Slow progress - Page 3

VernM · 07-23-2008, 01:14 PM

If you decide that some unique decals might add to the appearance, look here first: http://www.signspecialist.com/

I have some of their product and can't say enough aboaut good service and quality.

kenking · 07-30-2008, 01:48 AM

Those do look good. I'm thinking along the lines of having some type of graphic if I paint it.... otherwise it's going to be almost as drab as it is now in green.
BTW, the lack of posts lately doesn't mean progress has stopped. It is paused because I'm in Tacoma, WA for a week or so. Will be posting when I get back I'm sure.
If anybody asks, 3190 miles in 3 days is a lot of driving! Esp. in a car....

kenking · 08-23-2008, 12:51 PM

Finally a bit of progress! The luan plywood walls are now stained with polyshades. We used "Classic Oak" in satin finish and it looks pretty good! I had hoped to have my wood work "match" the original oak finished trim, and it comes pretty darned close! I'm going to do one more sanding and final coat before posting pictures though.
Also did some mechanical stuff this week... ball joints on the right side, "new" tires, and finally installed the muffler and tail pipe. Going on a trip with it starting this morning and wanted to make it safer and more comfortable first.

kenking · 08-25-2008, 03:20 AM

Back from trip, which was wife's first time in the van for a ride longer than maybe 20 miles, and certainly her first overnight. We traveled 574 miles,and managed to do so with no problems! She has even suggested we go for another overnighter next weekend! So, we're going to drive to a state campground 1.5 hours from here and hope they have a site for us. If not,it may be a Wally World overnighter.
I did discover the need for a few improvements...mainly the pump-it-up pressure system for the water has got to go, the bed needs more padding, the board that forms the ledge to hold the table when it's a bed needs a rounded end, and I need a thermometer of some type for the fridge that I can see from the driver's seat.The last because I realized 60 miles from home that I ran the generator for nothing all day because the cable from the generator to the van wasn't plugged all the way in and the power never made it to the fridge! Oh, and I'm going to change the dead space in the back of the roof into cabinets. And wife says she needs some type of hand-hold to assist in getting up from the porta-potti.

markopolo · 08-25-2008, 03:45 AM

That's great.

You've got a few projects it that list!

Figuring out the foam for the bed isn't as easy as you'd think. If it is firm enough for seating then often it's too firm to sleep on.

Multiple density layers might be best on the bed. Firm stuff right on the plywood then comfy stuff on top of that.

I use memory foam on top of my sofa bed in my RV now.

kenking · 08-25-2008, 11:38 AM

We also have a problem with ceiling height when seated at the table way back there in the rear of the van, so we can't just make thicker cushions. The plan now is to just take a piece of foam the correct size (and hopefully firmness) to make sleeping comfortable and just put it on the bed at night. I guess that will mean it goes in to a large plastic bag on the cargo carrier during the day.

Cornbread Red · 08-26-2008, 10:19 PM

I've found some pretty good deals on Memory Foam pads on Craigslist. My S.O. has a pad we bought at Costco for a hundred bucks, and it is really great. I'm getting a twin-size next paycheck and putting it in the Horizon.

The Memory Foam (Think Temporpedic, although those are $$$$) varies in thickness. Kathy and I sleep on one that's maybe 2" thick on top of a cheapo box set, and it makes all the difference.

Walmart should provide a inexpensive battery-operated "indoor-outdoor" thermometer for that fridge.

As always, lots of luck with your van.
Chip

kenking · 08-31-2008, 03:13 AM

I'm bored and chomping at the bit tonight.... if it wasn't 10 pm I think I'd go out and start making curtains for the van... or maybe sanding the bathroom walls for the final coat of polyshades. I bought 2 really fancy shower curtains at a discount store for $5 each today which are a satin-shiny gray, perfect match for the walls, and I'm anxious to see them turn into curtains for all the windows!
Another change coming up too. Every week or so I get to make a dump run from one of our job sites where there's no room for a dumpster, and I've gotten made some decent "finds" there. A few weeks ago it was several new oak boards, a few of which are now part of the "pantry" wall, the rest will be trim here and there. This week is was gray (with a bluish speckle pattern) very high quality floor tile and about 1/2 gallon of adhesive. It'll replace the cheap while self-adhesive tile I put in earlier.Matches the general gray theme better, and will outlast the van by about 100 years to boot!
Almost time to pull the front seats out and replace the carpet on the part of the floor that isn't tiled... I can't wait! That'll mean the van is DONE! When that finally happens I'm going to be shooting a bunch .of pictures and posting them.
Then I suppose I'll move on to where someone normal might have started...body work.

Cornbread Red · 08-31-2008, 12:33 PM

Don't ya miss that good linoleum of yesterdays? The stuff sold at Home Depot is so thin and marrs with your fingernail!

I can't sleep tonight either.. Been laying awake in bed planning my Stealth Van adventure.. -My girlfriend is moving from this apartment into another place with her mom in three weeks, and I'll be batchin' it in the B after that.

I'll miss this little apartment. The lease is up at the end of September. I'll be taking showers at the gym soon, finding wireless somewhere or using the Internet at the library.. Lots of changes to my daily routine. Won't see Kathy much, but we're still friends.

I still have a "fixed" homeplace, but it's 130mi. from the Big City where I work. I have health insurance with this job, and it just pays enough to keep me away from my rural digs. I get there on weekends, at least.

Enough about me.. Ken, maybe you can find some Elastomeric roof coating in the construction dumpster.. Stuff's great for a roof coating. It reflects the heat really well. It is used a lot out here in houses and homemade motorhomes

Looking forward to more pictures!
Chip

kenking · 08-31-2008, 01:03 PM

I'm sure some of my neighbors have fainted dead away this morning.... if any of them were up early enough to see me outside washing the van at 7 am that is. I bought this house in '97, and have owned several vehicles in that time.Seeing me wash one of them at any time of the day was a rare event...never mind 7 am!
If ever I paint the van a lighter color (thinking pretty much silver...) I might just have to take your advice and paint the upper roof with elastomeric. It does get some warm in that dark van when it's parked in the sun and closed up for the day. We had to do just that yesterday while we took my stepmom to the hospital to see my dad, and used their car. When we got back about 3 hours later it had to be 100 degrees in the van! Didn't smell very nice in there either with all the new stain and polyurethane. I sure will be glad when that stuff has finally lost its smell.... but that'll probably be winter.
Speaking of winter... I think my wife is going to think I've lost my mind.... I want to find a chitbox car for the winter and park the van. Two reasons... well, three...1)After all the work I'd hate to crash it sliding on some ice... 2) It's probably the worst vehicle I have ever driven in the ice and snow! and 3) Won't need it to tow the boat, so I could use some better mileage for a few months. Considering though that the van still looks like a chitter,the idea of replacing it temporarily with another one is kinda funny.

kenking · 09-02-2008, 02:20 AM

At last, a bit of progress! ONE curtain! You can see it on my blog... http://miteb.wordpress.com I think it looks ok....what do you think?

kenking · 09-07-2008, 09:04 PM

Found a 10 gallon fresh water tank on Craigslist for free...picked it up this morning. It will fit well in one of my seat boxes, and not cost me thatmuch storage. I'm happy wit the find, but not sure yet when I'll have the time to install it, or the $$ to buy a pump.
Another find this w/e... and I am excited about this one. I decided a couple of weeks ago that the space above the bed could be used as storage if I simply made doors in the upholstered board that closes it off. I thought an oak board would be better to use though,but man, are they pricey! Yesterday while at my son's for my GDer's 3rd BD I mentioned it to him.... and he showed me a stack of WIDE oak boards he's been saving for "something",and offered me whatever I need! To top that off, he has a friend with a planer,so he's going to get the board planed to about 1/2"thick for me!
I'll use the original one for a pattern, and build a plywood box in the area under the roof to be the actual storage. As a conversion van that wasted space was no big deal, as a B it's value as a storage area is priceless!

markopolo · 09-07-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenking

At last, a bit of progress! ONE curtain! You can see it on my blog... http://miteb.wordpress.com I think it looks ok....what do you think?

Looks good!

I've been away for a week - lots of posts here for me to read.

I have to start monitoring craigslist for a water tank. I'd like to add another ten gallons as a second tank.

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