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.......
Lookin' good!
ReplyDeleteHi, Great work, nice to see it's coming together for you.
ReplyDeleteOne 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
You are looking GOOD! I'm proud of ya, my friend...
ReplyDeleteWon't be long now!
DH,
ReplyDeleteYup, 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.