Post by richard on May 27, 2011 12:24:13 GMT 10
Exocet has agree to sell me his finned Wayfarer/Kennedy.
While it’s a bit dirty, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be particularly difficult to get to a nice condition.
I’m expecting some more photos over the next couple of days, but we’ve spoken extensively on the phone and I’ve seen the phots from a few years ago.
I’m just lining up transport from Tasmania - Treasured Transport have been cheap and helpful once I get it to the mainland, but getting things across Bass Straight is expensive and annoying.
Current restoration plan is...
New Axle, wheels & tyres.
Current wheels are rusty and don't match. Tyres are kaput. Axle might be OK, but is unbraked.
Exterior
Interior
Utilities
While it’s a bit dirty, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be particularly difficult to get to a nice condition.
I’m expecting some more photos over the next couple of days, but we’ve spoken extensively on the phone and I’ve seen the phots from a few years ago.
I’m just lining up transport from Tasmania - Treasured Transport have been cheap and helpful once I get it to the mainland, but getting things across Bass Straight is expensive and annoying.
Current restoration plan is...
New Axle, wheels & tyres.
Current wheels are rusty and don't match. Tyres are kaput. Axle might be OK, but is unbraked.
- Needs new wheels - current ones are 13", will probably stay with that size unless advised otherwise by this forum. Any reason to go to 14", assuming they'll fit? Since I'm replacing the hubs, what bolt pattern should I use?
- I'm going to fit electric brakes. While the van might be under 750 kg, there's no way I'm putting most of a ton behind the Jag without brakes - first emergency stop and the best case would be car + van wrecked, worst case is I kill my whole family...
- I'm planning to bite the bullet and fit a rubber-torsion axle. I've been quoted ~$1,200 for an Alko complete with 10" electric brakes. I'm hoping that the IRS + natural damping of rubber-torsion suspension will be enough to prevent snaking.
- I'd like the tyres to be wide-stripe whitewalls to match the Jag. Anyone have any tyre suggestions or advice?
Exterior
- Professional re-paint of shell. I know someone who does smash repairs & painting, has a booth big enough to take a semi and has experience re-spraying boats with fibreglass paint.
- I'm currently planning to use AwlGrip paints. My theory is that if it can cope with being on a boat in salt water and seaside sun, it's going to last 30 years on a caravan even if it does spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Two-tone paint. Upper half a warm off-white. Lower half not sure... Need to pick an interior colour scheme, wife wants to do that bit. Might match exterior with planned car scheme, might not.
- Re-make the alloy side trims. Exocet has the originals as patterns, my grand-father-in-law has a sheet-metal workshop.
- Replace all window rubbers, latch hardware, boot hinges.
- New lights. Need to source some Ford Zephyr Mk2 rear light clusters and VW Beetle runnign lights. Beetle will be easy, not sure about the Zephyr ones..
- I'll try to buff the perspex windows, if that doesn't work I'll need new ones. Anyone know who the Sunliner restorers have been using for new windows?
Interior
- Cleaning!! Then evaluate. The layout is fine, though some sort of bathroom would have been ideal - I prefer the layout of a Carlight Continental, but not chance I can find one easy enough to get back on the road. (Humpty has two but told me to stay away). Plan B is a chemical toilet and a bathroom tent. The Carlight is also half a ton heavier...
- Repair water damaged frame under front window - I'll do this, I'm good with wood.
- Strip brown vinyl from walls and white headlining. Evaluate surface and either recover or paint. Might use Florence Broadhurst wallpaper. Expensive but awesome.
- New cushions & curtains. The wife wants to select interior fitout, I'm happy she's enthused. We'll probably go for a "sophisticated 50's" look - won't be Rock & Roll. Check this blog post for examples.
- Matching Formica not available, so splashback damage is an issue. Can either put in alloy splashback, pick a contrast formica or replace all of it.
- Will try and find matching aluminium extrusion edge trim if I replace the Formica.
- Depending on final colour scheme, possibly pull all the cupboard doors and drawer fronts off, light sand, respray. However some of the palletes that Wifey is considering include grey, so may not need to touch them.
Utilities
- Plan is to try and stick mostly to 12V equipment and to avoid expecting the car to provide any power (Jag has a Dynamo, not an alternator, so it can't charge the van batteries).
- I'd like to fit a nice big solar panel between the two hatches to help keep the batteries charged.
- Electronics will need to include a solar controller, low-power inverter and a battery charger. Advice appreciated. How many batteries should I put in? It would be nice to be able to cope with a weekend disconnected from the mains (one night).
- Unsure what to do about wiring. I'm expecting that the current 240V would be unsafe to re-use as mains wiring, but that it won't be replaceable without ripping our the interior. The obious plan is to change all exisinting 240 volts lights to 12-volt LEDs, then run 12-volts + almost no amps over the old 240V wiring. Run new 240V stuff only where I can get access.
- I'm only going to need a couple of 240V sockets anyway, mostly to re-charge the portable electronics (iPads, cameras, laptop, etc). No TV, no DVD, no microwave, no air-con.
- Will try to use existing cooktop, looks nice.
- Needs a fridge, I've been told they suck huge current running off 12V and I should get a 3-way that can use LPG when I'm off the mains. 12V only when driving from place to place. Anyone agree or disagree? How much power/amps does a 60-90 litre fridge use?