FS Alistair's 1970 Westy SO70 Campmobile - San Lorenzo, Cali

[creationblue]

Good pictorials Ali, hope to strip mine out over the winter and replace the headlining and side panels, watching with interest.

Just

Cheers! You know we like pictures!

I dont have anywhere to work on the van but outside, and i hate the cold, I think just a quick refit of my old interior, fit the propex - have been looking at your install for inspiration, I would really like to get the new floor cut and fitted, along with the cork tiles, but weather dependant, and Linda works weekends, so i only have a few hours towards late pm over a weekend to do anything, as baby Isla to young to leave while Daddy plays with the camper, anyway, i enjoy having a little time on our own, she can help when she is older, but quite a way from that!

And i think this weekend is rain.......

Remembered i have some woodstain i used on the wooden sides on my radio flyer - may use this on the original panels to brighten things up for the time being.

Cheers,

Alistair

I hear you mate, its difficult to get anything done when your cheif domestic entertainments manager (Dad) :lol:

Just

 

[aogrady]

Hi All,

Not much progress over the months due to weather, cold, poorly GF, me looking after daughter etc etc, got a chance to get some work done today.

Rustproofed the floor where some rusty areas where, solved with ankorwax as a temporary measure, will repaint the floor with epoxy resin come summer time. Poured a little clean oil into the key hole slots for the middle seats as these has some rust around them, not much, as can be seen in the earlier pictures. Some 2mm foam underlay directly on the metal floor, then hardboard, the hardboard with the og westy lino fitted (soon to be removed again)

Ran the gas pipework under the flooring, notched out a bit of the bed and floor to run the copper pipe, and hand bent with a pipe bender, to keep any joints to a minimum, the calor gas bottle will fit under the buddy seat with access to the isolation valve for the propex which i will be fitting, and running across the floor to the sink unit, where the 4 burner gas hob will fit in place of the sink unit, with a modified front panel for the grill area. I will reline this area with metal sheeting for heat protection. The hob will be mounted in a custom machined wooden top in place, and along with this will be pipework for a quick release gas point for the outside BBQ

Hopefully will get the new hob unit fitted over the next few weeks. Still undecided as regards to the fridge. as i wont have the rear water tank, i am tempted to fit a compressor fridge in place of the westy unit, but retain the outside look of the original westy unit. Might have to sell some more bits to pay for this though!, they are not cheap.

I have also finished off the soundproofing and insulation to the side walls and sliding door. I have extensively used a heavy butyl silvered finish rubber type flashing, heated up with a heat gun, it's extremely sticky, and will stick to anything, and used it double layered on all the cavity's inc tailgate, and then insulation and thermal bubble wrap, then the original wood over the top, just by fitting the flashing has resulted in a noise reduction, so will utilise this under the bed, and the engine bay, and under the front seat tubs. I know loft insulation will absorb water, but as the original stuff has been in there for over 40 years and the bus hasn't rotted from the inside out yet, i figured, as long as the window seals are ok, and the flashing will aid a little with heat retention possibly, i reckon it'll be fine.

As i have been pushed for time, and my original plywood was split, de-laminating and generally looking poor, and as i struggled to find a local place with the right size stuff, i decided to remove one layer of the multi layer plywood, painstakingly by hand, to get down to unmarked wood, quick sand and some wood stain and varnish, has improved this no end, though the jury is still out on the stripes on the ply behind the table, obviously part of the process in making the ply, it has different types of wood. Though didn't see these lines until i removed part of the ply :roll:

This will be another job for the summer, can take it all out and replace all the wood then, i'll do the ceilings too :shock:

Next up is a quick replacement of the flooring, the old westy lino is lifting up and is well past it, i intend to remove this, and what's left behind, most of the ply is still serviceable, with only a little split near the sliding door, me being cack handed getting it back in, will sand, seal and lay some nice cork tiles, nice and warm, easily replaced when damaged.

More pictures of the gas piping, propex, hob etc as i do it. Then maybe next up with be the tan leather interior, redo some 3 point belts in the rear, and sell on the middle seat, then maybe solar power up top, thats the plans for the future anyway.

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[creationblue]

Glad your getting some time to get stuck in! Need to do my gas next, still not sure of the best place to sit the bottle with the easiest/least amount of Copper work. Liking the cork floor idea I'm still undesided on my finish I'll watch with interest. I was going to re-insulate my roof and side panels but the OG rockwall was in good condition so left it as it was as I don't plan on winter camping :lol:

Post up some more pic when you get time 8)

Just

 

[aogrady]

Glad your getting some time to get stuck in! Need to do my gas next, still not sure of the best place to sit the bottle with the easiest/least amount of Copper work. Liking the cork floor idea I'm still undesided on my finish I'll watch with interest. I was going to re-insulate my roof and side panels but the OG rockwall was in good condition so left it as it was as I don't plan on winter camping :lol:

Post up some more pic when you get time 8)

Just

Can you not put the bottle in a cupboard? I have a small camping gas bottle, for if i ever go abroad, otherwise i am using the small calor bottle, blue one, as it fits fine inside the buddy seak, though i will need to find a home for all the stuck that sat inside there now! The calor bottles are much cheaper to refill than the camping gaz, but not as available if at all when you are abroad so i understand. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, i want to peel off the og westy lino, sand off the junk, and lay the cork down fingers crossed.

Didn't know the roof was insulated too, another job for me them next year. No winter camping? Thought you had a propex for that?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[Dirty Harry]

Hi Alistair,
It looks like your louvered window inner seal is mounted the wrong way up, the wider lip must sit on the bottom side of the window this way it covers the srews
Keep up the good work mate.

Cheers, Harry

 

[aogrady]

Hi Alistair,
It looks like your louvered window inner seal is mounted the wrong way up, the wider lip must sit on the bottom side of the window this way it covers the srews
Keep up the good work mate.

Cheers, Harry

Hi DH,

Thanks for that, it seemed to fit easier this way, will turn it around, :lol:

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi,

Took it to Beetlebank the other afternoon after work, and Carl very kindly set to work and we changed over a couple of the seals, the tailgate glass had been leaking for a little while, so i was a little concerned as to what we would find. I forgot to take a photo, and there was only minimal surface rust which was treated with a waxoil like substance which will keep any problems at bay for the foreseeable.

We also did the side window, wardrobe side, as along with the other seals, this was rock hard, but after removal, the bodywork was in surprisingly good nick,

What should have been a quick job (as i am sure Carl thought) turned into a long job as the seal was really awkward to get it, it was a quality seal, Status IIRC, but was tricky with just the two of us, with me not being much help to be honest, luckily for us all, i had ordered another seal from C&C, (forgot i had a status one) which was still awkward to fit, but did go in ok in the end.

I would like to thank Carl once again for sorting it, it was rather late in the day, and wasn't a quick simple job, and was done as a favour, so i owe you a drink or so mate

Happy to have a watertight tailgate now, was sick of wringing out the sponge every day when it rained! :roll:

Though aside from that, i notice the front tyre is flat as a pancake, so another poxy job to sort, looks like i am up early changing wheels before i go to work :roll: :evil:

Prior to the seals, i got the gas pipe run under the flooring, but now i am wondering if it's better running it outside the van and up through the floor? I didn't think it was a good idea to have it underneath in case of damage, very unlikely i know, but what is everyone's opinion of running it under the floor in between the grooves of the original metal floor? There is a slight height difference, so a little pressure may be on the pipe, i have covered the pipe with some laminate flooring foam, which is a few mm thick, then the sub floor, and then the westy floor on top (which i will be removing the lino part to fit cork tiles, unless i can find some plywood somewhere to redo totally.

Do you think i should cut the sub floor in half to run a channel for the pipe, or do you reckon it's ok just laid underneath?

Might get some more done over the weekend (working Sat )

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[r73]

Did you decide against putting the propex in the buddy seat? Im still trying to find the time to fit mine but was planning on getting the propex consumer unit and small calor bottle all under the buddy seat, leaving the space under the rock and roll bed free for jack,utensils, pots pans etc

 

[creationblue]

Hi Alistair

I wouldnt worry about the gas pipe, the soft copper will at worst flatted slightly against your floor but thats it. If you route it outside im guessing you will have 2 add a few compression bends in making it, adding to the chance of a leak.......

Good work with the rubbers.

Just

 

[aogrady]

Did you decide against putting the propex in the buddy seat? Im still trying to find the time to fit mine but was planning on getting the propex consumer unit and small calor bottle all under the buddy seat, leaving the space under the rock and roll bed free for jack,utensils, pots pans etc

Hi,

Yes, i am gonna put it under the rock and roll bed, i would prefer it in the buddy seat, but with the larger calor gaz bottle there isn't enough space, and i cant bring myself to cut a hole in a perfectly good seat. I hope the propex isn't too loud at nice if we are sleeping, though i am sure i could encase it a little to quiet it down under a wooden box or suchlike, it's all self contained and doesn't need any ventilation, aside from the air pipe in, the other pipes are external, most of the noise will be from the fan and burner

I have my inverter under the bed, along with power from the leisure battery and 12V fuse box, so will be putting the propex and the consumer unit there also and running some cabling up front under the floor (which i forgot to do when i did the gas copper pipe)

I am gonna fit the propex along the lines of creationblue on this thread:

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35364" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And the electrics will be done along these lines:

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36686&p=307371#p307371" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi Alistair

I wouldnt worry about the gas pipe, the soft copper will at worst flatted slightly against your floor but thats it. If you route it outside im guessing you will have 2 add a few compression bends in making it, adding to the chance of a leak.......

Good work with the rubbers.

Just

Cheers,

That's my thoughts exactly, trying to minimise any joints, and i also don't have to drill holes in the chassis to fit P clips, even though i have bought a shed load of these and other odds and sods i am not likely gonna need - will be a for sale thread sometime i reckon!

I want to try and get the floor or gas pipe at least done over the weekend, sun and mon fingers crossed, so i can start to put the interior back and fit some seat belts to the bed area, one 3 point fixed near the window, which is fine for a baby seat, but a little low for a adult, and a lap belt in the middle for Linda, or/and lap belt on the buddy seat, as there is a fixing point i noticed inside the base, will inspect further. I'll have baby Isla up front on the passenger seat, gonna do away with the middle seat too.

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi All,

Over the past few weeks, been trying to get more done, but slow progress due to many non bus problems, anyway, got a bit of time today to try and take off the old westy lino. Now i know it was og, but was in a poor state, worn out, and peeling on the edges, so i dont feel too bad. I have kept a area of lino which retains the colour etc as had been hiden. I intend to try and find some matching flooring as close to og as possible. I notice Kieft and Klok are selling NOS OG westy flooring at around 230 Euro's! :shock:

I intended to fit a new sub floor, but was unable to find anywhere who did the size plywood i wanted, and i didnt want to cut up pieces to fit, so decided to remove the old lino, and make best use of the og plywood. I am hoping to take all the old gunk off the og plywood, seal with some pva glue, ready and prepped for the flooring adhesive to lay the nice sealed cork floor tiles, which will add some nice warm colour, and be tactile and warm underfoot, and a little different from the normal laminate or chequered flooring. I do also have a amount of laminate i could use directly on the old ply as it's the click together stuff, but i fancy cork - it's easy to replace a single tile if it ever gets damaged/dented.

A few interesting things found, the old lino is bonded to a single piece of hardboard, and what apprears to be horse hair type material, i suspect as a insulation thing, most of this came up with the old lino, but some left behind, taking some time scraping this all back, my lungs had better ideas, and before long, as it was starting to rain, i decided to call a halt to the proceedings before my lungs sounded like a pair of leaky bagpipes.

More progress fingers crossed next week will hopefully see the pva base sorted and the start of laying the new stuff, then finish the last bits of the gas installation and wiring, then start to get the interior back in. Already got the wardrobe window seal replaced, so wont have to take the wardrobe out again. I have a small repair to do to the bottom of the wardrobe, will document this when i finish the flooring.

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi All,

Over the past few weeks, been trying to get more done, but slow progress due to many non bus problems, anyway, got a bit of time today to try and take off the old westy lino. Now i know it was og, but was in a poor state, worn out, and peeling on the edges, so i dont feel too bad. I have kept a area of lino which retains the colour etc as had been hiden. I intend to try and find some matching flooring as close to og as possible. I notice Kieft and Klok are selling NOS OG westy flooring at around 230 Euro's! :shock:

I intended to fit a new sub floor, but was unable to find anywhere who did the size plywood i wanted, and i didnt want to cut up pieces to fit, so decided to remove the old lino, and make best use of the og plywood. I am hoping to take all the old gunk off the og plywood, seal with some pva glue, ready and prepped for the flooring adhesive to lay the nice sealed cork floor tiles, which will add some nice warm colour, and be tactile and warm underfoot, and a little different from the normal laminate or chequered flooring. I do also have a amount of laminate i could use directly on the old ply as it's the click together stuff, but i fancy cork - it's easy to replace a single tile if it ever gets damaged/dented.

A few interesting things found, the old lino is bonded to a single piece of hardboard, and what apprears to be horse hair type material, i suspect as a insulation thing, most of this came up with the old lino, but some left behind, taking some time scraping this all back, my lungs had better ideas, and before long, as it was starting to rain, i decided to call a halt to the proceedings before my lungs sounded like a pair of leaky bagpipes.

More progress fingers crossed next week will hopefully see the pva base sorted and the start of laying the new stuff, then finish the last bits of the gas installation and wiring, then start to get the interior back in. Already got the wardrobe window seal replaced, so wont have to take the wardrobe out again. I have a small repair to do to the bottom of the wardrobe, will document this when i finish the flooring.

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi,

More progress, got the lino removed, scraped the westy top floor back, and sealed with half a litre or so of PVA glue, rollered on, left to dry, ready for the floor adhesive and the cork tiles.

Here you can see where i have run the gas pipe and 7 core cable for extra leccy bits down both sides.

The floor adhesive said DONT use below 15C, well, it was a sunny day, but probably only maybe 7-10C, to be honest i think 15C is a long way away, so i carried on. I forgot to take a pic when finished, but you get the idea:

Seems to have stuck ok, need a little more glue on the very front, as hasn't stuck, down to my poor applicatiion, need to look for a nice suitable wooden finishing strip, or alloy strip. Just a final clean up and polish, maybe reseal with some varnish? They are already sealed, but i fancy a shiner finish, maybe just polish with floor wax instead.

I would like a replacement metal cover for the walkthrough vent if anyone has one? Mine is beat up, and i need to chop off the bottom, and the gas pipe runs in this channel

Here is one of my gear knobs i have fitted, more like this for sale

Also bought some new tyres too!

Hopefully at the weekend will see the rest of the interior back in, along with the repair to the lower bottom of the wardrobe, if i have time, the gas will be piped up and gas taps fitted

More pictures to follow.

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi!

I have fitted a new 3 way gas manifold, as i have run one feed off to the propex, another to the gas hob which i am fitting in the westy sink unit, and another feed for a gas bbq with quick release fittings. I also bought a pipe cutter, and re did all the pipes to a chamfered edge., and have used gas ptfe tape on all joints, and will leak test with detection fluid that i have, just need to ptfe the propex fittings, but i think they are gas tight, but belt and braces.

I will fit the quick disconnect on the final gas tap, and the pipe i have is about 2 meters, with a connector in the middle. I would like a actual gas socket for the bbq, but didnt want to cut any holes in the furniture, so the flexi can coil under the buddy seat. Here is what i have used:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUICK-RELEASE-COUPLER-8mm-HOSE-GAS-LPG-BBQ-CAMPING-/200640486754#ht_500wt_715" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The gas bottle sits well, and the seat base just closes. I still have some more gas fittings to get for the bbq, as i ran our of this type:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caravan-Motorhome-8mm-Copper-Gas-Compression-Nozzle-/250989613735?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D260867388849%252B260867388849%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7371817012005866212#ht_1508wt_861" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is the one that the flexi hose it connected to from the gas bottle. I still have to fix the gas manifold to the rear seat bulkhead, and buy some P clips for the flexi hose to secure to the inner seat area, i have some p clips for the gas pipe, but have run this under the floor, so didnt use them. I think i will also get a strap to secure the gas bottle to the inside to save it sliding about, so a little bit more, and i will be done here.

Here is the install under the bed, mine is the other way round to use, as i wanted to minimise the gas pipe run. I have used some foam type seal around the main hole, just as a "stopper" so when i fill the external hole underneath it doesnt go all over the inside as the foam will act as a dam. The foam is just on the edge, the pipes in the middle, so the silicon will be fine here

I have yet to properly secure the inlet and exhaust pipes, will do this once sealed up the holes above. The exhaust is going to the opposite side to the sliding door and vice versa.
Adittionally, i also have a carbon monoxide detector, which is battery powered like a smoke alarm, this will go under the bed to sit with the propex

I intend to make up some wood to cover the inside area where the drop down door is, this is to fit the propex vents, and also the Zig unit, consumer unit and the inverter (you can see the inverter already to one side) Additionally I have a backlit digital battery monitor which i will connect via the zig to monitor the battery voltage.

So, on the front of the panel, once you have dropped the door down, (which will be removable when i find my spare hinges) will be the propex vents, battery monitor, zig unit and the double power sockets, one for actual 240, and the other for 240 via the inverter.

I still have loads of other gas fitting, reel of pipe, clips, gas tap etc, so there will be a for sale thread soon! :msn4:

The wardrobe has been repaired at the bottom, I'm no carpenter, so not perfect, but strengthen the area, and is more solid than before. Managed to do this with out damage to the large side panels laminate, the rear laminate was already damaged, and the wood rotten, and i have a little more work to do on the rear panel where the laminate was missing, for the time being, will redo this area to match the roof and kick panels and will follow on the theme when i fit the zig unit and propex vents etc. I will look for some 2nd hand laminate at a later date and redo it better.

I have bought some special hinges, and intend to mod the westy sink unit to enable it to move out, so i can cook outside, though i may have another plan regarding the hinges.
Now, if i get time (and money), I will be removing the original water container and fitting a compressor fridge in - just need to measure up when i am fitting the hob and grill.

More pictures up over the weekend when i hope to finish off a bit more, and get the wardrobe back in.

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[Dirty Harry]

Nice nice Alistair, some fine mods your doing mate!!

 

[aogrady]

Nice nice Alistair, some fine mods your doing mate!!

Cheers DH!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

Hi,

Did a little more work on the interior, here are pictures of the repair on the wardrobe etc.

Only temporally, i would have liked some ply, but at least the bottom isnt manky now.

I also fitted more sound deadening to underneath the rock and roll bed and on the wheelarch tubs.

Here is the flooring finally finshed, i have a edging trim to fit, and that's it. Not 100% happy on the wood trim behind the table, may cover that like the roof, but it'll do for the time being, i couldn't find any replacement at the time, and wanted to get it back together.

That's it, more updates soon,

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[user 14192]

WOW! Looking good.

 

[aogrady]

WOW! Looking good.

Thanks Carl!

Still need to tidy up the wiring, seal the underside of the propex etc. Still umming and arring about the gas hob and westy sink unit, really fancy a fridge, but cant quite go to the 500 quid cost, think i'll stick with the cooler for the time being, may do a thermo-electric mod on that as i have a spare westy cooler inards to play with......

The propex is nice and toasty, 80C at the end of the vent pipe warms the van up pretty quickly. Not too sure if the fan noise will keep us awake when camping at night...

Will try and pop over to see you tomorrow for a word...MOT due on the 23rd...

Cheers!

Alistair