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Post by JBJ on Jul 16, 2010 10:39:39 GMT 10
Hi John,
I guess I come across (as usual) a lot worse than I mean to be. Its impossible to anticipate how someone interprets what you mean to say.
A bit percentage of us, especially the older ones (like me) ,struggle with computers, & all have different amounts of input to add.
Not many get to spend most of the day working on a computer like I do, & being self employed I have whatever time I wish to spend. I can draw good plans, but the rest of it is like being able to understand Russian to me
I dont mean to be bagging anybody when I comment, & please dont take offence at things I say. I've tried over the years to comment less to avoid this happening, but unfortunately I'm human & far from perfect.
I apologise to any I've offended by my comments. I have the interests of the Forum & its members in most things I do & say here.
JBj
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Post by JBJ on Jul 16, 2010 8:08:41 GMT 10
Hi Adam,
If only it was that easy. About 100 actually even comment on anything or parcipate.
It will be more likely that maybe less than 50 will actually end up donating anything, but as has been said, every dollar from anyone will help. Doesnt cost a lot to shove a $10, or even $5, note wrapped in paper into an envelope & mailed to Mark.
As Mark said, we have 3 weeks to get it together.
Where else can you find a passive enjoyment like your regular hit of Forum "Madness" for a few bucks???
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 15, 2010 18:12:51 GMT 10
Hi All,
I've asked Shannons many times about van insurance, & never got an answer I was happy with. So I insured with another company.
They came back with a renewal after the year ended, with a halved value & increased premium. So I didnt renew.
So today I paid my 3 cars insurance ( 2 on out of action ( whatever they call it) insurance) premium, & thought what the hell, so I asked about Lucille being insured for $10000. No problems, told them it was used as a normal caravan every couple of months, & covered a lot of Km's, so its covered for about $140 including my 65% no claim.
You have no way of telling what is going to be approved at any time unfortunately with insurance people.
Hopefully I'll never need to claim.
But Shannons have been fantastic on the claims I've made in the past.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 13, 2010 22:19:45 GMT 10
Thanks Bob ( & all you other guys)
The quality of Peters work is the only reason I've stuck with thisrust repair rebuild, which is definitely costing more than I expected it to. The mechanicals have already been done, & I've collected heaps of bits to finish it while the bodywork is going on.
But Kaybee warned me years ago about getting jobs done properly, & how its impossible to guess what things end up costing when done properly.
At the end of every rebuild I've ever done, I consider the quality more important than cost. When I finish this one I will be happy with it, regardless of what I spend.
I'm now having problems making up my mind about paint colours. Still plenty of time to decide, but it will definitely be two toned, & not boring colours.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 13, 2010 17:42:51 GMT 10
Hi All, Well works stopped again on my Dodge. This was done on a door several weeks ago, & tools are still there today. Each door needs inner & outer bottoms, then a bit at top of drivers side B pillar & its done for the body repairs hopefully. These repairs are slow but well executed, I have to keep telling myself that. JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 12, 2010 8:39:04 GMT 10
Hi Whippy,
Looks pretty cool. Should run great with the flatmotor.
It must feel good to finally get something you've wanted for a while.
Enjoy it.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 9, 2010 8:02:28 GMT 10
Hi Rod,
I,ve had 3 vintage vans all using bar fridges, & for a while used a 3 way in Lucille, until I recently fitted a bar fridge to replace it,
The 12 volt components of 3 way fridges arent very cold, & use heaps of battery.
I run my 80 litre bar fridge on my 2400 watt inverter on battery in Lucille, & get several days normal running on the battery easily. More than enough for travelling & staying overnight on non powered sites. I've fitted a pretty big deep cycle battery ( $375) so that probably makes a difference to the life of the charge it holds. I also charge as I'm towing (if I use the right tow car)
I wouldnt bother with the more expensive 3 way again, & certainly wouldnt use gas ever inside the van . Thats a personal thing with me, as we never cook inside our vans either.
I got an 80 litre bar fridge for $190 at Goodguys, compared to minimum $800 for 2 way.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 7, 2010 22:17:08 GMT 10
Hi Cobber,
Sorry I cant read minds. We are battling to determine the sex & location of the members, let alone the vans they own.
That would be impossible, unless it was compulsory to list them in the members ID. Then it would need to be compulsory to be updated if something was sold.
Considering 40% never post or contribute anything at all, & 20% cant own up to being male or female, I doubt we can ever get realistic numbers for anything.
But we can keep trying to make this Forum work for most of us.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 7, 2010 19:09:48 GMT 10
Hi All,
Just went thru the numbers tonight, & removed the last of the non comunicating members & invalid email adresses.
Its not realistic to consider someone a member when they cant communicate with the Forum, either by not having a valid email adress or not responding to an email I sent 2 months ago. An enormous number did, & expressed desire to remain members, & also general expressed their enjoyment of most that happens here.
We now have 860 members, all present & accounted for.
There are 600 males(approx), between 16 & 77, average age is 50, with 19 of them 56 years old.
There are 96 females (approx), between 19 & 73, average age is 41, with 6 each at 32 & 51
The remainder havent nominated male or female.
350 have never posted anything, & 200 have posted 15 times or more. So 350 have posted 14 times or less.
Not that the numbers mean a thing.
I believe it shows we have a good strong core membership, & the Forum continues to slowly grow in interest.
For what they are worthy, thats whats happening.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 4, 2010 21:57:51 GMT 10
Hi All,
Just looked on travelmate about how to find Crows Nest.
It tells me to go to Esk then to Crows Nest.
Looking at that being a bush road, would we be better travelling up the highway to Toowoomba, then going north to Crows Nest.
Especially seeing we are going to be towing Lucille with our Valiant, which is not the greatest towcar I've ever driven ??
Anyone with any experience on the easiest towing route??
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 3, 2010 9:19:06 GMT 10
Hi Sheppo,
I love it.
In my eyes the Dodges/Chryslers/De Sotos of the mid to late 50's & early 60's were the best styled US cars made. I remember a red & white pillarless 4 door from Camden my friends cousin owned when I was a bout 15, it was my dream car for many years, after growing up as a paperboy reading the American hot rod & custom magazines on the papershop display shelves.
Certainly made the other cars out there then look mundane.
Keep at it, the hardest part appears to have gone together well, now just the time consuming fiddly bits that make the project worth it are left.
Cant wait to see it one day
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 1, 2010 20:02:46 GMT 10
Thanks Geoff,
Hopefully I'll have it back together for Yamba & Canungra in November.
Just feeling a tad down after the failure, so I'm just letting it sit partly disassembled in the carport until I can afford the motor & installation. With my luck of late there will be lots more to fix when I get into it.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jul 1, 2010 19:39:58 GMT 10
Hi All,
We're still hoping to make it. But in the Valiant.
My hot rod engine expired in a very expensive way at Wintersun, so its off the road until I can afford a new motor.
One of the very expensive heads done back in the early 90's cracked in an inlet port, that filled the bore with water. This must have happened a while ago, because when I pulled the inlet manifold off, one of the inlet ports was full of water. The bore below it had bad rust pitting, so bad the block is unuseable.
Since the pistons were custom made by Wiseco in USA when the motor was built , its likely to need a new piston as well as a rebuild.
So when I add up costs of block, rebuild, new set of pistons, new set of heads, I find it so much cheaper to throw in a stock reco'ed 351 Windsor. All my accessories fit, & it will look the same externally. Probably run nearly as well, & will run on unleaded, better than the 11.5 to 1 compression I had that required the timing retarded & premium fuel.
I had a good 10 years fun out of the 426 cube stroker moter, so I'm not complaining.
The joys of owning old modified cars are greater than the stress & cost, & I'm never going to give them up without a fight.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 29, 2010 19:16:53 GMT 10
Hi Cobber,
Looks very much like a Kennedy/Franklin/( & Several other names used) glass van, early 60's I believe.
BUT as so many vans were marketed under various names, no one but the owner or builder will really know. It may have some ID badges on it somewhere.
It gets frustrating trying to ID these multi named units
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 28, 2010 13:42:04 GMT 10
Hi All, Had a look at the progress?? again today. The hole in the roof filled. Wont need much filler here. Top of door adjustment The car had cracks in the panels both sides below windows. The cracks were in lead filled areas, so I got Peter to grind the lead out & repair them. Turned out the factory had 3 spot welds in a seam each side, so he welded them fully. A bit of filler & its OK Works still stopped while he does other jobs. JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 23, 2010 12:53:09 GMT 10
Hi Mark,
I think a few will contribute to the relocation, as most of us realise that it needs to be permanently stored.
I also have no problems with paying a fee to get the members profile on the web page.
Let us know what it will cost when it gets worked out
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 22, 2010 11:02:17 GMT 10
Hi All, our member mbsix3 sent me this pix asking could someone identify this van. I know how you all love this sort of thing, so here we go. JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 22, 2010 10:56:59 GMT 10
Hi All, Posting this as a response from Andrew to my membership email . JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 22, 2010 10:47:13 GMT 10
Hi All, I'm posting these pix on behalf of Paul, who sent them to in response to my membership reminder. Apparently this van was purchased?? from Kingy a while back vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1415His Words "since purchase I have repaired and painted the van, and took it on a shakedown run from Canberra to Perth and back for Easter 2009, about 12000 km. We went over for the Austins Over Australia rally and took 10 weeks to zig zag our way back. I have attached some pics. The Austin didn’t tow the van, just travelled with us" Its good to get feedback from members that are not active on the Forum JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 20, 2010 21:27:44 GMT 10
Hi Pete.,,
Very very nice.
Wish I had one that good .
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 20, 2010 21:22:00 GMT 10
Hi Slantie,
It would help if you showed your location on your identification.
Yes I have quite a lot of bits that could be available.But if you happened to live a long way from me, it would be very impractical to try to get parts to you.
Let me know by PM or email where you live, & what you need.
We can the work out if I can help you in some practical manner.
JBj
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Post by JBJ on Jun 19, 2010 8:53:11 GMT 10
Hi All,
Boots & I have booked in for Friday/Sat nights.
Sounds like a great weekend.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 17, 2010 19:20:35 GMT 10
Hi Humpty,
I thought maybe a Kennedy.
But whatever, it went real CHEEEEP.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Jun 17, 2010 14:55:20 GMT 10
Hi All, Well another one over. It was a pretty good event. We stayed at Kirra, along with a few other Forum members. We met lots of old friends , & some new ones. It was nice to meet Kazandadam on the weekend, & talk vans. Met up with that many I wont mention names, but it certainly is good knowing so many nice people with common interests in vintage vans & cars. A dozen of us SE Qld regulars met & had Sunday evening dinner at Kingscliff, something we try to do one night of every function. Saw lots of new (to me) vintage vans, & I apologise to those of us that I didnt photograph. I only was in the show for one day, & half a lap into the Saturday Night street cruise, my rod boiled badly & appears to have blown both head gaskets. So Sunday AM on a tilt tray home again. Hopefully not too much damage, but who knows. Motor only has 62000 Kms on it. I had only just commented how well it was behaving. It has been running cool with no problems since I replaced the damaged thermo fans from our Easter trip. Find out this weekend when I get the heads off, I guess. Some cars & vans as follows. An unusual styled Fargo customised pickup A couple of customised Holdens One of a large number of mid 50's Buicks unusual ply van very nice 54 Ford tudor late 30's Ford Coupe in the style I remember as being very popular in the 60's 59 Greythone in pretty original condition externally nice ply van in park All in all a good fun weekend. I dont get too worried by minor mechanical failures any more. Its all fun JBJa
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Post by JBJ on Jun 17, 2010 8:29:14 GMT 10
Hi Dave
I use the Indian brand " Twin Treads" in 6.00x16 6 ply, readily available in NSW through Ag Tyres at Moree, who are importers.
Any tyre service in NSW can buy from them for you. The importers number is 1800028988
I have also found out that Wally March Tyres in Victoria are importers. Phone 0354416422.
I know "goin grey" used the same brand on his FC when we met him on the way to Mount Gambier a while back
I've used them for several years, both in 13" on my Sunliner, & 16" on Lucille.
JBJ
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