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Post by JBJ on Sept 28, 2010 17:17:35 GMT 10
Hi Steve & Mez, I think we are rapidly running out of excuses for not doing what you guys are. Or else I hate you for having more fun than me. ;D ;D ;D Na, not really, kep on enjoying life while you are young enough to Thanks for the pix JBJ & Boots
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Post by JBJ on Sept 27, 2010 19:29:14 GMT 10
Hi Swiftden,
I know we are anti people butchering old vans for commercial uses, but I have no idea where the cut off between "using" & "butchering" is, & I believe it is very difficult to define.
The van shown on Ebay would be a real big rebuild project for a person with a lot of time & money to restore. I've rebuilt 3, & 2 of them were bare shell rebuilds. So I have a fair idea of what is involved, not just a bulls**t guess.
I personally think along the lines of Geoffnjude, what the hell does it matter. Speedway boys destroy better & more complete vans than this one all the time, & no matter what we do we cant influence them.
Unfortunately for the vans, the Carapark "toaster" style are not real popular at present. Thats not to say they wont be in the future. They will never be a popular speedway van, as they dont fall apart like the ply vans do as they are hit.
If you can get hold of one, iat least it will live out in the weather without collapsing on itself.
In a few years the Caraparks might be more desirable than at present, & what you are doing with it may not greatly affect its restorability or popularity.
I say go for it
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 20, 2010 18:19:27 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
Sounds like a hell of a lot of trouble??. Why not send a PM to Dosse, or Sutcac, or Neilncheryl, Earlee, or any of the SE Qld'ers that have re registered a van. See if they can give you the right advice
I cant remember anyone having the trouble youre in.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 17, 2010 19:01:19 GMT 10
Hi,
I personally believe the so called laws about reflectivity are nothing but "Urban Myths" ( thats a fancy name for crap)
No way any cop would have enough brave to whack a defect on anything shiny. Sure they can get you if you vision is impaired in their eyes by window tint, & nothing wrong with that. There are definable standards in place to control darkness of tint. But that only affects driving vision in the car. Nothing to do with trailers or vans.
I would work on what I was told by a Highway Patrol friend quite a few years back. His words were to the effect that if it is different, being driven safely, & not obviously breaking any rules he was told to leave it alone.
Think about it, what is different really in how reflective something is?? You cop reflections at certain times late arvos from the western sun on car & house windows all the time. If you drive into the western sun late in the arvo you cant see very well, regardless of what you are looking at.
I reckon polish it to your hearts content, but just remember once you shine it, you have to maintain the shine. Its very hard to keep a good shine on aluminium. I have a fully polished blower set up on my jailbar, with polished wheels & other bits, & its a near endless repolish every time it goes out.
Maybe you can paint it with POR15 clear, which is supposed to prevent future oxidising, but I dont know how good it really is. It also would be an enormous task, & pretty costly I think.
Will could help you with how his worked out, but I think its a bit dryer over west & possibly less likely to oxidise.
I dont think there is an easy solution to keeping aluminium shiny.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 16, 2010 17:35:29 GMT 10
Hi All,
well we finally got to the 1000 member mark, & I'm fairly confident all are valid members, with very few duplications. I still pick up some duplications thru the birthday lists, about 1 a week on average, but the new members are joining up in droves.
Just goes to show how well this Forum is operating at present.
Its certainly not as lively as it has been in the past, but its proving a real good refence point & help to vintage caravanners, & plays a major part in promoting our hobby.
Take a bow, Mark Taylor, for starting it .
HERES TO THE FUTURE
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 13, 2010 19:47:02 GMT 10
HI,
I would get some wax & grease remover from an auto parts sales outlet. It should take the glue off & not affect the gel coat.
If that doesnt work, try something stronger, like paint thinners( very carefully), or maybe eucalyptus oil.
Trial & error with removing glue residues.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 12, 2010 19:04:47 GMT 10
Hi Barbara,
I've fitted 3 vans with bar fridges, & used a different size in each to fit the opening.
What I do is google search the nearest volume electrical retailer to us, like "goodguys", "Hardly normal", "JJJoyce Main" or whoever is near you.
Search "bar fridges" & you will get a list of availables. Start with the little ones, & with a bit of looking you will find the sizes of the fridges.
Find one that will fit, then start shopping for a price.
Last one I bought I got for $50 less than starting price, by trying 2 stores & telling the salesman he was too dear, I can buy the same cheaper at >>>>>>. I bought an 80 litre fridge for $190.
Its not that hard.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 11, 2010 10:55:14 GMT 10
Hi Tony,
I hate to use the term ENVY(ENVY,ENVY,ENVY) but what else can I say when I see what you,ve found. Congratulations, it one of the most desirable vintage van/combinations I've ever seen, & will be along the lines of the "Highway Palace" from SA when its finished.
I keep thinking there must be still a few of these & the big custom made vans used by the touring circuses in the 40's & 50's still stashed away out there. Just wish I could find one in my (limited) travels.
Absolutely fabulous
JBJ ( ENVY)
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Post by JBJ on Sept 9, 2010 18:07:57 GMT 10
Hi Reddo, I think its a great idea. Sure its using a van for multi purpose, but I remember reading about vintage vans that were made to take a boat in from the rear ( Guess they were inspired by Liberace ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D) I like the idea of the door /ramp hinged at bottom, but the weight of the final unit may make it hard to lift & secure. Guess you wont know till you try it. Gas struts would lift it hinged from top, but you would need lots of strength put into the sides of the cutout to allow them to work You will sort it out OK, hopefully without too much personal damage JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 8, 2010 6:45:14 GMT 10
Hi Trev,
From memory the swing arm just unwinds from the axle. I remember unbolting the axle from the chassis so the swing arm could rotate fully.
Look at the pix in "Jailbarjuice Sunliner Restoration" page 11 or thereabouts & you will see what I did. I think the axle thread is a normal Right hand thread on the LHS, as I only undid one side swing arm to replace the missing brass bushing.
Maybe Humpty's memory is better than mine, cause he helped me with the job.
I dont know anyone else who has removed swing arms.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 6, 2010 21:00:47 GMT 10
Hi Rod,
Its going back a couple of years now since I rebuilt my 58, but it had fibreglass window frames & screen frames.
From memory, I filled the groove in the fibreglass screen frame with bog & then stuck 3 ply cut to shape to that. I pushed it onto the wall & taped it to set in the right shape. When set I made a second piece of ply in the shape of the frame, sanded the edges, then stapled & glued the bits together with flyscreen in the middle. I used metal flyscreen. I then screwed the assembly to the wall.
My windows were hinged from the top , held out using a home made rod & pivot, similar to what I built for Lucille.
I know it wasn't that hard to do.
Have a look thru "Jailbarjuice Sunliner Restoration " & I'm pretty sure I put some pix of how I did it up there. If not maybe in Lucilles restoration.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 5, 2010 8:59:10 GMT 10
Hi Trev,
I've sent you an email with part numbers for the spring/shock units that I was given by Spyder a few years back. I think they are OK because I gave the same to Roger from WA when he needed them, & I think he said they were right.
If you look on the bottom of page 11 on "Jailbarjuice Sunliner Restoration" in members photo albums you will see pix of my suspension when I pulled it apart at Humptys a few years back. My axle just screwed into the tube, but I have a feeling I was told they also made some of them differently to that. You would expect every part of Sunliners to be different from year to year if you ever had much to do with them.
Best of luck, at least it keeps you on your toes trying to work out how something was built without finding any records of how.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 3, 2010 16:00:41 GMT 10
Hi Gavan,
Little bits like that are the things that really finish off a custom job. I reckon any changed bits should look as close to what the factory could have produced as possible.
Certainly getting more done than mine at present.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Sept 3, 2010 7:42:43 GMT 10
Hi All,
We are going better than I expected
61 have contributed to date, & thats a real big effort for all of those involved.
At present we have 974 members.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 31, 2010 7:48:34 GMT 10
Hi Don R,
The early Sunliners were produced with spats, but when they changed to the second series of vans they were dropped because of the wheel opening being different construction.
I agree pretty much with everything else you said, & its amazing how many of them keep popping up.
I learned most of my Sunliner knowledge from Humpty & Spyder.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 30, 2010 8:29:49 GMT 10
Hi Vespa,
Several things.
Firstly the general rule for towing I was given many years ago is never tow more than the towing vehicles gross weight. I dont think a Kombi would weigh1300 Kg, so that automatically would prevent it on that basis. I know lots have towed, & still do tow, way outside those guidelines, including me in the past. But it can become real scarey quickly if you have to stop quick in loose road surface conditions, & it is impossible to maintain safe travelling speed to match highway traffic speeds.
Secondly the first Sunliners were built in 1958, & as a Gracemur was a Sunliner built under licence , it could not be a 1956 model.
Its easy for build dates to be assumed wrongly by previous owners. We all think our memory is great, but as time passes the years do blur a little. Its well documented when Sunliners commenced, so unlikely to find one built 2 years earlier. Also 1300 kgs is a very heavy Sunliner, unless its a 15 foot model maybe?. Does it have a window above the sink on the right hand side? That is an easy hint that it could be one of the rarer 15 foot models.
No matter what, a Sunliner is one of the best vans I've towed, & everyone I know agrees on that.
I agree with Bigkel that you should look for a much smaller van for a Kombi.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 29, 2010 19:48:10 GMT 10
Hi Shane,
As far as I know the posts are tied to your user name. So if you drop off , or are removed by me or someone else for some reason, unless you rejoin under the identical previous user name, you will not be recredited with the same posts.
But thats all I know, & there may be some way it can be done differently. BUT I cant do anything, & I'm supposedly in charge of membership
JBJ the eternal optimist
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Post by JBJ on Aug 25, 2010 17:59:19 GMT 10
Hi Just40,
Even though we are a pre 1970 forum, the bottom line is we are really about enjoying old caravans, & the company of people that enjoy old caravans, without politics & club rules.
So if you feel you want to participate, come along & see how it works for you.
You wont get banished into the boondocks just because your van isnt pre 70.
It would be good to see you there & meet you.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 24, 2010 19:20:43 GMT 10
Hi Mark,
I've heard of people "salting" gold mines to con people into buying them, but I dont know where you would find a van like that to con us into believing you found it, unless you really had.
WHAT A FIND.
Its unbelievable you could find it, let alone so close to home.
Makes you what else is still out there hidden. Surely ( hopefully)all the 30's & 40's vans werent destroyed??.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 22, 2010 21:15:47 GMT 10
Hi All,
I've been playing with old cars since around 10, so that was in the late 50's. I guess that makes me a genuine old fart petrol head. I can remember discussions of Canadian blocks being found in real early 48-215's before I got my licence in 1964.
From memory the first batch of engines were supposedly made in Canada, & the cylinder walls were supposedly thicker than the FJ blocks made in Australia, & supposedly would take a 3 1/4" or ( very risky & rarely) 3 5/16" bore & still survive. I remember some 3 5/16" engines being used in speedway sprint cars at Sydney Showground when I went there on the occassional Saturday night. We always sucked our way into the pits if we could, & naturally discussed engines.
I remember a guy I worshipped built a 3 1/4" bore motor with a Repco Head & twin carbs, with an MGTC box. It was the hottest thing in Wollongong in the early 60's. His parents owned Guests Speed shop, just up from the hospital on the the Southern side of the road. It was a gorgeous black FJ, with chromed wide rims & Pirellis.
Just up the road from a maroon & silver 58 packard Golden Hawk Coupe, with a Paxton blown 352 engine( I think), that ended up with dribble stains all over it every time it came out of its garage.
I digress, but I guess the Canadian Block thing may never be proven, but I see no reason for the rumour to have been started back in the early 60's if not true.
Memories are great, & one day they are probably all we will have
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 19, 2010 19:49:08 GMT 10
Hey Reddo,
Cant believe engineers always, but we have to have them.
My rod weighed a little more than Black Betty over the weighbridge, & then I realised I had the spare, toolbox, jack, cleaning shit, etc in the back.
Still the cost doesnt vary a real lot for rego.
Looks better to me with steel wheels. Get out there & enjoy driving
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 16, 2010 21:27:51 GMT 10
Hey lynn dennis ,sue, Izabelle. for canungra feast. ta! Dennis.
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Post by JBJ on Aug 13, 2010 12:25:04 GMT 10
Hi Rod,
Sounds pretty reasonable to me. I paid $500 for a canvas canopy (top of annex) recently , without pegs etc, & thought that was cheap. But I would never use Marconi clips again if I had a choice. Sail track is so much easier.
As long as its well made it should last forever.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 11, 2010 21:12:02 GMT 10
Hi Lyn,
I think what started out as a great idea has hit the wall. One of the greatest things our group has always had going for it is the willingness for everyone to get involved. Some like me sit back & help if I'm needed. Others love to dig in & do as much as they can, loving every minute of it.
I think we should accept that caterers arent really the answer for us at this stage.
I always worried how our casual approach would work with caterers, who need everything defined to do their job & make a profit.
Boots & I thank you for trying to make it easier for the hard working bunch, but I really think they are happy to keep being the hard working bunch deep down, so dont worry too much about the reality of commercial catering. It was a great thought.
Maybe I have to help a bit more this time, if I'm really needed.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Aug 11, 2010 18:01:41 GMT 10
Hi,
Why not make your side profile from a series of different radius constant curves?
The normal Rectangular tubing sections all nest( or slide) inside the next largest size, so you can weld different radius sections together easily using short pieces of smaller tubing as a joiner.
Your outer frame doesnt need to be more than 12mm to 20mm square
IF you keep the welding heat down, nothing will distort much, & you can always hammer a frame flat on a concrete slab.
Make yourself a template at a smaller scale so you work out whatever radiuses ( radii) you need to use.
Then as you weld things together, put the first finished shape on the supporting floor ( I assume). Sit the next frame on top, held by clamps to the first one, then assemble it & tack weld it securely. Then remove & finish weld. If you cant do welding, like most people cant, then take this email to your local steel fabricator & see if he can follow what I'm suggesting.
you can ring me in office hours on 0266-280027 if you have problems following my thoughts.
JBJ It should be pretty easy if you sit down & think it through.
JBJ
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