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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 17, 2012 23:17:57 GMT 10
G'day Nugget, Great to see the progress you've made on the caravan. It might be taking a while but it's going to be a top job when completed. Fantastic idea to practice on your mate's house before getting too far on the van, as well. Then if you make a mistake on the house, you can avoid it on the van!  ;D ;D ;D Don Ricardo |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 18, 2012 6:57:03 GMT 10
You're doing an incredible job there nugget  I've enjoyed watching the progress and am glad you've stuck with it. Yep, the better weather is just around the corner, so get into it ;D ;D ;D Ray |
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Post by nugget on Oct 3, 2012 21:18:43 GMT 10
G'day V'Ver's, The house was great practice but still making the odd stuff up as I piece this old van back to it's former glory. I have fond out that advance caravans were made between 1948 and 1952 which is the latest advertising record I could find for it. There was a move to what is a current car yard in Bankstown. More on this later. Am making some progress, I have reassembled all the interior furniture to check for fit and am happy with the result. I have then removed the furniture so I can fix the wheel arches and start piecing her back together. I have glued all the interior walls and undercoated kitchen cupboard frame and checked for fit.It is finally great to see some inside coming together.     I have glued and am preparing the wheel arch surrounds.  I have removed the 3 side windows and remade new ones. these need to just be undercoated and painted then my made is going to glass all 7 new windows, will have to save for the paint though.   The new jockey wheel I removed and brushed up and painted the old handle and replaced.  I will be re-installing the old tin fridge with a second hand adapted compressor which i will hopefully be able to connect to the original and unique in wall cooling plate and compressor mount which is really quirky. In the desire to do justice to the rebuild and maintain the original integrity of the van I need to trawl the second hand yards to get some old power points and switches, a butterfly screw for the sunroof and handles for the cupboards. Any suggestions on mounting the old table to the walls when in upright position would be appreciated, metal brackets? What do Dons have? That's in for the moment, slow and steady wins the race. |
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Post by nugget on Oct 16, 2012 19:24:37 GMT 10
G'day V Ver's, A quick progress update. I have undercoated and enameled the inside of the wheel arch covers and installed. I sealed it with the enamel in case water ever leaks through the wheel guards. I have sealed inside joins where the guards join to the floor also to prevent water ever getting in.   I have also sealed the underside of the wheel guard covers.   The front running rails I have cut out step insert and painted (have left the outside surfaces for gluing)   Installed these   For those observant readers they will notice that these are only the front rails. I have special plans for the rear. The overhead cupboards have been paint stripped back   I installed kitchen bench frame  Checked oven surround insert for fit.  The seats have been glued and installed.     I have sanded back and installed cupboard frame.  and masonite walls on the cupboard sides   I have also installed the fridge frame.  I am glad I have kept all the old panels for templates and to check for fit. they have enabled me to rebuild the jigsaw. It would have been to easy just to toss it all at the start. So my tips to anyone trying to recapture the original look of your van, is don't chuck it out till you have replaced it. This is the case with the top lid of the fridge, it was vital to the rebuild and made it so much easier to rebuild. So, I am really enjoying seeing all the parts I have rebuilt over the past 12 months all coming back together, this is the fun part,  . |
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Post by nugget on Oct 22, 2012 21:38:11 GMT 10
G'day V V'ers, Have made some progress on the van. These are the original rear running rails I have sanded them back they are a deep red with a light pinkish grain. They are a hard wood.The origin of the van is Sydney about 1950. Any ideas on the timber?  I have my thoughts on this but would like to have it confirmed by a learned forum member.    I have removed the coupling and fitted new grease nipples and will pack spring with grease before refitting for good.  Fitted ply underneath seats.     These are not in the original plan however they finish off the internal storage area under seats, also as I intend to insulate the walls this gives a larger surface are to insulate.    I have glued the kick boards on the rear seats.   Then glued the rear table supports for the bed on these kick boards.  Fits  So does the front ;D  Internal view         I have worked on the kitchen cupboards, inserted side ply walls under stove base  Made and fitted stove base  Fitted sink base, just need to find a sink, back to the junk yard.   The pink sliding bench top has running slide 900mm with no base 300mm x 2 (front and back above drawer). Any ideas on replacing these, bearing or similar easy slide options?  Underside  so next step is ply for side of kitchen cupboards, shelves under sink, toop for above fridge and ply side fro fridge cupboard. Need to go to the hardware store again to buy timber, masonite, mouldings, undercoat, paint, piano hinges for seat, ply for cupboards. I like being able to buy bits at a time when I can afford them, a couple lengths of timber or a sheet of ply is cheap, I am using lots of off cuts as well, this keeps me out of mischief for a while. That all for the moment, having fun now. |
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Post by nugget on Mar 6, 2013 8:55:59 GMT 10
G,day V Vers,
A quick update on progress.
The van has moved and is now undercover.
The last couple of months have been doing up another house so have been unable to do a whole lot.
What has been done-
Made new table leg.
Laminated table tops and sink area.
I have also finished hotplate sliding cover.
Road tested brakes and new frame. It runs smooth and quiet on the road.
Need to rebuild overhead shelves next and start splashing some paint about.
Not much else to report at this stage, still having fun.
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Post by Roehm3108 on Mar 6, 2013 16:16:46 GMT 10
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Post by nugget on Sept 14, 2013 1:21:38 GMT 10
G'day VVer's, Just a quick note to let you all know I'm still at it and haven't forgotten you all or given up. Have been busy with my 61 ek holden resto so the van has been put on the back burner for a bit. It does have a friend though, a caravelle (will post a picture soon) in pretty good nic. I do have a question about fridges compressors as I wish to keep the fridge and van as original as possible (decision made) but with a new compressor, if any one can help it would be great. 1. Can I fit a new thermostat and compressor to my fridge. ie connect to the existing large cooling plate (fits in cupboard wall cavity) pictures posted earlier. By this I mean can I connect a new compressor to the existing copper tubing. 2.Does a new compressor come pre-gassed which would make it difficult to join to cooling plate. 3. I know a new compressor is lighter than the origninal (about 20 kg) The original had side plates mounted to it which had retaining bolts through gromets bolted to the bottom of the cooling plate (check old pictures) and on springs to allow movement, I was thinking of mounting a new compressor on a steel plate and putting it on springs as I dont think I could weld to a modern compressor . It will be 24 volt only no gas or 12 volt. 4. Any ideas where to buy one at a reasonable price? I have explored the idea of ripping one out of a small bar fridge but have no way of re-gasing one of these as far as I can tell which would be required to connect to cooling plate. Am also looking for a 50's period small electric grill stove, with no luck to date, anyone have one for sale? I will post some more pics soon just not much progress to report. Still on the 5 yr plan Hope all are well and will see you on the road in about 3 years ;D |
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Post by seeshell on Sept 14, 2013 4:17:46 GMT 10
Hi Nugget I'm not sure where you're located, but we had an old caravan sized fridge refitted with a new compressor when we found out it couldn't be regassed. A local guy who does boat refrigeration did it for us - they're used to working on weird and wonderful smaller spaces and turning them cold! The new compressor and plate cost about the same as a new WAECO unit - basically it was all but the shell anyway, so that's what you'd expect. I guess if you're handy you might be able to go to the same type of shop and buy a danfoss unit directly off them and do the work yourself. As for the period electric hotplate and grill, as it happens I just saw one the other day on eBay which is quite nice: www.ebay.com.au/itm/331019486828?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649Good luck with your renovations! Seeshell |
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Post by Rattles on Sept 14, 2013 12:26:10 GMT 10
Nugget - re stove see my PM.
Rattles
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Post by nugget on Sept 14, 2013 19:21:33 GMT 10
Rattles sent you a PM re stove.
Thanks mate
Nugget
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Post by nugget on Sept 14, 2013 19:37:25 GMT 10
Hi Seeshell, How sweet is that, I stuck a bid on it. The Danfoss unit may be the go and can install myself. I have about $300 to spend on the fridge, do you think this will cover it? Thanks so much for the info, I love this site ;D Nugget |
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Post by seeshell on Sept 15, 2013 8:22:29 GMT 10
Hi Nugget
Regarding the budget, I can only really say what our own experience was. We basically paid the price of a new 140L WAECO for the refrigeration specialist's parts costs and labour.
Compressors come in a lot of sizes, operate on 240/12V/both power, and with or without all the condenser parts and coils - and price very much depends on what you need. If you're after a lone compressor and not the coils, plate and thermostat etc., that might do it, but if you're replacing the whole guts, it will cost run more.
Good luck on the stove!
Seeshell
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Post by nugget on Sept 16, 2013 22:53:30 GMT 10
Woo hoo got the stove $30 plus postage. It's so nice, 1950's portable electric.
Thanks Seeshell.
Checked out the danfoss site am going to have to save for this though bought $800 all up, but well worth it I guess.
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Post by nugget on Jul 4, 2018 21:06:21 GMT 10
gday folks, after a long period away from forum Im back to update happenings. I have dusted off the advance and started priming in prep for electrics. In other news i got side tracked as brought a caravelle lol (I hate to see old classics go to the dogs)
As soon as I work out how to post pics (as computer died and am on a iphone now) I will definately update u all! As so many have helped me out here! I am having a dilema regarding the exterior cladding atm. Inially i was intending to replace the masonite to keep it authentic/original. However i am also considering a paintable alloy composite cladding (so it lasts and is weather proof) , it would still be the same appearance but give better weather protection! Any thoughts?
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Post by nugget on Jul 5, 2018 16:04:48 GMT 10
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Post by nugget on Jul 5, 2018 16:24:40 GMT 10
Looks like someone needs a photo practice password lol |
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Post by nugget on Jul 9, 2018 21:27:54 GMT 10
THIS THREAD IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE RESTORATION OF NUGGET'S VAN.
TO READ THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY CLICK HERE [/URL]
[/size] G’day All, ;D   I have started a new thread as the last getting a bit long-winded, here is a link to the thread if you would like to check progress so far....... vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=6534After a funeral and rain on Friday there was not a lot to do   ....  Anyway, today was a good day the front frame is finally rebuilt, screwed and glued back together.....  Woo hooo !!!! ;D ;D As stated at the end of my last thread I like to do things right the first time so this involved rebuilding the front side bottom arch frame ribs (?), but I wasn’t happy with the original wooden ribs .....  They were too flimsy..  So these have been replaced with rolled steel ribs.....  Hope the purest don't hate me. I welded a top cross bar to these ribs and welded centre two ribs to main RHS draw bar, then etch grinded and primed welds ....  I sanded and primer sealed a second coat to front floor board, under front RHS draw bar (water & wood don’t mix, I hate water   )...  I re-bolted RHS draw bar to floor.... ;D  Then added a wooden frame base and bolted to top bar of steel rib frame.... Added three window support braces......  Checked window frames for size and fit, perfect ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D............  Then it was a case of gluing, screwing and bolting together. I used polyuathane wet weather wood glue, great stuff this.... To finish off the day we dropped the motor, gearbox and driveshaft out of the ek....  Any way tired now more picture at s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b415/wilfred61ek/Nuggets%20Van%20Resto%20updates%201/s1041.photobucket.com/albums/b415/wilfred61ek/Nuggets%20Van%20Resto%20updates%201/Thanks for following Cheers Nugget ;D ;D [/quote] |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 30, 2018 21:32:04 GMT 10
Hi Nugget,
Great to hear from you again. I've replied to your PM about posting photos via PM.
Don Ricardo
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