1966 Viscount Ambassador

[viscountofmydomain]

Hi all

This van is our intro to vanning, we have had it now for 12 months and completed so jobs to make it roadworthy and usable. New axle, electric brakes, wheels and tyres, a good clean and seal underneath and inside new cushions and fridge.





Having originally thought the van was a 70's and joining Classic Caravans forum we have a thread ditzygypsy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=1468&page=1 it has been confirmed to be 1966. Plan being to track future upgrades on both sites.

We took the van on a trip from NSW south coast up to Coffs Harbour and back late last year and have developed some leaks. The rear window now leaks rain everytime it gets wet and dust when on a dirt road. there is also a major leak up on the roof somewhere that finds its way in through the front cupboards.

Our plan is to replace the rear window seal as soon as possible and remove the roof sometime during the winter. For the window seal I want as little down time as possible so I don't get in trouble with the boss for not having her van available.

Here is the rear window



Preferably i would like to make contact with someone who has removed or replaced on of these window seals, if possible get my hands on a sample piece (or photograph of the profile) of an old one so i can search for the replacement before i remove our window (from the looks of ours it might fall apart when I remove it and i would hate to not be able to find a suitable replacement). I have been advised of some good places to start looking for the replacement seal, but as mentioned I would like to start looking without removing our window first.

Anyone able to help?

VOMD

[igor]

Good morning, we are at the moment replacing 3 of our windows in our little viscount valiant van. We removed one and took it to the local glaziers and they replaced the glass and seal for $90. Was a very quick and good option for us. The other 2 are about to have the same done. Hope this helps.
cheers
Lesley

[colnce]

VOMD re the roof leak

Get yourself some bright food colouring and mix some in a bucketfull of water. Start pouring it around the lowest point you think the leak is. If nothing comes through ie coloured water, start pouring a half a metre or so higher up or along the roof line near the corner moulding, checking to see if any water shows at leak point. pour a fair amount of liquid and it may lake a few minutes to show. Keep moving furthur along to see if you can find the leak point. The leak could be high up the roof and running along the internal frame and showing at your cupboards.

This was my case and i had to remove a section of the corner angle moulding where i found a gap in the sealant most likely due to old age.

When you have resealed, go through the water thing again to be sure you have cured the problem.

Hope you can follow my instructions.

Best of Luck

Colin

[viscountofmydomain]

What were Viscount thinking

We have been looking for a while for some replacement window frames and rear panel of the caravan to be used in the ongoing repairs for our van. Our daughter has a 13 ft van like ours, both are aluminium framed 1966 Viscount Ambassador Alumvans, her boyfriend has managed to find a van that was unwanted and is also a 1966 Ambassador but has a wooden frame. I have identified the year by the same lightning bolt stripes on the side which I believe was changed each year. I have also heard that around 1966 it was the transition from wooden frames to aluminium and you were able to order either



This van is ripe for the picking of parts because the wooden frame is rotting everywhere, the roof is sagging, the corners and lower edge frames are shot. So I have stripped out everything that is removeable and I have got a lot of things that I want.

So I removed the rear panel of the van last night, I was quite happy that it came off easily, no damage to it and with an easy clean up and polish it should go on our van nicely to replace ours which has some holes in it.



When I was packing up I thought I would just offer it up to the back of our van to compare the pair.




Why why why would Viscount make vans in the same year that aren't the same width. I know they have different frame but in every other way they are the same. Surely it would make sense to have the outside sheeting the same so production is simplified and costs lowered.

I have to admit we didn't measure first, I took it for granted that they would be the same. There's a lesson in there I'm sure.

Still all is not lost, we have loads or other things that will make our cleanup process much easier. and I might be able to come up with a way of using it yet.

[pu2nule2]

nice project