Our can of worms

[bayllie]

This is what we found under the 1960's aluminium cladding

[bayllie]

This is our project, started on it yesterday after sitting next door under a patio since 1974, it had been clad over in aluminium, which we took off today, any suggestions on the best ply to reclad with ?

[shesgotthelook]

Welcome That's a fantastic find. I'll let the experts on here guide you as to what's best but there is lots of info & plenty of restoration stories on here. We'd all love you to keep us updated along the way.

[cruisindoug]

Welcome Baylie

Cute van, looks like you will be having lots of fun doing the refurb.

I reckon someone who knows will be along shortly to help with your question ... in the meantime, have you had a look in the technical section I reckon there will be several posts there that discuss options for plywood cladding, along with just about everything else you would like to know

Cheers
Doug

[bayllie]

Thanks guys will keep you posted on our progress

[Roehm3108]

Hi Bayllie
That a cute van you've got there and it will come up really well. Generally speaking, when recladding a van like that, use the same thickness as what was on there. Generally it about 4mm. If you can afford it, buy a marine grade ply - it will last longest. If not, then make sure you get a type that has one side with a good close grained finish, because that will improve the quality of the end result once you paint it.

Good luck and enjoy yourself

Ray

[bayllie]

The tow car

[bayllie]

before the aluminium cladding was removed

[bayllie]

could anyone identify this van for us please ?

[JBJ]

Hi,

Looks like an early 60's Gracemur.

That front window was used on Gracemurs, not Sunliners, & the body mouldings are the later series being 1960'ish till close of production in around 63.

JBJ

[JBJ]

Hi,


I havent looked closely at the couple of Gracemur's I've seen. So I have no idea of chassis & suspension.

Given that they werent made by the Sunliner crew, I think each individual van should be checked to see whats there.

After all, the Sunliners had at least 3 chassis I have seen. Tubular using square tube top rail & round tube bottom, tubular using round tube top & bottom, & RHS tube "normal" chassis, & both leaf spring & several versions of their home made independent suspension available .

I would think that its likely the Gracemur used some of the Sunliner chassis bits, but I am guessing there. When you do find out, why not post pix & comments on this Forum for our History records, so next person that wishes to know can find it

JBJ

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Baylie,

Is the Gracemur yours as well?

Regarding the chassis of Gracemur's, there are some photos of three different Gracemur vans on the Gracemur thread in the Down History Lane section that you can find by clclicking here. All three of the vans have tubular chassis. As JBJ has said, Sunliner's used three different chassis types during the time they were manufactured, but I don't think we have any indication that Gracemur used any type other than the tubular one. Some evidence of something else may turn up at some point, but that seems to be the answer at the moment.

JBJ made the point about square and round tube being used for the top rails. Looks like square tubing in the Gracemur photos as far as I can see, but whether they were all square? The jury's still out. There was only a relatively small number of Gracemurs made under licence from Sunliner, so my guess is that given the limited numbers they would have all had the same chassis type, but who knows?

Can you tell us anything about the chassis on the van in the pic you posted? Square or round tubing on the top rail?

Don Ricardo

[noblesgarage]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Another one with the "Dreaded V V Affliction " But what an "Affliction " Cool ;D ;D ;D Keep collecting your going in the right direction The Vanguard ute looks the goods Brian

[bayllie]

chassis

[Franklin1]

G'day bayllie,

I think the largest plywood sheet size these days is 3000 x 1200. For the water resistant marine ply or the exterior grade, I think the max sheet size is 2400 x 1200 (but could be wrong). You'll have to plan how you are going to make the sheet joints when you reclad the van.

Check out the parts suppliers thread in the Technical Stuff section if you haven't already done that. The plywood links are down the list.

cheers,
Al.

[bayllie]

Our chassis is finally home, extended at the sides as the timber bearers were sagging form side to side, sandblasted and painted in 2 pack, wheels have also been done, hoping to get time this week to get the shell back on and start replacing the timbers

[bayllie]

close up

[bayllie]

the wheels

[Franklin1]

G'day Bayllie,

I suspect what you have there is a Valiant, made by Viscount, and from around the 1965 time period.

When you get the van, have a look on the front drawbar near the jockey wheel, and there should be a chassis number welded there. It will most likely be the letter 'B' followed by some numbers, but might even be a C-series. Let us know what that complete chassis number is, and it will help to narrow down the age. The painted side stripes design seems to indicate the 1965 era.

cheers,
Al.