Caravelle to Camper self build.

For documenting and technical details of T25 restorations and major repairs
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thissyviking
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by thissyviking »

have to say Leigh-ur doing a stering job and glad all the bits where of use to you.

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

Hi all,

Sorry there have been no updates recently. I was away in ireland with work and catching up in the office all last week. Anyway I have been working on the rear unit all this weekend and its taken soo long to do as its all being done from scratch and Im no chippy!

Anyway, I have no piccies right now as I forgot to take any, but I will finish the unit one evening this week so I will show you then!
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

Mega update alert!!!!

So after being away with work, then catching up with all the shiz, then getting a chance to get a few hours in the garage after work for a few days and working on the van any chance I get at the weekend, here is what I have done so far.......

When I recieved the second hand interior, it had a sink/stove with a grill. I cut off the sink as I dont want one in the van. Anyway, underneath the grill was a thin aluminium sheet, shaped to fit the unit to prevent heat harming the units.
On building my interior, I have just made it all up as I go along and adapting the design to suit my needs. So to my suprise on trialling the old aluminium tray in the new unit, it fitted like a glove! so I used it to keep costs down. I also used the asbestos type material that was underneath the aluminium.

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And with the grill/hob placed in.

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My next stage was to build the rear locker unit. The second hand one was too small, and the mrs wants somewhere to HANG clothes, so this is what I have come up with. It has taken the best part of about 12-15 hours work so far with all the profiling and trial fitting but I am now at a stage where I am very happy with it, but its still not finished!

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And a dry run fixed in place

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See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

So after the rear locker was in place, my plan was to bridge that and the cooker/fridge unit with the centre lockers. I also wanted to measure the bed to make the framework for the home made RnR.

I mocked up what I had in place, and was very happy with what I had achieved so far. Even the Mrs was impressed and rewarded me with a cuppa!

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And this is where I am to so far. I have measuring and measuring for the next stage which is building the centre unit. Once this is done I can start running electrics and Gas, stereo etc. Cant wait for this bit as I have so many shiny bits ready to go in!
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Gunslinger
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by Gunslinger »

Thats great work. I look forward to seeing it in the flesh sometime

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

Thank you! "It will be at a show near you soon!" In all seriousness, I have Bug Jam planned for my Stag do, (if your going your invited!), then we have the wedding and honey moon, so I think its next outing in the public domain will be Brighton Breeze, so Ill look forward to that!
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

kingcreaky
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by kingcreaky »

just the inspiration i needed.

keep up the good work, il be checking daily!

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jamesc76
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by jamesc76 »

Looking great! just a quick question is the interior made from chip board ? If so very advisable to seal any raw edges with a smear of silicone to stop any damp getting into the wood and it swelling up!
DJ at Dubdayz Summerfest
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

jamesc76 wrote:Looking great! just a quick question is the interior made from chip board ? If so very advisable to seal any raw edges with a smear of silicone to stop any damp getting into the wood and it swelling up!

I had thought to seal all the edges with a silicone as when cutting the chip board you can never quite get a perfect edge! To cure this on the beech surfaces I have bought a colour match wood filler and this seems to be doing the trick so far.

Thanks for the tip. :ok
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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New Kentish Campers
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by New Kentish Campers »

hicksy wrote:Lastly, I tested all the gas bits after cleaning all the fittings, Check out the Blue bits!

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And this is what your fridge flame should look like (I think) when its tucked behind your fridge!

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That's looking good. Think I might check all my cooker & fridge out like that before it gets put back into place. Might save me time down the the line! 8)

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

Hey all,

Got a great afternoon/evening on the van today after a morning Gym session and a huge brunch :D

Unfortunately things didnt get off to a good start. I went out to Bulli, said hi as I always do, put the key in the ignition, waited for the yellow light to go out, gave the key a turn, nothing! You little BUGGER! after all Im doing for you!

Turns out when you start the van, move it 20feet twice a day to work on it outside your garage and then park it back up, your battery dies! No biigis, I just gave it a bump start using my work van van and good to go. I then left it for 20mins to tick over and went back in the flat as the Mrs had told me there was a crash during the F1 qualifiers so I watched that! (Glad to hear the Perez was fine in the end but bloody hell Monaco is exciting!)

So what happened to the van today?

I concentrated on building the bed and frame so I can take measurements from that to make up the center part of the cupboards. You may remember earlier on the thread that I had made the cushion bases and back rest using the Ikea futon hinges I obtained. Now I had the chance to put it all together.

The frame was built up with 2"x1" and 12mm Ply templates that I had previously made and almost forgot about .

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Good eh!?
Last edited by hicksy on 25 Jun 2011, 08:58, edited 2 times in total.
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

So the eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed my battery. My huge, effin, battery and there is a little story behind this.

I work for a local engineering firm and I specialise in High Voltage Generators, power lines and transformers. One day in January whilst testing equipment in a power satation, my supervising engineer for the day notices the screen saver on my laptop (a spiltty at the time.) So he tell me about a beetle he once had and we chat for a bit about VWs.

I tell him my plans for my van and he informs me that he is half way through converting a bus into a Motorhome/eye hospital to be used and africa as part of the local Lions club or similar organisation. The bus was on site (as the power station workshop is the only place big enough to keep it) so I took a look. The guy asks me about what Im doing for a battery for my van and informs me that he can get me a leisure battery - of sorts- and do I want it? Being the resourceful type, I agreed before seeing it and ended up with this beast!

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and next to a regular car battery...

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Turns out the battery is one of a huge bank of batteries that form the back-up power system for the computers at the power station! My battery had failed one of the many stringent tests applied during maintenence and needed to be disposed of. So I had it, free of charge!! Should keep me going for while eh!
Last edited by hicksy on 25 Jun 2011, 09:00, edited 1 time in total.
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

Good day one and all!

Had another good day on the interior today. Spent about 7 hours out there and Jake came round to sort his new T4 work van. We put in a stereo and he put in more racking for tools etc.

Today I had the bed framework out, again! This time was to build a box behind the framwork to 1, act as a stop for the boot space underneath the bed to stop any luggage/crap hitting the seat and 2, to prop up the back rest part of the the bed when in the flat position. I also put some 2x1 under all bed panels to stop flex and add strength and under the seat base part I added two props to hold the bed in the flat position

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I completed the rear-most bed framework and decided instead of having a framework with opening lids to acces the rear engine hatch, to make it as one whole piece that lifts out for engine maintenance. I have also decided that instead of carpeting all the seat base framework I will prime, undercoat and white gloss to smarten it all up and make all the different wood types uniform.

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I can still fit the fold out table underneath it all too!

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To finish off the day Jake and I cut out the work top. This is one thing I was quite nervous about as it took one whole sheet of board to make and if I was to mess that up thats near on £30 down the drain! It turned out great though!

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Thats all for now. I have work all week in London so I wont have a chance to have a play again now until the weekend! See you then!
Last edited by hicksy on 25 Jun 2011, 09:09, edited 1 time in total.
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hixsy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hixsy »

very nice, looks great ! nice name by the way :-)
bye bye orange ! hello white !

hicksy
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Re: Caravelle to Camper self build.

Post by hicksy »

hixsy wrote:very nice, looks great ! nice name by the way :-)

Thanks man, Its getting there! You spell yours the same as my little bro. Are you part of a Hicks clan too?! :D
See the resto of Frank, my bug, here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=666711" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See My Caravelle to Camper self build here: http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=85063" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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