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Post by seeshell on May 2, 2011 11:25:57 GMT 10
Hi Stealth
I moved a van from Brisbane to Melbourne for about $1000.
From the Main Page of the forum, if you go down to Technical Stuff topic, and enter, about the third entry is suppliers. I know that in there there are listings for some transport companies.
Congratulations on your purchase!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 21:11:44 GMT 10
Hi Dave and Lillian Looks like you had a lovely and very entertaining break (I didn't mean the tyre!) with family down the coast. Full marks for all the van spotting - some lovely and interesting vans for sure. The pearl is the old "nanna van" with the interesting mint interior. Hopefully it goes to someone who will dearly love it when it needs a new home! Thanks for all the pictures - we go to Portarlington over Xmas every year for two weeks. I'll be sure and take a bunch of pictures of all the old vans that come out of hiding for the holiday break then - some are roughies, but boy, there sure are a lot of them. We love walking around the camp at night checking them out. Maybe we could make a caravan park game. Viscount or Millard Stripe Colour Bingo? Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 19:27:21 GMT 10
Hi Alan Your dad sure did a nice job of the bunks - and they got an extra cupboard out of it and noone had to sleep against the wall. No bad thing at all, saves getting woken for every loo run in the middle of the night. Love the cooker/oven combo, and what a lovely little old fridge! I'm jealous! Thanks for showing off your van - a little gem. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 18:54:59 GMT 10
Hi Humpyboy I've gone back to the beginning of the thread for a read - boy, you sure have come a long way with your Saftee Minor! I'm quite impressed with how much you have achieved this week off work. Clearly you just need to win lotto, so you can keep at it. I see a lot of vans have calico covered in paint or gesso - can anyone enlighten me about this? Was it for looks, or some particular function - seems to often be on roofs. More waterproofing? Great job - and interesting to watch it all come together. When's your next break? Cheers Seeshell
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minivan
May 1, 2011 15:04:38 GMT 10
Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 15:04:38 GMT 10
Hi Ray Maybe they intend you to replace the mobility scooter engine with one from a John Deere lawn tractor mower. That would at least make more sense! But wherever you're going, you're only going there at 10 kmphr. Woo - feel the power! Cheers Seeshell
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minivan
May 1, 2011 11:52:16 GMT 10
Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 11:52:16 GMT 10
Hi Tucky29 This ad doesn't even make sense to me! Clearly tickles your sense of the absurd also. How far are you going on your electric scooter that you need a home away from home?!? I doubt you'd make it between caravan parks (or at least charging stations) anywhere in one of those mobility scooters, if you have to chew battery to tow that minicamper! Mabye it will work when we all move to hydrogen powered vehicles. *shaking head* Funny find! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on May 1, 2011 11:47:32 GMT 10
Hi Barbarab
You're absolutely right about painting acrylic directly onto oil paint - it will scratch right off with the slightest touch. To make it work properly, you must install a special primer coat first between the oil and acrylic. The painting sequence is the following:
oil primer paint --> intermediate primer coat --> acrylic paint
You could ask your local paint supplier which is the best primer for your application - there are primers that stick to anything, including glass, so there will be one for any application. The subsequent acrylic coats will stick to the intermediate primer like the proverbial and your finished result will be great.
From the article they were not recommending a full acrylic treatment (including acrylic primer) because of some of the components in the acrylic primer paint don't hold up quite as well (inclusions like ammonia that damage aluminium). So hence the special advice about oil based primer and the extra steps noted.
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 30, 2011 18:58:46 GMT 10
Hi Al Yes that's about the same for new springs (not an option for us) - our refurbishment might have been a bit more than you would have had to pay, and new/custom (non stock) was going to be about as much as half again on top of that. I agree - though it is a packet - it's not to scare anyone or suggest that leaving them alone might not be the perfect outcome. Apart from the highway scare, I had read a whole bunch on the forum before we got the van - and there was very strong advice about doing the safety/unsexy parts first. I was very happy with my old gent who did the repairs - crotchety as hell but actually a lovely old bloke. He did a fantastic job - and really, I'm happy to know its been done properly. You are lucky to have some heavy industry contacts or locals to tap into. A bit envious, and not just of the Franklin shelf. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 30, 2011 16:47:01 GMT 10
Hi Halps Certainly something that happens around here alot - there's probably advice on paint you can search for in the Technical section of the website, as I'm sure others have probably had the same questions! There's a lot of good advice for painting houses with aluminium siding - and it would have to be somewhat similar you'd think. Experts will be able to point out the differences from their own experiences with their vans no doubt. This website had a few good bits of advice: www.askthebuilder.com/122_How_to_Paint_Aluminum_Siding.shtmlSeemed to focus on a few things like good prep, good paint, but they didn't say you have to remove all the paint just whatever would come loose with a good stiff handwash (power washing to be avoided per article) but I think this is where house painting and van painting might depart - you'd want a more polished look. Perhaps the star crazing would require a light sand so it didn't show through as might also be the case where there was heavy paint cracking - your idea there sounds very reasonable. If you're going to paint the whole van perhaps a small spray kit would be the go (rent, borrow or buy a compressor)? You could paint the base coats and then mask off a new stripe with paper and tape and spray it on which would give a more professional and sharp finish. Or you could make use of LarryLarrikin1's new Caravan Spray Shop if you are within a close enough radius. He's reasonably priced. Good luck with your project whatever you decide Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 30, 2011 16:24:11 GMT 10
Hi Al
Interesting post - I found it very enlightening after planning to go down the same route not that long back in late Jan just after we bought our Olympic.
Just before Xmas holidays last year I saw an older caravan (80s?) disintegrate on the highway about five car lengths ahead of us, and couldn't avoid driving through the cupboards and clothes and other detrius. The car towing the van was flung into the Armco, and there were kids in the car. Noone was seriously hurt, but it scared the hell out of me.
I'm not singling out the springs by any means; the van had a range of issues. It was going down the road with quite a wobble on for quite a distance before the car breaked and all hell broke loose.
But needless to say when we bought our own van about a month later I was on a total safety kick. I wanted everything older than me (everything on it is older than me!) taken out of it and certified safe or replaced - never wanting my family face-planted into a highway barrier.
My thinking (probably flawed I'm sure) was that shocks help keep you on the road, so I was very keen to ensure the springs were top notch - and really I wanted them replaced. New axle, etc. So that was my mind set.
For a number of van owners for a range of reasons you may not have a common mount length, chord length or camber, which is what happened in our case. The old guy at the trailer place (who kept trying to buy my van off me) said his preference was to replace them if he could, but this was not a standard set.
Remaking them was going to be prohibitive, so they did go the full reconditioning route and added an extra leaf in. I wasn't completely happy about it at the time. I think I only felt ok about it after I handled all the chassis while we cleaned it back and painted it - it was pretty tidy.
So the advice you got was excellent from your repairer, but it appears that they occasionally still recondition them if the alternative is to make them new (rather than off the shelf).
I guess then, if you find yourself in that position, you have to weigh up if you have a set that can be saved or if you just have to pony up the cash if they are too far gone.
Thanks for the good post Al - and good progress!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 29, 2011 22:43:44 GMT 10
Hi Alanjb07 What a lovely van - and how nice that you have a family history for it. There only a few people who are lucky enough to have a van that has passed down and given so much pleasure over generations. In the original picture of your van, is that wings painted over the wheels, or just a bit of SA Dust? Glad to see the old girl is out and about and continuing her journeys. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 29, 2011 16:24:48 GMT 10
Congratulations on your achievement Magicangelisa.
Signed up today - really looking forward to more vintage van "porn" delivered to my home each month! ;D
Best wishes Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 28, 2011 16:43:54 GMT 10
Hi Reddo Can't say what the others looked like that brought on so many round trips, but that one looks pretty schmicky! Finishes the back of your ute off a treat. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 28, 2011 10:58:43 GMT 10
Hi All Tell your mate with the red teardrop and bay window we saw him pull into the rest stop in Myrtleford as we were on our way back to Bright from a day trip. We went out of our way to follow for a while, since it looked so unusual! Then not far down the road we saw LarryLarrikin1's Mayflower and Teardrop on a lawn and had a squiz. Hope you all had a fun time in the teardrops. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 27, 2011 20:07:25 GMT 10
Hi Sutcac Enjoy the Bright Autumn Festival - just came back and the colours are just beautiful. Great time of year in the Alpine - if you get a chance do the drive up the Bogong High Plain - really amazing old cattlemen's huts and stunning scenery! Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 26, 2011 12:28:49 GMT 10
Hi Al
The config of the stove is like the shields goldline, but the top is one continuous piece, rather than having hotplates that removed for cleaning. The whole enameled top including the burners is held down by four screws.
Yes I have seen the logo with an outline as well - that was from 1935 (or during that time in any case per some ads I have seen). Interesting about the Rinnai connection.
I'm going to get a few versions of the parkinson's book per Cobber's recommendation - a girl can't have too many cookbooks!
Thanks for the lead Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 26, 2011 8:03:05 GMT 10
Hi Cobber I know - that's the creeping sickness isn't it? I'm off to find a few editions to help me out. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2011 20:28:15 GMT 10
Hi All Picked up a stove at a swap meet - Parkinson Stove Company. Enamel in beige and black, with black knobs and logo. VGC. Marked as P. 21 L.P. Clearly meant for installation in van or small apartment - LP gas fittings two burners and a toasting tray underneath (like van gas setups). The Parkinson Stove Company (from the badge) was located in Melbourne (I've been able to find through Trove that the factory was in West Footscray). It was an offshoot of a British company of the same name. The company operated from about 1927 to as fare as I can tell 1983 (though at that point possibly it might just have been a brand holding company). Anyone else have a stove like this to help me correctly identify the age? I'm guessing early 40s at the latest - when did stoves move from enamel coating to painted steel in Australia? Any help from the history buffs appreciated. Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 25, 2011 19:23:25 GMT 10
Hi Skyhooks
What a magnificent van - I can see how much work has gone into the immaculate interior and the flawless exterior! It boggles the mind to think it could look better in person - you have every right to be "houseproud"!
I hope we do see you at Cora Lynn - I'm very keen to see all that hard work in the flesh!
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 13, 2011 14:47:41 GMT 10
Hi Billytribe Congratulations on your purchase and for so comprehensively getting into your project! Have to love and admire your energy and passion. Like Swellwillys I did particularly like your "levitation" feature for the Sunny. When you touch and refurbish every par of your van, it certainly gives a lot of piece of mind that all the other work you do won't be undone by something "hidden". Plus, it's just heaps of fun. Welcome to the group, and be sure to give us lots of updates over the next two weeks while you crack on - we love the pictures and to hear about how people are going. Cheers! Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 5, 2011 22:17:07 GMT 10
Hi firefighter
We'll have two as well - many thanks.
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 5, 2011 15:39:56 GMT 10
Hi MarkT
Really nifty - I love the idea of the canvas sides making it all internal, rather than the standard teardrop external kitchen. Amazing too ow tidy it is for it's age.
What are your plans for your new acquistion? Have you settled on the tow car you posed it with as its' pair? Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 5, 2011 13:21:56 GMT 10
Hi Larry
PM Sent.
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Post by seeshell on Apr 2, 2011 16:26:29 GMT 10
Hi Dave
Yes that was the statement that worried me too - "originally installed by the manufacturer" - since many of us do renovations, or over time have to replace equipment in these vans, unless you're lucky enough to get a "shed find".
Cheers Seeshell
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Post by seeshell on Apr 2, 2011 9:13:03 GMT 10
Use an Easy Out - Drill a small hole down the middle, tap it in the other direction, and then when you tighen it it will undo the bolt that is in it. I believe you can buy them at Bunnings. If there was enough of it sticking proud another option would be to use a fine cutting blade and make a slot in the top, to turn it out with a screwdriver - depends how stuck in it is. Perhaps an application of the magic fluid WD40 would help. You should be able to fix the hole in the ali with JBweld or something like it, if that's a concern. Cheers Seeshell
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