advice sought - restoration of a sunliner

[apiarist1]

Purchased a 65 'partially restored' sunliner some months ago - source most likely from the hunter (you may have seen it on ebay, cream and tan). Now wanting to start interior fitting - I think I'll have a problem with getting a 3-way fridge in (of any decent capacity) as the entry portals(doors and windows) are very small - any ideas. May have to settle for a 2 way - has anyone any experience or advice?

Plan to do the cert II in fibreglassing at TAFE next semester, and start on the outside later in the year.

Any advice or guidance, or pointers at the way to go would be greatly appreciated. Would greatly appreciate any advice from someone who's been down this path before.

Apiarist1

[trodler]

Hi Apiarist.
Welcome to the site.
I cant really help with the fibreglass side of things, Iam more of a bondwood society man myself , but have a look under jailbars sunliner restoration and you will find a really quality
restoration of a sunliner.

Cheers.
Trodler.

[humpty2]

You can fit a 3 or 2 way fridge through the roof opening.......and that IS the only way it will get in there.
I think you will find the hole in the galley will take the fridge easily enough

Was that sunliner the one with the tan flash on the side....similar to a "Detroit " stripe on a FE/FC Holden

[apiarist1]

Hi

Humpty2: Thanks for the pointer to jailbarjuice's restoration project pages. They were very informative. The van was bought off ebay before easter - it is white above mid level, with tan below, the tan is separated from the white with a strip of black tape

Jailbarjuice: That's an amazing restoration you've done. Your wrap around bench seat has given me some ideas, as my van has no seating. Two questions: do you have any specs for the seat? and how did you repair the floor - mine too is very 'springy/saggy' particularly in the friont half where water access seems to have not quite rotted the floor, but certainly made it more spongy

I also like your location of cooking outside - how do you find inclement weather.

Thanks

A[piarist1

[apiarist1]

Jailbarjuice - thanks for the advice. I spent the weekend 'gutting' some of the part restoration work - most will go back in once I've re-inforced the floor. I had a couple of questions

1. The curved windows, front and rear, in my van are flexible perspex with a poor window rubber trim - it leaks like a sieve, even dew gets in. As a temporary measure I've dagged them up with silicone, but I see from your restoration that original style windows may be available from somewhere. Could you put me onto the contact who did your windows?

2. Mine does not have a water tank. How did you go with the restoration of your water tank. Now that the interior is 'gutted', I plan to take the van to a local repairer (there's one at Raymond Terrace and another at Warners Bay) to see about having a tool box fitted to the front (We won't have gas inside - the cooking will be done outside; we have a small primus as an emergency for inclement weather), a step fitted (if possible) and a water tank fitted.

I take your words about abandonning a too ambitious restoration that is not paced to heart. Many years ago I tried to do up an old matchless motor cycle and gave up. Since then, I've done up a couple of Triumph Bonnies, but each has taken a number of years. Slow and steady wins the race. So this will be likewise. I plan to do up the interior first, and that will take most of this year and probably into the next. The exterior will be finished after I've done the cert II in fibreglassing - I've already inquired about enrolling next semester. It too will be slow and steady.

I look forward to hearing your advice on windows and water tanks

Apiarist1

[humpty2]

Hi Apiarist.you obviously are a Novacastrian!
I live near Maitland and would be pleased to help you with any problems you could encounter.

I will PM you my phone number

Regards Humpty

[tinnie]

G'day Apairist1,
JBJ has probably already tried this and discounted the idea, but here goes. In some cases through the roof hatch is the only way, lots were done that way in the 60's particularly when retrofitting Fridges to older vans. There is one other, simpler possibility, which worked for me in the past.
The natural approach is to measure width of doorway and width of fridge, realise the inevitable and then curse. But it doesn't have to be that way - measure width of doorway then measure depth of fridge minus fridge door. That worked for me, again the way some manufacturers do it. I had an old Hallstrom fridge, with a hinge design that the door simply lifted off. Too wide to go in and too deep with door, but without all cool with half inch to spare.
Again, may not work for you but worth a try.

Good luck with the resto, look forward to reading about it and seeing some pics over the next year or so.

Cheers,
Tinnie.