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Post by rexbuick on Feb 19, 2006 20:49:25 GMT 10
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Jim
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by Jim on Feb 25, 2006 11:24:13 GMT 10
If you want an exact weight.. info about the drawbar.. What's needed to register.. etc.. email or PM me and it can be arranged. Reg in Victoria is $32.90 per year.. (eat your heart out other states..)  Jim |
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Post by jimfrombendigo on Feb 27, 2006 15:13:26 GMT 10
Hi Rexbuick. I was just about to post to see if I could get some info on my van when I saw yours. It would appear that I own the baby version of yours. A two seater dinette up the front and a double bed at the back. I believe the double bed originally folded down from a couch but in mine, the previous owner made it a permenant feature. A feature I'm happy to keep. I've owned this van for about 12 years and for most of its life it's acted as a bedroom for one teenager or another. As the last of the teenagers grow up and leave home, I think its time to see what can be made of this van. Ideally, I'd like to improve this one to use during wet weather or longer trips and build a tear-drop for summer camping and shorter weekend trips. A new longer drawbar is a must I believe and I'd like to do something about the insulation in the roof. Its a single skin and condensation is a real problem in the winter. If anyone has any ideas how best to fix this I'd appreciate it. If yours was called the Carvelle does anyone know what mine was called? and...How do I check the exact age?   |
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Post by rexbuick on Mar 2, 2006 22:03:24 GMT 10
Hi Jimfrombendigo
great looking van, they look very much the same, how long is your Van?
There may be a specification plate near the power board, mine is not at home yet, so i cant check mine
my roof is lined with ply and by the look of it never has any moisture on the roof
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Post by jimfrombendigo on Mar 3, 2006 11:08:21 GMT 10
Hi Rex,
The van is 10' 6" from front window to back window. Obviously because of the curves the actual floor length is considerably less. I suspect it would be officially classified as a 10 footer. Isn't it strange how we continue to use feet and inches to measure caravans btw?
From the photos I would say both our vans are unmodified. I wasn't entirely correct in describing the roof as single skinned, although effectively it is. Outside is the sheet metal. Inside is a thin piece of ply covered with a plastic decorative material. But both ply and steel and right next to each other. No thickness to the roof. Compared to the walls which have something like an inch of thickness and appear hollow.
When we first bought the van the inside was totally unmarked. The previous owner had stored it under cover first in a carport and then in an extended garage all of its life unless actually being used.
We bought it strictly as a temporary bedroom for two of our girls while we were building our house. (We lived in a 20' Franklin)
All was well until winter when we started to notice the bedding was damp.
I was actually able to see the water beading on the inside of the roof and running down the curves. Particularly at the back. There were no leaks as such. It was pure condensation. I temporarily fixed the problem by putting it under one of those 3 mtr X 3 mtr shelters.
When we moved to Bendigo that shelter lasted until the first good wind. High winds are common here. I tried storing it in my shed the second winter and then outside with sheets of iron on the roof. When it wasn't being used as a spare bedroom I could stop the problem by equalising the inside and outside temperatures by leaving all windows and doors wide open overnight. Not really suitable when someone is actually sleeping in it of course.
In the end we gave up and just won't use it in the winter.
In a nutshell, I reckon this thing must be stored undercover in the winter.
My plans are to use this van for winter trips so I must solve this issue.
I was thinking along the lines of maybe a half inch of polystyrene glued to the existing ceiling, then another sheet of 4mm ply bonded to that.
That would hide the original lining material of course and I doubt if I could ever find it new to replace it. So working on the principle of what you can't hide you make a feature of, I'll try to work out another decorative way of covering the ply. Contrast it to the walls maybe.
Unable to find any date anywhere. My electrical board comprises of a plastic terminal box inside the overhead cupboard. Nothing on the drawbar. No plates outside...that I have been able to find. Original reg has no year on it.
I'm actually happy to just refer to it as "late 1960's"
Somwhere along the line I learnt its weight was 600kg. I haven't actually confirmed that on a weighbridge but I reckon from towing it, that weight is not far off the mark.
Had a look at your site btw...LOVE the Buick. Good job!
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Post by jimfrombendigo on Mar 3, 2006 11:38:19 GMT 10
Sorry...Just thought I'd add some thoughts in the hope it may invite some further comment from others. I've more or less decided the tact I wish to take with this van. I've seen instances here of accurate restorations of older vans, right down to metho stoves and iceboxes. Complete customisation and everything in between. I think my tastes fall into the "In between" category. I'd like to restore the exterior so that it looks like it just rolled out of the Franklin factory back in the 60's. But totally change the interior to brand new and up to date. Similar to what we see in those new rear entry pop tops. This sort of look.  The effect I want is for people to see the outside and think..."Hmm. Nice original van" But step inside the door and its all 21st century. One of my dilemmas is that in vintage cars, many have been lost for all time by people customising them. Therefore, should I put the original cupboards and fittings in storage? I'm thinking ahead to the next generation when one of your grandchildren find my van and get all exited because its dead original and then curses me because I've totally destroyed the interior. My question is...to those involved in vintage vans...is this a valid issue? Also, in regards the roof. I was wondering if I might be better off working from the outside and removing the skin and adding insulation in that way? Is it still possible to find the original cladding to replace the sides and make up the extra thickness that will be needed all along the roof. ANY thoughts on this problem would be appreciated. Lastly...to the mods. Would you prefer to move this discussion to General or Technical? Whats the protocol on this forum? |
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