Monday, March 23, 2009

Construction


I haven't posted for a while. I've been really busy.

All my friends now know I am leaving the state in about 2 weeks, so they all want to spend time with me. I love my friends, but time spent hanging out is time I could be spending on the van.
I have accomplished a good bit though.

After installing the final piece of sub floor, I built a battery box, painted it and glassed it in. It fits between the two front seats, and holds three large (105 amp hour) deep cycle batteries. I want it to be waterproof inside, so any corrosion or leakage stays put. I really don't want battery acid to leak on the van or my stuff. All the water leaks I found when it rained have been sealed.

I finished insulating and closed the walls in with paneling. It almost looks liveable! I have been cutting up 2X4's for internal frame structure, and today I am applying the last coat of paint before they are installed.
The van now smells like a new house; fresh wood and paint, instead of a moldy old vehicle. I found a flood line on both seats when I was cleaning, so my suspicions that she's a Katrina victim are confirmed. The Beast is a SURVIVOR.

It's a beautiful day to paint; sunny and warm and a little breezy. Bugs and dried up sweet olive flowers stick to it, but that's OK. I'm not going for perfection. The van will just carry a little bit of Louisiana with us, wherever we may roam.

Getting closer.......

4 comments:

  1. Hi, Great work, nice to see it's coming together for you.
    One thing bothers me, as the van is a "survivor" have you serviced the tranny and differential and repacked the front wheel bearings?
    I don't mean to nag, but I found no mention of the vans mechanical condition.
    Regards,
    DH

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  2. You are looking GOOD! I'm proud of ya, my friend...

    Won't be long now!

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  3. DH,
    Yup, all that is done. I got the van in October, and she sat in the driveway while I replaced; water pump, belts and hoses, thermostat, steering gearbox, changed oil, serviced tranny, differential, repacked bearings, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember right now.
    My first project was getting her in good running condition.
    I could stand to have the brakes checked, and I'd like to get spare glow plugs, injectors and injector pump, but I'm on a limited budget now, and she's running great.
    I'll look for an injector pump when I make a junkyard trip. A new one is "gasp" $850.00.
    In one of my earliest posts I mention what has been serviced mechanically.
    Thanks for nagging though. I would want to know about that stuff if I happened not to.

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