dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Aug 28, 2014 20:24:59 GMT 10
Hi All, So it begins again. After completing my Stardust I have got hold of a Franklin Regent 12.6 van Number 1905.8 and have started to do some work on it. Inside is still full of rubbish so not sure of condition yet but looking at window seals I would assume a full interior reno will be the order of the day. Exterior is not bad but has been buried down to the axle in mud for many years so most of the running gear will have to be replaced. I will add more photos as I go along. Dawso.  |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Sept 1, 2014 21:01:37 GMT 10
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Oct 9, 2014 19:22:20 GMT 10
Hi All, Quick update on "Peanut", New wheels, hubs, reconditioned axle and springs are ready to go back in, underneath has been sanded, penotroled and will be painted this weekend. Have struck a few minor problems as nearly all woodwork and ply on one side has rotted and has been removed, all window frames have rotted so these will be replaced also, it seems the further I go the behinder I get. At least with all the rot out I can now see what I have to do.  [/a] 
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Post by grandad on Oct 14, 2014 8:57:25 GMT 10
G'day mate,
I'll be watching your resto with great interest. Keep the pics coming.
Do you have plans to remove the walls to do the new lining?
Cheers
Jim
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Oct 14, 2014 20:23:20 GMT 10
Hi Jim,
At this stage I am leaving the walls in as the top shelves and above are in good order, had a problem when I lifted the van to remove the axle and springs, I set the jacks on a beam under the van but set them too far back and ended up with a buckling of one side as I removed the ply, have now removed the band holding the bottom of the sides to the floor and the side has come away so I may have to remove a bit more as the floor is rotting at the front and will require new braces to hold the floor timber to the front aluminium. At the moment I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew. On a positive note I have sourced new dust rubbers for around the windows from Alfab in Victoria and new glazing rubbers locally.
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Post by grandad on Oct 15, 2014 10:01:06 GMT 10
At the moment I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew. Oh, I find that very hard to believe. Having seen what you accomplished with T-Rex I think you're more than capable of bringing this old girl back to life. Just a question of swapping the mindset from fiberglass to Franklin's Thermo Panel system.
Have a look at my thread, "The Life and Times of a Franklin Mini" It may give you some insight into how your van is put together.
Yours will be almost identical to the Mini in all ways except size.
I can't quite get my head around where you jacked from and what buckled. But the interior plywood is most definitely a major structural component. With it gone the van would have about the same strength as a tissue box and I can well imagine it buckling. Also of note is that the cupboards form 90% of the bracing inside the van.
Unlike earlier Franklins that had a timber frame with the aluminium cladding the last thing to be installed , the cupboards on your Franklin were fitted after the installation of the side walls and the plywood on the roof but before the aluminium was fitted to the roof only. Therefore releasing the bond from the wall paneling is fairly straight forward and where they are attached to the roof they are stapled from the outside. You might like to try a hacksaw blade all around the overhead cupboard to cut the probably 100's of staples used and the adhesive to get them off in one piece.
I started doing this with some success and if I had continued I'm confident I would have had the cupboards out without damage. The only reason why I didn't persevere was because I had already decided to rebuild all the cupboards so it was quicker to just rip them out with no regard to their end condition.
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Oct 15, 2014 19:28:06 GMT 10
Hi Grandad,
Have been spending a lot of time looking at your thread, should have looked at it earlier. I put the plank to the rear of the stabilizers not realizing how far back the chassis went and not realizing there was no frame on the rolled section, with a jack on either side of the van all was good until I removed the ply then the side wall bulged and came away from the floor and out of the channelling. I have removed the jacks now and the van is sitting on its stabilizers and the bulge has gone back to where it should be, I'm feeling a bit more confident about things now. New wheels, hubs, overrider brakes, shockies, bearings and reconditioned springs go in tomorrow then I will start on the new woodwork. I am going to put a frame into the walls to give it a bit more area to bond to.
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Nov 19, 2014 19:21:46 GMT 10
   Hi All, Update on "Peanut". Underside is now complete with new overrider brakes, drums, hubs, bearings and tyres fitted. Window and Fridge frames made and fitted, now to start on the wiring, its a real pigs breakfast so I will rip it all out and start again. After taking the van down from the jacks the wall re-aligned itself and the bands went back on with no problem. I have supports on the inside until the wall cladding goes back on, that will be the next big job. Dawso. |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Dec 15, 2014 19:12:50 GMT 10
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Dec 27, 2014 14:58:16 GMT 10
Hi All, Things are progressing well with "Peanut". Bracing in ceiling is done, painting of interior is complete, new cupboard doors made, fitted and painted and floor tiles has been glued in place.12 volt and 240 lights are going. Next will be the dining seats and table.    |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Dec 27, 2014 15:07:32 GMT 10
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Post by DC3Td on Dec 27, 2014 21:01:23 GMT 10
Gday Dawso. The word yuk came to mind when looking at the first few pics but you have certainly worked some magic on it since. (Btw,you doubled up on a pic) Anyhows keep up the great work you`re doing.
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Feb 18, 2015 20:16:17 GMT 10
Hi All, With the exception of curtains inside of Peanut is complete, time to start on the exterior    |
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Post by DC3Td on Feb 18, 2015 21:34:37 GMT 10
Gday Dawso.What a tremendous job you`ve done.Particularly love the colour scheme & how you tied the 'raw' look of the fridge to blend with the cupboards.Very nice.
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Post by boblor on Feb 19, 2015 10:50:53 GMT 10
Hi dawso Anothercompleted project, very nice. It's amazing what we can do with time and money.I surpose you will be looking for another, -- perhaps another Olympic  ?. Cheers boblor |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Feb 19, 2015 16:39:20 GMT 10
Hi dawso Anothercompleted project, very nice. It's amazing what we can do with time and money.I surpose you will be looking for another, -- perhaps another Olympic ?. Cheers boblor Hi Boblor, Great to see you still have your sense of humour!!! Still have the outside to paint and put together will then go north for the winter. Hope you are keeping well. Dawso |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Mar 3, 2015 18:57:02 GMT 10
Hi All, Had a big day today, Peanut has been sanded, washed down with turps, taped up, undercoated and the red stripe on the side completed. Tomorrow I hope to put the top coats on then I can start to put it back together again. I have used Iso -Free high build isolator undercoat and Iso- free high gloss topcoat (2 pac) went on beautifully.   |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Mar 8, 2015 19:39:58 GMT 10
Top Coat on.  |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Mar 26, 2015 10:21:22 GMT 10
Hi All, "Peanut" starting to look like a caravan again.  |
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Post by Franklin1 on Mar 26, 2015 10:33:49 GMT 10
Wow!!! Amazing job - better than a new one would have been out of the factory!  Congratulations on a great effort.  You'll certainly attract attention during your travels with that piece of eye-candy following your tug.  cheers, Al. |
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Post by boblor on Mar 26, 2015 10:44:24 GMT 10
Hi dawso What a lovely job you have done on this one. Is it a keeper or are we going to have another project . Why don't you join us at Tingha for the Easter w/e, and give it the maiden run . Cheers boblor |
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dawso
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Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Mar 26, 2015 12:18:19 GMT 10
Hi Boblor,
Not finished yet, Still have a few bits to go then the curtains.
We leave for the winter on Sat but are intending to go via Tingha so will hopefully see you on Thursday.
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Post by maplegum on Mar 26, 2015 12:29:50 GMT 10
How very inspiring! Especially for us new kids on the block. Our 'Shirley' seems like a huge undertaking, but having seen what you started with I'm sure we can get Shirley looking a million bucks. Or is that our pockets are a million bucks lighter?
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andys
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Post by andys on Mar 26, 2015 15:14:12 GMT 10
As someone looking for their fist vintage van, I'm not sure if this rebuild gives me faith that it can be done, or scares the living day lights out of me due to the obvious skills you have to make it happen.
Phenomenal rebuild, congratulations
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dawso
Full Member
Posts: 141
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Post by dawso on Mar 26, 2015 16:05:30 GMT 10
Andys,
I am a rank amature with limited skills and a few basic tools. I spend a lot of time thinking about the job then generally stuff it up and start again. If you spend enough time on the job things generally start to take shape and if it does not work the first time you will learn from your mistakes.
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