009, 7:27am »

Well the nose cone is up to paint stage

[image]

Just a couple more coats and we'll be fitting it
If it would stop raining ::)

Interior is just about there
Do you think the Missus is getting anxious?

Or am I being given a hint

Cheers
Atog

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #152 on Mar 9, 2010, 5:21pm »

Gidday Everyone
Well before going up to Lake Tinaroo on the weekend, the trouble and strife let me know she wasn't happy about the single beds.

[image]

_{This photo was taken before refitting the small cupboard.}

Originally it was OK but ..... well.......
She wanted a double..... ::)

So
I had no intention of ripping out the two singles
What to do

????

Easy buy a sheet of 12mm ply - dock it to size - rip it up the middle.
This gave me two pieces 1850 x 600 and a left over

One on top of each single bed (under the mattresses) until needed.

Take them out when needed rearrange the beds and ......
here's the results

[image]

Now we can have double or single beds as needed.
All for the price of a sheet of ply

Talk about a huge bed, luxury plus

.....
It's bigger than the queen size we have at home.
Miles of room!!!!!!
Because it sits over the single beds and the small cupboard- the bed is 1800 wide and 2 mtrs long.

No complaints about having no room to stretch out now

Cheers
Atouchofluxury

« Last Edit: Jan 29, 2011, 3:16pm by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #153 on Mar 17, 2010, 6:28am »

Hi Guys
Well the story continues.....

While preping the van last year I installed a water filter.
Reason being that I wasn't sure of the quality of water that we would encounter while travelling.

Well it was definitely used in Bowen.
The camp had access to bore water only..... hmmmm ok for washing and showers... ...... .... but.... don't drink the stuff.

It is highly mineralised and has a smell and taste.
There is also a small amount of algae in the water.
The stink stays in the filter no matter how much water you flush through it.

Algae must live in the filter.
Couldn't get rid of the smell when using mains water wherever we went.

So changed it today.
Little bit late but better than not at all.

[image]

You will notice at the bottom of the photo that under the bed has been seperated where the water filter and filler are.

I knew there would be water spilt when changing filters or if there was a leak.
So that section is seperated and almost waterproof.

So ....
What else has gone into the Olympic of late?
Well
The shake down trip to Bowen also showed up the lack of bench space.
Once the Microwave is on the benchtop there is little room for preparing food while cooking.
Sooooo
Added this over the past week
[image]

Bit difficult to get in and out of bed unless.......
It can be folded out of the way.

Little more wood work to do before I make a latch to hold it up.
Laminated on both sides so it blends in when folded up.
Glad I had extra laminate left over.

Bit of fun doing wood work after all these months.

Cheers
Atog

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humpty2
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #154 on Mar 17, 2010, 6:46pm »

Now that you've nearly finished..............and got nothing to do, there is some work required on a 21' ...... ::)

You're doing a great job...."Love your work".

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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #155 on Mar 18, 2010, 7:07am »

Morning Gents

Thanks for the compliments ....... all donations gratefully received.

^{of compliments that is}

Hey Ron
Had a look at the site you are talking about
The page on biofilm was very interesting.
My filter was definitly suffering that.

Also the link to the free water alerts.....
www.freewateralerts.com

Is a must look for everyone

Thanks for those.
May invest in another filter from best filters some time in the future.
Other expenses on the go at the moment.

Hey Humpty
Mate haven't you finished that Olympic yet?

I know you've got room down there, so when I'm doing the Round the Block trip....

May just drop in for a few months and finish a few things for you.

Bet you couldn't handle visitors for that long
_{"I know he said he'd help but the bloke is making too much noise at 10 oclock at night.....
the old coot is worse than the possums -
At least they don't use drop saws, panel saws and flippin' routers "}

Keep at it mate. She will come up a treat when you get the time to finish her.
Seems I've got a job helping fix Tonyh's Olympic
Then helping with yours then.....

Maybe I could make a business out of this
Atogs Mobile Caravan Repairs
Or
Repairs- Olympic- Urgent- Gentle and Helpful
Or R.O.U.G.H for short

Currently raining in Cairns..... so what's new ::)

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Mar 18, 2010, 7:08am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #156 on Mar 25, 2010, 8:42am »

Hey Guys and Gals

Update on the water filter
Cleaned out and sterilized the filter housing
Replace the algae breeder with a new filter and it's good as new.

So what you say?

Well I thought about chucking the smelly filter away but...
Having a bottle of sterilizer used for homebrew - I decided to wash and sterilize the old filter.
Old?
Had only been used for about 3 months.

Too new to just bin.
Sterilized it in a bucket for a few days and dried it out.....
No smell - no nuthin.
Will keep it as a spare- at $20 a filter it was a cheap save.

If you come across bore water in your travels and I suggest you will.
Buy some homebrew sterilizer (sodium hydroxide) it will save you a few dollars replacing filters.
It is also great for removing the sweat stink out of your workshirts.

Cheers
Atog
^{Provider of useless information and tips.}

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andrew82
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #157 on Mar 25, 2010, 12:58pm »

Your doing a great job there atog! 8-)

Good thinking with the bed idea, I'm with the wifey on this one. 1 bed is definitley better than 2.

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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #158 on Apr 5, 2010, 2:37pm »

Thanks Andrew
The double bed was definitely an improvement

Used it and tested out the new extension to kitchen bench as well
[image]

You don't know how much you need something until you start using it.

Cheers
Atog

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #159 on Apr 21, 2010, 8:09am »

Hey Everyone

Thought it was time to show a few of the problems with the Olympic and my fixes

As you would know Cairns is a ...... little wet most of the summer and regularly up until May of each year.
That causes plenty of opportunities to find out where caravans leak. ::)

One of the reoccurring issues Olympics have is the door doesn't always fit well.

Often there is a rotted out floor at the entrance.
This is the van door not fitting properly.

Some fit an extra bit of aluminium over the door as an awning.
Clever little dicky birds bend the top of the door with weights and fix it there. (Good one Tonyh)
But my van was already painted and so I came up with this solution instead.

[image]

The water that does come inside the door goes down both sides and out the bottom.
Maybe not ideal but at least it means no extra bits on the outside.

My trip to Bowen and then the Gold Coast must have opened up a couple of joins in the van windows.
Again the rain in Nth Qld found the issues..... ::)

The kitchen window has been one of these that regularly caused me ... issues.
Resealed it and made an awning to remove the problem all together.
Lets hope it works

The advantage of doing it this way?
Instead of extending the awning out -
it adds only the thickness of the f/glass to the width of the van.

It also fits in quite well- IMHO
8-)

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Apr 21, 2010, 8:23am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #160 on Apr 21, 2010, 1:56pm »

Atog good job there just wondering no doubt you resealed the windows with butyl or sikaflex etc does the exterior wall have to much flex causing the leak?.
Hwyman

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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #161 on Apr 22, 2010, 7:20am »

Giday Hwyman
The joins may have been open when I repainted the van
As I had to strip off some of the sikaflex/matrix then..

One on the back window also opened up fractionally
That's all it takes for water to find a way to seep inside. ::)

Or it opened up while traveling.

Not really sure

But with the gap filled again and the awning ......
Let's hope it doesn't leak again.
Can't see how it could really.

Thanks for the post

Cheers
Atog

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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #162 on Apr 30, 2010, 9:28am »

Well the van has had a little trip as recent as yesterday

Not a holiday trip
But a needed upgrade to the running gear.

[image]

Ride height hasn't changed much - but that's because the stub axles are now straight instead of on top of the axle.

Springs also retempered.
The blacksmith that retempered the springs says that jeep used the same springs in 1957-58

So now after 40 years the springs, axle, brake cable, gooseneck, and associated bits and pieces are back to new status.

Must add to anyone doing up a van
Don't follow my lead

Do up the running gear first.... not last
A series of events lead to me doing the running gear last
Mostly ignorance.

Still need to replace the rims.
Now can confirm the rims are early falcon pattern.
Got to pay off the axle and hubs first ::)

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Apr 30, 2010, 9:36am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #163 on Jul 11, 2010, 1:40pm »

Well not much happening of recent with the van

Only really been able to upgrade the rims

One of the old rims had a slow leak
Know it was the rim... cause it had two different tyres on it in twelve months

[image]

Only a few extra things to go ......

Cheers
Atog

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Don Ricardo
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #164 on Jul 11, 2010, 6:13pm »

Hi ATOG,

I read the post about your father's Olympic on the Olympic thread. I hadn't realised that you had the family link - you've probably mentioned it before, and perhaps I missed it. Anyway, now I know where your interest in Olympics comes from...

Our childhood experiences have a pretty powerful experience on us, don't they? I can think of a number of people on the forum whose love of V V's stems from their holidays in caravans as children, and quite a few people whose interest in a particular brand also links back to their holiday experiences (myself included). I reckon if we talked to people with period tow cars (including those with rods) the same might apply to the vehicles they have.

Back to your father's van - was it a Stardust? There were a couple of 21' Stardusts at Mildura. Pretty impressive vans!

Don Ricardo

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atouchofglass
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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #165 on Jul 11, 2010, 7:04pm »

Hi Don Richardo
Yep the family only had the 21' Stardust for a year before selling it

The childhood memories are still very strong as I was to do Correspondence while we travelled.....
Only really got up and down the East Coast

Cairns was a paradise to me .... hence now living here.

Having a room of my own as a child was also a great experience... it was so small the cupboard couldn't be fully opened.

Laying on my bed reading daredevil comics..... arrh the memories

Cheers
Atog

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #166 on Jul 30, 2010, 6:43pm »

Thanks Arthur
I hope it helps anyone who is interested in restoring an Olympic.

Or any van for that matter.

When I started I didn't know anything much about restoring vans, 12V electrics or how it was going to get painted or paid for......
Now have heaps of information about all of the above.

My thought is .....
If you really want to do it.....
Just get in and go for it.

The rest will follow

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Sept 5, 2010, 7:39am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #167 on Aug 7, 2010, 8:35am »

Hey Bill

Mate the cost of this rebuild was higher than most cause I spent on things like Stainless steel, rosewood, hydraulic rams, extra fibreglass bits, extra lighting, perspex mirrors and a hundred other things that don't immediately come to mind.

The interior was stripped out so that the only original bits inside are the glass cupboard doors over the kitchen and the door striker

Bit over the top for most .....
But it was all about having fun and learning the skills required to do up a van.

So yes it was expensive.
Material costs and a small amount of tradies labour 25k

If you decide to do one up without all the extra bits....
Some have told me they have spent 16k and ended up with very nice results.
So ... for 16 ... you will end up with a nice van in my opinion
Do it over time and it won't hurt the pocketbook .......... as much

By all means keep in touch
Just ask a question in the general section and I'm sure it will be answered...... many heads have to be better than just one.

There are people from all trades and backgrounds here so someone will know the answer to whatever the question is.

Why not start your own thread relating to your Contessa and your rebuild? ...... it helped me push on with mine.

All the best
Atog

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #168 on Sept 9, 2010, 9:40pm »

Hi Atog, You've done a great job on the van, you should be very proud, and pleased, with with all the time and effort you have put into it. The end result is fantastic, hope you enjoy the time you spend using it. Cheers Scotty

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #169 on Sept 10, 2010, 4:30pm »

Hey Scotty
Actually I miss working on the van

It filled every weekend and most evenings for almost 2 and a half years.

So have other projects on the go just to fill in the time

Not getting much use at the moment....
But it will in the coming months

Thanks for the interest

Cheers
Atog

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #170 on Sept 10, 2010, 6:10pm »

You have done a magnificent job,have followed your progress with great interest!Oh to be handy!!!
hughdeani

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #171 on Sept 10, 2010, 10:24pm »

Yeah its sad when theres nothing left to work on & to fill the weekends in ATOG, but the good news is...........you get to go away every weekend now & enjoy it

PS: How come everytime that you post pics the road in front of your house is wet? ::)

Cheers Adam

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #172 on Sept 12, 2010, 7:29am »

Hey Gents

Thanks Hughdeani
Glad to see it gave some ideas to you and others

Anything done on the van was just a trial and error thing.
I don't have a grounding in any of the trades needed to do up a van.
But managed anyway.

If I can do it so can anyone..... just need to go for it.

Hey Kazandadam
Yeah it will be real nice when I get the time to go on a few more outings with the van.
Wasted this weekend just doing nothing..... it was a beautiful couple of days...

We have three seasons in Cairns
About to rain
Raining
Just finished raining

Some nice weather inbetween times though

Cheers
Atog

Update
Well it's now been 12 months since the van has been completed
And I8 months since registering.

Been to the August 2009 Cairns Swap Meet
[image]

Some of the trips have been interesting
Such as Bowen for two months work Nov 2009/ Jan 2010
Then onto the Gold Coast
[image]

And two trips to Tinaroo dam
April 2010

[image]

August 2010 Swap Meet in Cairns
[image]

Sept 2010 Second trip to Tinaroo
[image]

And lastly to Mission Beach in October
[image]

Lucinda August 2011 and then again in April 2012
[image]

On the way to Lucinda after cyclone Yasi
[image]

December 2012 Newell Beach above Mossman
[image]

Atog

« Last Edit: Jan 10, 2013, 5:40pm by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #173 on Nov 4, 2010, 6:02am »

Hey RG81

Glad to see you are joining the fibreglass fraternity.

Annexes
A lot of the members use them
Some of us don't

Boblor has a roll out annex either side of his Olympic
Bobandjacqui have an annex

Atouchofglass hasn't gotten there yet.....
::)

Mine will be free standing as I don't want to punch anymore holes into the fibreglass shell than is needed.

Fibreglass techniques.
Have a read of this
It won't give you everything but it is a GOOD start.
http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/ind....lay&thread=4145

Since making the small bits and pieces for the Olympic I have seen some real nice glossy sheets of laminated ply....
Possibly at Bunnings.
That would give you a real nice finish if used.
Remember lots of "Mould release" on any mould made.

Nose Cone
It was used for one trip.....
Drove to Bowen and then had to turn around in a spoon drain....
Tore it off ....
So decided not to replace it
Besides the wife hated it .

The black rubber on the front of the van
Came from a rubber shop in Cairns
It is a flooring of sorts
A bit oily and quite heavy for it's size

If you choose to use something like it
You will need to scuff the back with a sanding disc on a grinder.
The reason being is it will not stick well if you don't
The first time I stuck in on with Matrix and didn't scuff it

It lasted from Cairns to Townsville before dropping off.
Fortunately I saw it starting to go and pulled over
Walked to the back of the car and it was on the ground.

You can see the result in the second photo in the update above.

Bowen was a real shake down trip

Hope this helps

Cheers
Atog

« Last Edit: Nov 4, 2010, 6:05am by atouchofglass »

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Re: Atog's '68 Olympic
« Reply #174 on Feb 15, 2011, 9:16am »

Hi ATOG,
matey just read the thread and that is a touch of class! your efforts have paid off. You are the King of the fiberglass mould!!!
very inspirational.
hope to start our resto soon. no doubt we will talk
cheers
Bruce

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