Hi to All Class B and Restoration Fans out there!
I started a thread on my Camper Van at
Pics of My 77 Dodge Vandicraft Class B & a Tire question
Link Camper Van Pics
on the General Class B Forum so please check that out for more Pics-
This thread is about the work I need to do to make it My Future Home.
One of the few problems with the van is the windshield wipers don't work ๐
The PO (Previous Owner) believed that the motor was bad and replaced it with a junkyard motor that also did not work and he assumed that was the problem and advised me to buy a new motor. Instead I had a friend bench test the motor and found it works fine- the problem unfortunately is ELECTRICAL ๐ฎ ๐
I've been using a multimeter to check continuity and voltages and found that the motor was not receiving a fixed voltage- it was ranging from 0- 3.3 volts. I pulled the main firewall connection and probed it for continuity and when I plugged it back in I lost voltage to the motor plug- dropped to .2 volts (ouch). My preliminary diagnosis is failure of the fusible link from the battery- this would explain why the PO would say the motor turned slowly at times (low voltage condition)and why my messing with it caused more failure. Anyone who know electrical please PLEASE chime in here with any advice!!!:h
My next step is to probe the fusible link for continuity and get a tool to push the contacts out of the waterproof connector. What do you think????
As usual with any project I found more problems that needed to be attended to- the wiper linkage bushing were broken or missing in some cases and the linkage was bread wired together. I purchased new bushings and removed the linkage and installed them with lithium grease. The first one took about 1/2 hour to figure out and then they went much more quickly using a closed end wrench and a hammer on some and a vise to press the bushings onto the wiper rotors. Re-installed and it looks great! pics
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/3V7P83rl.jpg[/
]
I also cleaned a wasps nest out of a vent over the stove....
and cleaned it out!
Thanks for viewing and I appreciate your comments!
I started a thread on my Camper Van at
Pics of My 77 Dodge Vandicraft Class B & a Tire question
Link Camper Van Pics
on the General Class B Forum so please check that out for more Pics-
This thread is about the work I need to do to make it My Future Home.
One of the few problems with the van is the windshield wipers don't work ๐
The PO (Previous Owner) believed that the motor was bad and replaced it with a junkyard motor that also did not work and he assumed that was the problem and advised me to buy a new motor. Instead I had a friend bench test the motor and found it works fine- the problem unfortunately is ELECTRICAL ๐ฎ ๐
I've been using a multimeter to check continuity and voltages and found that the motor was not receiving a fixed voltage- it was ranging from 0- 3.3 volts. I pulled the main firewall connection and probed it for continuity and when I plugged it back in I lost voltage to the motor plug- dropped to .2 volts (ouch). My preliminary diagnosis is failure of the fusible link from the battery- this would explain why the PO would say the motor turned slowly at times (low voltage condition)and why my messing with it caused more failure. Anyone who know electrical please PLEASE chime in here with any advice!!!:h
My next step is to probe the fusible link for continuity and get a tool to push the contacts out of the waterproof connector. What do you think????
As usual with any project I found more problems that needed to be attended to- the wiper linkage bushing were broken or missing in some cases and the linkage was bread wired together. I purchased new bushings and removed the linkage and installed them with lithium grease. The first one took about 1/2 hour to figure out and then they went much more quickly using a closed end wrench and a hammer on some and a vise to press the bushings onto the wiper rotors. Re-installed and it looks great! pics
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/3V7P83rl.jpg[/]I also cleaned a wasps nest out of a vent over the stove....
and cleaned it out!
Thanks for viewing and I appreciate your comments!
Hi All! Temperature is cooler here today so getting some work done in the van on the Flooring and on finishing the cockpit. This week my new dash cover came so I put it on the all metal dash first, they provide some sticky backed velcro to attach the material to the dash. I also trimmed up my carpet mats and laid them in. Here are pics of the remodeled cockpit:
Working on the laminate flooring some more as well, the key ingredient is Krazy Glue now and using it to seal down the edges and corners that didn't want to stick down. It IS making a difference, but is slow going. Pics:
Thanks for checking in!
Working on the laminate flooring some more as well, the key ingredient is Krazy Glue now and using it to seal down the edges and corners that didn't want to stick down. It IS making a difference, but is slow going. Pics:
Thanks for checking in!
OK, started laying an adhesive laminate hardwood floor by Tranquility. Working with the a pattern I had made out of cardboard I was able to layout the pieces and work on the spacing, pattern match and trimming before going in the van.
I numbered the back of each piece to keep an order to them when I got them to the van and began laying them in. The adhesive was very hard to work with- the peel off backing was super sticky and tore when you were trying to pull it off. The adhesive got all over my hands no matter how careful I tried to be and I had to go inside and wash my hands and cool off after every two pieces laid.
Have some gaps I will need to fill somehow...
I will stain and put some small half rounds on the edges and as trim molding on the ends and I will finish the small pieces tomorrow when it is cool....
I numbered the back of each piece to keep an order to them when I got them to the van and began laying them in. The adhesive was very hard to work with- the peel off backing was super sticky and tore when you were trying to pull it off. The adhesive got all over my hands no matter how careful I tried to be and I had to go inside and wash my hands and cool off after every two pieces laid.
Have some gaps I will need to fill somehow...
I will stain and put some small half rounds on the edges and as trim molding on the ends and I will finish the small pieces tomorrow when it is cool....
Well it turned out I was a bit too optimistic on the Radio install- the Radio was dead. Did not come on. Double checked all wiring, voltages and instructions, but it was not working. Sad Day. Ordered a different, but similar Radio on Amazon while I try to return this bad one and today I finally got a working Radio installed- it is a Boss 630UASB with Bluetooth and I have attached a TaoTronics Bluetooth Transmitter so I can connect a wireless speaker to it in addition to the two speakers on the radio. Picture:
Works Great!!!!!
Thanks for checking in with this project....
Works Great!!!!!
Thanks for checking in with this project....
It has been very hot here, too hot to do much work on the van projects. In progress are new flooring, new carpet floor mats, and new seat covers. It is 100 degrees out though so instead of that stuff I worked on getting my new radio installed into the old housing and adding an on/off switch and a bluetooth transmitter to use wireless speakers.
I masking taped the back of the plastic housing and traced the outline of the new radios mounting cage and used a Dremel Cutoff Wheel to cut the pattern, then used a polishing tool to clean up the edges of the new cut. After some further trimming the cage fit well although it will need a shim to seat firmly.
Next I checked the spacing for the new switch from the radio's faceplate and marked it to drill out a new hole. Drilled it and then routed it out with another Dremel tool til it fit. Finally I checked that the Tao Tronics Bluetooth Transmitter will fit next to the radio faceplate- all was good!
Picture of the final outcome:
Tomorrow I will paint the housing a tan color for more contrast with the black switch and radio faceplate and to clean it up even more and then it will be a nice compliment to the new doghouse color as well!
I masking taped the back of the plastic housing and traced the outline of the new radios mounting cage and used a Dremel Cutoff Wheel to cut the pattern, then used a polishing tool to clean up the edges of the new cut. After some further trimming the cage fit well although it will need a shim to seat firmly.
Next I checked the spacing for the new switch from the radio's faceplate and marked it to drill out a new hole. Drilled it and then routed it out with another Dremel tool til it fit. Finally I checked that the Tao Tronics Bluetooth Transmitter will fit next to the radio faceplate- all was good!
Picture of the final outcome:
Tomorrow I will paint the housing a tan color for more contrast with the black switch and radio faceplate and to clean it up even more and then it will be a nice compliment to the new doghouse color as well!
Finished Flooring and Doghouse remodel today with the arrival of my custom cut one-piece rubber floor mat!
Here are some pics:
Floor mat installed, the custom cut was fairly good, but I will still have some trimming to do:
Driver's side
Passenger side
And with the restored doghouse:
Here is what it used to look like with the 40 year-old shag carpet...
I like this better!
Now to reinstall the seats and get some carpet style floor mats and a matching dash mat and all will be good...
Thanks for checking in on this project!
Here are some pics:
Floor mat installed, the custom cut was fairly good, but I will still have some trimming to do:
Driver's side
Passenger side
And with the restored doghouse:
Here is what it used to look like with the 40 year-old shag carpet...
I like this better!
Now to reinstall the seats and get some carpet style floor mats and a matching dash mat and all will be good...
Thanks for checking in on this project!
Update on the latest project on my Camper Van. Cockpit flooring!
I pulled all of the 40 year-old faded, dirty shag tan carpet and there was lots of old adhesive left behind on the floor pan. I decided that instead of trying for a clean, glossy surface I would go with a truck bed liner product and get a practical industrial look which I will cover with a one-piece custom cut rubber mat (62 dollars and should arrive later in the week). I will use double sided velcro to secure the mat and put some carpet style mats down on top for some coordinating colors.
Today was the hottest day of the year so far here, so of course, I had to do the bed liner today! Here are some pics of the procedure:
First sanded the flooring, I used 180 grit and masking the area:
Also had to prime some bare metal areas. I used a Rustoleum primer in a light tan color:
Then I cleaned the area and wiped it down with acetone for any grease and let that dry, then time for the Herculiner:
and apply first coat:
Let it dry for 3 hours and did the second coat and removed masks:
Passenger's side:
Driver's side:
Now it needs to cure for 24 hours and then I can do touch ups!
Very hot and tired, but satisfied!!
I pulled all of the 40 year-old faded, dirty shag tan carpet and there was lots of old adhesive left behind on the floor pan. I decided that instead of trying for a clean, glossy surface I would go with a truck bed liner product and get a practical industrial look which I will cover with a one-piece custom cut rubber mat (62 dollars and should arrive later in the week). I will use double sided velcro to secure the mat and put some carpet style mats down on top for some coordinating colors.
Today was the hottest day of the year so far here, so of course, I had to do the bed liner today! Here are some pics of the procedure:
First sanded the flooring, I used 180 grit and masking the area:
Also had to prime some bare metal areas. I used a Rustoleum primer in a light tan color:
Then I cleaned the area and wiped it down with acetone for any grease and let that dry, then time for the Herculiner:
and apply first coat:
Let it dry for 3 hours and did the second coat and removed masks:
Passenger's side:
Driver's side:
Now it needs to cure for 24 hours and then I can do touch ups!
Very hot and tired, but satisfied!!
