A Newbie with an Oldie

[kaz]

HI there,
I am a very new signed up member with a very old Teardrop wooden Homemade van. Apparently it was made in the late 50's but I will now more info on Friday about its birth and history. I have just about sanded back all the lead paint off her but was wondering if anyone could tell me what would be the best method and waterproof/exterior paint I should do To my addition to the family. I want to keep her as original as possible, but do not in anyway let her get wood rot or be unprotected in anyway.
Hope someone out there in Cara-Travel land can help me
Thanks a bunch
KaZ
Oh and I carnt stop smiling, I can't wait till shes all painted up so I can get on the road and test her out... so excited

[kaz]

::)I shall endeavor to posts some pics over the weekend.... and after reading posts and looking at the old girl she looks to be made underneath of masonite sheets underneath her body.
I have been also told that her tow ball set up is illegal because its so old,,, me I have no idea yet, need to bend some ears I think over the weekend
Kaz

[Don Ricardo]

May 7, 2010 0:14:29 GMT 10 kaz said:

I have been also told that her tow ball set up is illegal because its so old

Hi Kaz,

That's not necessarily so. There are various posts on this and if I can find one I will point you to it. Essentially the story as I understand it is that you can keep the original tow coupling (assuming that it is sound, of course) if it is original to the van, and the van was manufactured prior to the relevant regulations coming into force. Sometimes the RTA/VicRoads/whatever officers are unaware of this and will try to force the issue, so you need to be prepared to stand your ground. Have a look around the forum and you will find the info you need so you know your stuff before engaging with the rego authorities.

If you can tell us the state you live in, somebody from that state who has already been through the process can give you the necessary advice/info.

The main point is, don't do anything about replacing your tow coupling until you know you absolutely have to. If the coupling is unsafe because of corrosion, etc, then of course there is no question...

And welcome to the forum, by the way. We look forward to seeing some pics of what has made you smile so broadly.

Don Ricardo

[humpyboy]

Hi Kaz and welcome aboard, will look forward to your pictures, my old TD also has or should I say had a Masonite floor, it has now gone to ash land, kept me warm for a few minutes I will probably maybe use Masonite again just to keep the tradition of it's original build true, as for the paint to use I would be thinking of using a good quality oil based paint but that is just my thought but lets see what the others say at least they have actually painted a Van I still have a lot of work to do before I get that far besides you can't paint nothing can you as my wall sheets are still at the hardware store ;D


Here's what I brought home.





And here's what it looks like today.





I have removed my entire base to build a new one from scratch with less rot ;D, if you go to "members photos" then find the thread titled "my safetee minor" you will be able to follow my restoration, good luck and hurry up with the photos will ya ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[kaz]

Thank you for the information and the photos, the towball coupling is in extremly good order, so thats good news. I will check out the other posts as well. You must be so stoked Humpty Boy, I know how you feel.
HI Don, Im in NSW in theLower Hunter Valley and thank you for having me here. I will take some pictures Saturday, have a wonderful weekend
REgards,
Kaz

[kaz]

I think thats what I will do also take the body off the chassis and sandblast that and the wheels. Im not sure but Im thinking my wheels might be off a ford prefect??? but the look exactly and have the same stud pattern as an old VW. It s a real shame because one of the hubcups are missing, but I will certainly have a bit of research ahead of me

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Kaz,

Lower Hunter Valley? Good news, there are a couple of experienced V V'ers living in your neck of the woods who have registered several (or in one case many) V V's each and know the ropes re keeping original tow couplings and lights, etc - Reddo and Humpty2 who live in the Newcastle area, and Cobber who lives in the Camden area... OK, I know Camden is nowhere near the Hunter Valley (unless you're in, say, Paris, in which case they are virtually next door ;D ;D ;D), but Cobber knows the NSW caravan rego rules very well.

Cobber and Humpty2 are currently on their way to the V V Nationals in Mildura, but Reddo is still around, so hopefully you will hear from one of them. If they don't read this post, they probably wouldn't mind you sending them a PM (personal message) via the forum.

Don Ricardo

[humpyboy]

I'll take a stab at your wheels and put forward the idea that they might be FX/FJ, these seem to be a popular choice back then, to look at they are very similar looking as a VW wheel but I think you will find that the PCD (is that right? ) is larger than an FX/FJ wheel,Ah well that's my 2 bobs worth again

[Cruz]

Hi,
I have restored two VV'S in NSW and have had to change the coupling on both. Went to two different Blue Slip issuers and talked to both about keeping the vans original,but both would not pass my different old style couplings. Due to the fact that they did not have a standards number on them. In my option now that it,s done i feel that it was important from a safety and insurance point of view. Hope you enjoy as much as i have mucking about with old vans.
See you on the road
Cruz

[JBJ]

Hi Kaz,

Early ford prefect/anglia/fordson wheels from memory are the same bolt pattern as early VW. You could possibly find hubcaps at Spares Galore in Ferntree Gully, in Vic.. They are OK to deal with over the phone, I've bought a few things over the recent years fom them.

JBJ

[kaz]

thank you for all your helpful tips everyone, I had a couple of ford mad vintage blokes have a look at the van and they are Ford Prefect wheels, I had a missing hub cap, and been online and have brought two new chrome ones, so at least i will have a spare. Off to do some work today and pull off the wheels and body

[kaz]

NOt sure how to post my pictures on here, can anyone assist me?
THanks

[humpyboy]

Gidday kaz, if you go to the home page then to helpfull hints you will find a posting titled jim's instructions on posting photos

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=hints

with a bit of luck this link should take you straight there, follow the destructions ;D and you may have some luck, a bit tricky first time round but gets easier the more you do it, am waiting with baited breath ;D

[kaz]

THanks a bunch for the infomation, I will follow link and posts some pics. The van is hooting along, my Partner and I have scrapped all the lead paint off the timber, and boy was there a couple of coats....sanded it all back , glass blasted all the lead paint off the chrome strips, and now she has her first coat of paint and has been sanded back again today. There is no way that I could have got this far without my best mate and all the work he has put into her..... when I dont work and have some daylight hours I will be able to put pics of the resto on.
Kaz

[kaz]

HI there Don, If I emailed my pics to you could you post them for me, the site wanted money for me to post pics and I didnt want to do that,
Kaz

NO sweat Don I worked it out , the 1st pics are up

[kaz]

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[kaz]

HI there with patience I did it and posted the pics when we brought her home, she looks at bit diffrent now, I need to download a few more recent pics.... I am thinking the ole girl was hand made, from what I was told was that she was a barn find at Singleton NSW and then she was sold to a bloke at Teralba NSW and then to a lady whom didnt have the time to do her up sold her to me, and now I have her.... Don I did it mate finally worked the photo bucket out, thank you for everyones help
Kaz

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