DODGE SUPERVISTA

[classic van man]

That's ok, glad to be of help.
As a VW RGA owner the knowledge come from living in east anglia as that's where most of these vans were converted for local customers mostly on both new and secondhand VW T2 which would make you RGA commer rare, probably the only one left in the county.
On the VW scene you see more RGA conversions but still not in the large numbers as other well known motorhome/camper converters
Being a small company there's not much (if any thing) on the internet about these vans and owners also knowing little to no information, so to find any info on the commer model would be non-existent.
I noticed you don't have the original interior fitted, has this been binned?

RGA that sold on ebay last week

RGA high top

 

[S0updragon]

By the sounds of it Jim may be very interested in seeing your Commer still about and in its wonderful glory. I wonder if the company that made the letter/motif are still about and can make you some replacements for the roof?

 

[jimberlake]

Thanks again. Yes the original interior had gone before I got it, I bought it as an empty van - I did have the cooker and sink units and if I'd know the sink was a custom molding from RGA I'd have kept it but was a mess and a big old unit and just didn't work for what is a very well used van, regularly travelling to France. From the first pics on this thread it looked like it did have the full interior before the body was restored but it was a very bulky layout and the from the sink unit I got with it - it was all quite a mess.
I also replaced the canvas as the windows were yellow and split as the above one, and the lining was a mess too. I tried to get it repaired but couldn't find anywhere that would touch it.
Looking forward to going to visit them. You never know if they have any old plans laying around!

 

[renaultvation]

Interesting that since RGA specialised in VWs that the original interior did not appear to follow the conventional VW format with side units and a bed over the engine, so must have been designed specifically for a van with rear door access (assuming that the interior which appears on page one of this thread is the original).

 

[jimberlake]

Yes I think that was the original interior

 

[S0updragon]

I wonder if it was modular so could have been reconfigured more easily?

 

[jimberlake]

It looks like each one was custom built to the owner requirements and assume was an expensive conversion. From the original canvas I'd say high quality as it was double skinned and insulated.

 

[jimberlake]

That’ll explain it getting a bit warm in the Summer. Had to pull the thermostat out in Devon to keep the temp low. Least it’s an easy fix.

 

[Panky]

Had the impeller come loose?

 

[jimberlake]

Whole thing was a bit stiff to turn. The impeller was tight but could see it’d moved out 2-3mm. Got a new unit coming this week. Was going to get the rad re-record as well if it wasn’t anything obvious so it’s saved me a bit. Going to put a David Craig fan and controller on to quieten it more and get a bit of power. Not going full
Electric W/P just yet

 

[jimberlake]

New pump fitted, from a Sunbeam Alpine - looks to be better quality with a metal impeller rather than plastic. Further deliveries arrived this week- elec fan, digital temp controller with screw in sensor and an adapter kit to mount the sensor in the top hose. Few other bits and bobs also to improve charging and take further load off the loom.

Happy days, just need to find some time now!

 

[jimberlake]

Kit fitted, fairly straight forward and working a treat on garage testing with a cup of hot water. Bit of wire wrapping to do and then get her back together

 

[Panky]

With the extra little rad I find the fan never comes on in this weather unless I've been idling for a long time of after I've really thrasher it (that never happens) And in the summer the same only a bit sooner.
I think my switch cuts in about 93 degrees and out at 88, just a simple switch. Off a Fiat of some sort I think, it was the closest to the temp I wanted and just happened to be the cheapest

 

[jimberlake]

This is the adjustable switch and got an 82oC thermostat in so will likely be setting it around the same higher temp think the auto switch cuts out when it drops 10oC.

Removed my extra rad after I ripped the bottom off - teach me to put it too low! Still got the plumbing there plugged off just in case but hoping it’ll run ok as is though just moved the air filter in front of the rad so will see what happens!

 

[jimberlake]

Was still overheating - grrr so only can be a blocked radiator. It’s off being recored to a triple - guy has come back saying it was 40% blocked and the new core should be 25% more efficient so hopefully happy days - should probably have just flushed it but hey ho!
Thought whilst it’s away I’d flush the heater matrix with an old pond pump, rad flush and hot water so as not to put any crud through the new radiator when it’s in, worked quite well!!!

 

[jimberlake]

Finally complete much later than hoped. Triple core rad, David Craig fan and digital controller, new fuse box for managing that and the fuel pump (I’d wired it off the coil originally), new water pump, thermos and finally a Smiths Flight water temp and sender to match the rest - gives a much more accurate view of temps in the system.
Brakes been pulling violently for a while even after changing everything over - finally found that one of the copper pipes had closed up to about 2mm on the flare - never seen that before and now brakes perfectly straight!

 

[Panky]

Nice work Jim

 

[PaulJL]

Does a David Craig fan chill on a Sunday??

Will get my coat

 

[jimberlake]

it took me for a drink yesterday and this morning was very interesting

 

[jimberlake]

Got married this weekend and hired a beautiful campsite - The Old Vicarage Elkesley which has a river running though it…nice shot of the girl getting wet feet