Step one. Bought the van.
Hello Everybody, First post. I camp a lot in tents but after spending three days straight in a tent in the rain at Dolly Sods I swore I'd make a change. Here it is. Bought it Wednesday. Dro...
Forum Discussion
Heater Fuel Tank continued:
I need to open up the rocker panel to see what's inside. The space between the two underfloor supports looks like a likely spot.
Stand up a tape measure and align it with the spot while under the van then get out from under and look at the side of the van. Imagine what it would look like with the fuel inlet above the tape measure. Be sure to like the location.
Here's the tools I'll be using. Goggles are most important since you'll be laying on your back drilling and cutting above your head. Way too easy for a piece of debris to get inside your eye without them.
I'll also be using a 1-1/2" ID rubber fuel hose made by Gates. Ignore the part number you can see since I accidentally ordered the wrong hose. The one you see in these pictures has a 90 degree bend. It should have been this one Gates - Angled Fuel Fill Hose, 45 degree Angle, 1-1/2" ID (24710) Currently around $20 with shipping.
I've since corrected my mistake. By the way if anyone needs a 1-1/2" ID fuel hose with a 90 degree bend, let me know. I'll make you a good deal.
Marking out the hole to cut was fairly easy. The hole will have to be large enough to allow my hand to fit around the hose to get inside the rocker panel to do work. Put the rubber fuel hose to the side of the rocker panel then move my hand around it. Mark out a square.
Will make the cuts with my saber saw. But first need a pilot hole. Make sure the hole will be larger than the saw blade.
Was able to make the complete cut with just the one pilot hole. I'll clean it up later.
Take a look inside the rocker panel with the help of my camera.
The view looking right toward the front of the van. The outside skin of the van is on the left. Above is the floor level. In front is the "B" pillar. No signs of damage.
The view to the left is another story.
That kind of damage is to be expected when the end of the rocker panel used to look like this.
Hopefully I've got that taken care of so it won't get any worse.
The view looking up. The outer skin is along the bottom of the picture.
Where the outside skin and the inside of the van meets it looks like there is a bead of some kind of foam insulation or sealant.
The upward gap continues for about a foot from the floor level.
The width of the gap between the corner of the floor level and the outer skin is around 1-3/4"
With these new measurements I can update the cut-away view drawing.
continued -
I need to open up the rocker panel to see what's inside. The space between the two underfloor supports looks like a likely spot.
Stand up a tape measure and align it with the spot while under the van then get out from under and look at the side of the van. Imagine what it would look like with the fuel inlet above the tape measure. Be sure to like the location.
Here's the tools I'll be using. Goggles are most important since you'll be laying on your back drilling and cutting above your head. Way too easy for a piece of debris to get inside your eye without them.
I'll also be using a 1-1/2" ID rubber fuel hose made by Gates. Ignore the part number you can see since I accidentally ordered the wrong hose. The one you see in these pictures has a 90 degree bend. It should have been this one Gates - Angled Fuel Fill Hose, 45 degree Angle, 1-1/2" ID (24710) Currently around $20 with shipping.
I've since corrected my mistake. By the way if anyone needs a 1-1/2" ID fuel hose with a 90 degree bend, let me know. I'll make you a good deal.
Marking out the hole to cut was fairly easy. The hole will have to be large enough to allow my hand to fit around the hose to get inside the rocker panel to do work. Put the rubber fuel hose to the side of the rocker panel then move my hand around it. Mark out a square.
Will make the cuts with my saber saw. But first need a pilot hole. Make sure the hole will be larger than the saw blade.
Was able to make the complete cut with just the one pilot hole. I'll clean it up later.
Take a look inside the rocker panel with the help of my camera.
The view looking right toward the front of the van. The outside skin of the van is on the left. Above is the floor level. In front is the "B" pillar. No signs of damage.
The view to the left is another story.
That kind of damage is to be expected when the end of the rocker panel used to look like this.
Hopefully I've got that taken care of so it won't get any worse.
The view looking up. The outer skin is along the bottom of the picture.
Where the outside skin and the inside of the van meets it looks like there is a bead of some kind of foam insulation or sealant.
The upward gap continues for about a foot from the floor level.
The width of the gap between the corner of the floor level and the outer skin is around 1-3/4"
With these new measurements I can update the cut-away view drawing.
continued -
