65 Sunliner restoration

[hopper]

This is our 65 Sunliner we've had for a couple of years and are about to restore.
I just wanted to see if I could load some photos but it's not as easy as I'd hoped.
I've taken out the steel 'ribs' as they were rusty and causing bulges in the fibreglass and
 was wondering if anyone had any thoughts as to wether it was necessary to replace them.
I've got a lot out of reading everyone else's resto's so thought I should post some pics of ours too.
Hopefully I'll work out how to make them bigger soon and I'll put more photos up.
Chassis has been sandblasted and sprayed and I'm still trying to work out the best way to put
the floor back in.

Attachment Deleted

[Don Ricardo]

G'day Hopper,

Great to have you on the forum. It will be great to read your posts as you continue with your restoration.

I see that your Sunliner is a 15 footer! There aren't many of them around, and I think you may be the first person to come onto the forum with a 15 ft model (can't think of anyone else at the moment anyway).

I don't know enough about Sunliners to answer the question about the ribs, but I will certainly follow your thread with interest.

Regarding the photos, although it may seem fiddly and complicated at first, you might find it easier in the end to post your photos via Photobucket. There are instructions on how to do it in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum. That way your photos will appear more full size - and they are great photos, so worth showing them to full effect.

I am happy to help you if you find it a bit hard to work out. Just email me (click on my forum name in blue in the panel to the left).

Don Ricardo

[JBJ]

Hi Richard,

I can think of a few 15 foot Sunliners owned by Forum members.
Johnnie & Annie own a restored one, as does Brendan & Stacey, and David & Lyn own one also.All of these live in SE Qld.

I know of a couple more, but they are not owned by Forum members.
I looked at buying a 15 footer from Grafton a couple of years back. It was badly bubbled up under the fibreglass from the rusted ribs, & that was one of the reasons I passed up on buying it.

I remember that David had to replace/repair the ribs, & someone else I spoke to had the same problem.

I believe the nature of a metal stiffener glassed into place, in the environment of an enclosed van, would be conducive to it rusting,

Normal size Sunliners had a variety of stiffeners built in over the years. The one I rebuilt had none, & I have seen others the same age that had ribs glassed in.

Maybe making a new rib from polystyrene foam & glassing it in place would provide the desired stiffness, without risk of rust?? Or just repair/replace existing ones,  & worry about them in another 50 years.

Its all fun

JBJ

[sutcac]

"I remember that David had to replace/repair the ribs, & someone else I spoke to had the same problem."


Yes Jailbar, David has had new stainless steel rods professionally fibre glassed into place in his 15/16 footer.

So should last at least another 50 years!!!

But as you say, any form of stiffening will do the job. A few ways to skin the cat here.

Pete(trishandpete on here)used some whiz bang product on the inside of their 13' Sunny resto, to firm it up all over.


Sutcac

[hopper]

Thanks for your help Don, I'll try again with the photos.
Ours is the that same one you looked at JBJ, we knew we were in for some major work but
my wife has always wanted one so we couldn't pass it up.
I'll call Johnnie and have a chat to him I think.
I'll get some more photos up soon.

[hopper]

I bought the van for Ally for her birthday

Finally found the magic numbers are sandblasting





Walked into the chassis in the dark. Angle iron can be pretty sharp

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Hopper and JBJ,

Well done on persevering with the photos, Hopper. The new ones you've posted look great. You're doing great work on the van as well. It's a big job you've undertaken, but i'll bet you'll get a lot of pleasure out of the finished result when you get there.

And JBJ - thanks for the info about the 15 ft Sunliners on the forum, I've seen pics of one or two of them on the various V V outings, but (obviously) I didn't know that they belonged to forum members. It's great to know they're out there. Still great to see Hopper's van all the same.

Don Ricardo

[cruisindoug]

G'day Hopper

This might help with your floor ...


Dougs Sunny

Cheers

Doug

[hopper]

Thanks Doug.

[mustangpall]

Hi Hopper, We also have a 16 foot Sunliner, according to the ads for this van they are 16 foot.
We have some more information on these rare vans.
We have stripped back the outside & are just about ready to paint.
If you would like some more information you can contact us on 02 49594361 or 0417446607, we are in Toronto NSW.
Cheers Cliff & Ingrid(Mustangpall)