Which is original - olympic question

[takeiteasy]

The work under the windows is different on either side of the van at the bed end of my van. I suspect one is original but which? notice in the 2 pictures below - one side has an angled "beam" running directly under the window. The other has a gap directly under the window, then a beam. Anyone know which is as it was originally?





I suspect its the second one.

cheers, Bill

[seeshell]

Hi Bill

I would say neither are wholly original, though I do think the second is the closest. We had bent corner pieces of fibreglass finished in the cream that filled in the corners between the windows, with panels of mission brown faux wood that fixed onto a batton under the windows and went down to near the floor.

There was no lip like you have in yours, either at the front or back. There was no rough-finished fibreglass visible - both pictures you show are missing the corner bent fibreglass pieces, which is what makes me think these are later changes.

It really doesn't matter, personal taste should be a guide here I gather. If you're keen to get it back to how it was, you could make new corner pieces out of fiberglass, and new panels out of 3mm ply.

On the Olympic thread in DHL you would likely be able to see what I mean. Also ATOG has heaps of pictures of this in his Olympic thread.

Cheers
Seeshell

[Roehm3108]

Can't help with your question asi I know NOTHINK about Olympics, but it is a great opportunity to see your flooring workmanship. Nothing wrong with that at all, actually looks very good. If that floor is the only thing between you and the road, one word of advice I will give is to seal, seal and seal again. Any opening cracks will suck the dust in like a vacuum cleaner. I found this out the hard way with a Franklin I had once, many years ago, when I didn't seal the ali panel down the back wall of the van, after doing some repairs. Took the shortcut From Atherton to Hughenden - over 250kms of gibber road and ended up in Hughenden with a van with a red interior, from ceiling to floor.

Ray

[takeiteasy]

Thanks Shell and Roe, I like the idea of curves and have been thinking that way.... but are unsure how to go about it yet. I will search for some pics. OR hopefully someone will read this and take some pics of their original setup??

[humpty2]

Neither shelves are original....but which ever style or removing them suits your purpose.......its your van.
I don't think the curved inner piece was on all Olympics, some had a covered insert in there and it was not uncommon to see the boards behind the beds covered in vinyl or cloth.
Only one more expert to consult..where are you 'boblor?

[takeiteasy]

Thanks H. Neither really suits my purpose as they make the bed room feel smaller. At least I now know they don't have a structural purpose. It had cloth covered board when I got it but I don't really like it.... cloth covered board never seems clean to me.

[seeshell]

Hi there

I think if you go onto Atog's Olympic on the Member section, you will find (hazy memory here!) that he did make or repair some. There may be an idea in there for you.

On second thought, he might have used a bit of bent ply and covered them with fabric ...

IN any case, they looked nice.

Cheers
Seeshell

[takeiteasy]

Ok, the decision is made. I am going to leave it exactly as is and accept it as a peculiarity of the van. Thanks everyone.