1957 Greythorn Roadster Caravan Restoration

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

I have just got my 1957 van in the workshop for a full restoration.

Some photos so far. The first few show where I am currently at, stripping and renovating outer shell. The last few show the state it was in when I got it. It's had a HARD life!

Any suggestions or comments most welcome. Am a bit concerned about what to do with the roof! As you can see the whole thing has a fair amount of water damage, roof included. Any suggestions on best materials for roofing.

Will keep updating as I progress!

[neilncheryl]

Hi Sallyharris01
The product used on the roof will be caneite with canvas over the top.
Caneite was used as it is the only timber product that will bend both ways (front to back as well as left to right) which is what is required for your van's roof.
You can still get this product from some hardware stores. I think we got ours from Mitre 10.
Instead of using canvas to go over the caneite you can use calico as we did, which you can see on our Rowvan thread.
Keep at it, your van will come up a treat.
Neil

[Cruz]

Well done on making a start. One job at a time and it will be done sooner than you think. only problem is the cooler nights at this time of year.
.Looking forward to watching your progress.
Cruz

[hilldweller]

Wow that's one lucky van! Look forward to photos as it progresses.

[seeshell]

Hi Sallyharris01

Congratulations to you on getting stuck right into the renovations - no time like the present! And the sooner done, the sooner you get to enjoy trips away.

I'm looking forward to your progress - we love to see pictures! Keep up the great work.

Cheers
Seeshell

[sallyharris01]

Hello All
Photo update on our restoration. Slow and steady!

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

Our 1957 Greythorn van is coming along well. I will post a couple of photos soon.

However would anyone know where I may be able to get a wheel rim as I do not have a spare

Also what would be a good price to have our 6 cushions reupholstered. And recommended any upholsterer in the west of Melbourne

Any help would be great

Thanks

Steve

[greedy53]

what size is the wheels and where about are youi have a spare 14 inch looks like a holden rim i will do a bit of research

[humpyboy]

sallyharris01, looking at your pics I would say you have FX-FJ wheels under that van, still holden wheels just a bit earlier than the 14" jobies.

[sallyharris01]

Hi All

Some photos of our van it coming along great.

The wheel rim measures 16" and has an old Dunlop tyres on it which is a 5.5-15 any idea where I may get a rim and tyres.

[MRFJ55]

THATS AN FX/FJ HOLDEN RIM (1948-1956) WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A 15'' DIAMETER RIM ,NOT 16'' . THE TYRE SIZE YOU MENTIONED ALSO HAD 15 IN ITS MEASUREMENTS .

VERY VERY COMMON RIM THAT WAS USED ON OUR OLD VANS THROUGH THE 50's AND 60's .

IF YOUR IN NEED OF ANOTHER MAYBE CONTACT YOUR NEAREST FX/FJ CLUB .

ALSO GETTING THESE RIMS CUT DOWN AND WIDENED TO A 14'' SIZE (15'' CENTRE , 14'' RIM) MAYBE AN OPTION AS TYRES ARE MUCH MORE AVAILABLE IN 14'' .

GOOD LUCK, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
REGARDS, MAURIE

[Franklin1]

G'day sallyharris01,

There is a difference in the stud hole diameters in the FX/FJ series Holden wheels, as I discovered while organising a spare for my current project. The topic is covered in Reply #s 5, 6, and 8 in this thread in the Technical Section. Get it wrong and you could lose a wheel off the van, as one of our members did in Qld sometime last year, with this particular problem.


Very impressed with the work that's been done on your van so far.

cheers,
Al.

[sallyharris01]

Hello All
Thanks for all the info on the wheel rim.

Now my next job is the roof. The old roof was made out of 12mm canite sheet. This is a hard material to find. One supplier had at $90 a sheet 2400x1200.I was think of using 5mm plywood.Any suggestion for another material.
Also any info on waterproofing the van. Do I waterproof the whole van or just the roof? With painting what would be the best to use (oil,water,auto paint) any suggestion would be great.
I will add photos as I go.

Thanks for any help

Steve

[Roehm3108]

Hi Steve
It's all coming along nicely.
Re your roof, as neilncheryl mentioned earlier, the only material that will bend in two directions (front to back and side to side) without breaking is caneite, so you really don't have much choice! But this needs to be waterproofed using calico painted onto it. Regarding which paint, read this thread about that debate and check some of the links in it:

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=9361

Ray

[sallyharris01]

Hello all
Thanks again for all the info.
I have been making good progress on the van. Here are some updated photos of the new window frames and the first of the roof sections.

Thanks

Steve

[aquamum]

Your van is coming along really well !!!!!!!

Did you end up with a caneite roof as I need a need roof for my bondy too

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

Thank you all for the help so far with our van.

Now its back to the roof. I have found a good supplier of canite sheeting for the roof and have just about finished putting the canite sheet on. I am now wondering what is best to go on top and would appreciate any feedback or advice.

It has been suggested to use calico or canvas and I am not sure what would be best.

With canvas, what type would be best. It is measure in oz I think and I am not sure where or how to buy this. Would a canvas tarp be too heavy? Also, how do I put it on the canite - glue? Do I paint over the canvas, then paint again with water proofing stuff?

The vans roof is coming along very nice and I dont want to stuff it up. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Steve

[humpyboy]

Hi Steve, what you need to do is have a little read through this
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=4494&page=2 I did and found it very helpfull.

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

Thanks for the ongoing help with our van.

I have just about done the roof and the inside also is done and needs sanding, then painting followed then by the wiring.

I am also now thinking of what glass to put in the windows. Some advice would be great as I am not sure what to use.

I will add some photos some and look forward to some advice.

Cheers!


Steve

[Rattles]

If running wires through the Steel box section place Plastic grommets in the holes to prevent chafing of the wires
ps the job looks great

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

I have a question regarding the wiring.

I am thinking of having 240 volts for all power in the van ( eg lights, power points.) and 12 volts for the tail light and indicators and side light on the out sides of the van.

Is their any reason why all the light inside the van are 12 volts is it because its was made in the 1950s?

Thanks for the on going help.

Steve

[Jennison]

Steve,
I would think that the main reason for your vans lighting being 12V only would be that "powered' sites at camping areas were not all that common in the 50s', hence if you wanted electric lighting inside you had to run it off your cars battery or your caravans auxilliary battery.
It was not till the 60s' and 70s' that the dedicated caravan parks with the majority powered sites we know today , as opposed to camping areas took off to become what we now take for granted. All the original lighting in my 53 pathfinder was 12V only with the 240v lights and powerpoints added sometime later.
jenno

[Roehm3108]

Another thing to consider with your lighting is that today in modern vans there is the trend to have 12 volt from the waist up ie, having the lights run on 12 volts by using a transformer. Personally, I reckon it's a good safety feature.

[sallyharris01]

Hello All

A couple of photos of our van

[sallyharris01]

The photo above is when we pick up our van 2 years ago.

And this is our van so far.it has a new roof and the inside is ready for painting and then the wiring



All for now