Rusty the Autosleeper 2.0
- Thread starter CommerVanDan
- Start date
Cheers Panky, I had a look at the link and over on the Demon Tweeks website but didn't manage to find any. 
However! The wheel situation is sorted.
Been a bit busy lately (Sadly not all Commer related; the modern vehicles needed tending to [V] )
But a fair bit has happened!
Wiring is being sorted by a friend of my dads, he's an auto electrician so he should know what to do. [8D]
I'll get round to uploading more pictures soon, but I'll leave you with a 'Spot the Difference' since last time and reassurance that we're still going, just running out of big jobs now.
Still need to figure out what to do with the front quarter lights, I have one piece of glass and nothing to hold it in with, haha.
However! The wheel situation is sorted.
Been a bit busy lately (Sadly not all Commer related; the modern vehicles needed tending to [V] )
But a fair bit has happened!
Wiring is being sorted by a friend of my dads, he's an auto electrician so he should know what to do. [8D]
I'll get round to uploading more pictures soon, but I'll leave you with a 'Spot the Difference' since last time and reassurance that we're still going, just running out of big jobs now.
Still need to figure out what to do with the front quarter lights, I have one piece of glass and nothing to hold it in with, haha.
Looking good. Its coming together now. Are you going to replace the lower panals?
Yea quaterlights are a bit of a problem. Prob best bet is to find a scrapper with something that could be used or just put in a fixed window. There was a hope that new rubbers were going to be made but it died unfortunately.
I just need a good rootes...
Yea quaterlights are a bit of a problem. Prob best bet is to find a scrapper with something that could be used or just put in a fixed window. There was a hope that new rubbers were going to be made but it died unfortunately.
I just need a good rootes...
I wonder if you could use black sealant & Vaseline & a sharpe knife when it is dry to replicate the rubber seal?
Commer Dandy by Dandy Caravans now Riva Dandy
The Colonel Mustard six speed
Member of the 6 speed club.
Commer Dandy by Dandy Caravans now Riva Dandy
The Colonel Mustard six speed
Member of the 6 speed club.
I'm not sure what's going to happen to the lower panels yet, I was toying with the idea of following the original shape but making them slightly longer. I like how the van looked when she was lowered but she didn't seem very safe. Longer bottom panels and lower profile tyres might create an illusion of being low. [8D] All ideas for the moment though.
Probably going to fix the windows in for now and hopefully find some way of making them work in the future.
The petrol tank has been off and seems okay for now, although I think I'll upgrade to an aluminium one later on.
Hopefully (Providing the weather is decent) we'll get the clutch and brakes done tomorrow. Then we're just onto wiring I think.
Got some other bits to do regarding DVLA, she's listed as White/Blue on the V5, and also now tax exempt but not classed as such yet. Hoping to have her completed and ready to go for show time in '15. [^]
Probably going to fix the windows in for now and hopefully find some way of making them work in the future.
The petrol tank has been off and seems okay for now, although I think I'll upgrade to an aluminium one later on.
Hopefully (Providing the weather is decent) we'll get the clutch and brakes done tomorrow. Then we're just onto wiring I think.
Got some other bits to do regarding DVLA, she's listed as White/Blue on the V5, and also now tax exempt but not classed as such yet. Hoping to have her completed and ready to go for show time in '15. [^]
Been a bit of a while since an update...
Been lurking around the fancy new forum for a while, just been putting off updating.
Work has still been going on (Wiring still needs doing, but that's another story haha)
Windows are sorted, got all the lights ready for the rest of the wiring, brakes need adjusting but are done otherwise,
Had the side-skirts rolled to shape, then had a go at making the rest. They'll stand out a bit seeing as they're a completely different white
but I don't mind, the paint is a bit thin as it is, (Tape pulled it off in some places. ) so a respray might happen in the future.
And most currently...
Getting close now. Sadly I won't meet my personal deadline (The East Coast Run, from Hull to Bridlington) but there's always next year.
Been lurking around the fancy new forum for a while, just been putting off updating.
Work has still been going on (Wiring still needs doing, but that's another story haha)
Windows are sorted, got all the lights ready for the rest of the wiring, brakes need adjusting but are done otherwise,
Had the side-skirts rolled to shape, then had a go at making the rest. They'll stand out a bit seeing as they're a completely different white
but I don't mind, the paint is a bit thin as it is, (Tape pulled it off in some places.
) so a respray might happen in the future.
And most currently...
Getting close now. Sadly I won't meet my personal deadline (The East Coast Run, from Hull to Bridlington) but there's always next year.
Cheers guys
I don't think I have a top grille, I do have some offcuts from the bottom one though, I may be able to make something up haha.
And I think you're right Panky, I was hoping the bumper would hide the height difference but poor Rusty might need a chin-ectomy!
Still plodding on though, heard that the wiring is close now. Most of the wiring was in rough condition so I'm guessing a lot of it will of been replaced and some odds and ends needed ordering.
Did have a bit of fun over the weekend though...
Take one old garden swing,
chop the seating part up a little,
reattach together in different areas and you're left with...
Four wooden slats later and it was done, pretty chuffed with the result too.
If the weather is good tomorrow the plan is to get tidying the cab interior, also need to find a way to add a stereo unit and speakers; I reckon we can do it though, we put one into my Wolseley before. That was fun, adding a 12v stereo to a 6v car, the stereo had it's own battery.
I don't think I have a top grille, I do have some offcuts from the bottom one though, I may be able to make something up haha.
And I think you're right Panky, I was hoping the bumper would hide the height difference but poor Rusty might need a chin-ectomy!
Still plodding on though, heard that the wiring is close now. Most of the wiring was in rough condition so I'm guessing a lot of it will of been replaced and some odds and ends needed ordering.
Did have a bit of fun over the weekend though...
Take one old garden swing,
chop the seating part up a little,
reattach together in different areas and you're left with...
Four wooden slats later and it was done, pretty chuffed with the result too.
If the weather is good tomorrow the plan is to get tidying the cab interior, also need to find a way to add a stereo unit and speakers; I reckon we can do it though, we put one into my Wolseley before. That was fun, adding a 12v stereo to a 6v car, the stereo had it's own battery.
Yes there is. But.......................
I tried to get an old spindle mount radio behind the pressed section, and found the heater air ducts were in the way. No problem, I thought, I'll just slip them off, put the radio in and slip them back on again. But of course it wasn't as simple as that. Just make sure your stereo will go in before you chop up the dash! I'll probably just end up with a modern stereo bracketed under the dash.
I've got an old Motorola in Bonnie and a modern stereo in Harvey, they both fit OK
That's a false front on Harvey's
But as Colin says it depends on the depth of the unit although I'm pretty certain mine are a standard fitting. Speakers are behind the grilles either end of the dash
That's a false front on Harvey's
But as Colin says it depends on the depth of the unit although I'm pretty certain mine are a standard fitting. Speakers are behind the grilles either end of the dash
It's bolted straight through the roof, no messing about haha.
I'm not opposed to a little cutting, I have a fairly standard Sony single DIN headunit from my old car that I hope will fit, but I also have an old fancy cassette player fascia I was hoping to fit over it, my heater is in a bit of a state though so I may have the spare room, we'll see. I'm sure someone has a Mini's one in their van? Or it was spoken of, my original one still needs work...
Made some more progress today and managed to get a better shot of the roof rack (Sort of, it's hard being short. Had to stand on the table...)
It's fairly simple, but it does the job and I like it more than something new because it's recycled from something else and most of Rusty is. Cost about £6 for the paint and varnish.
I keep toying with the idea of sticking some air horns in the ammo box (from the previous picture) and fixing a switch to the outside, with "DO NOT PRESS" painted above... we'll see what happens though.
I'll have a measure for stereo fitment tomorrow, I'm trying to get the cab finished off, then a bit of distributor tinkering, brake adjusting and we're slowly getting there!
I'm not opposed to a little cutting, I have a fairly standard Sony single DIN headunit from my old car that I hope will fit, but I also have an old fancy cassette player fascia I was hoping to fit over it, my heater is in a bit of a state though so I may have the spare room, we'll see.
I'm sure someone has a Mini's one in their van? Or it was spoken of, my original one still needs work...Made some more progress today and managed to get a better shot of the roof rack (Sort of, it's hard being short. Had to stand on the table...
)
It's fairly simple, but it does the job and I like it more than something new because it's recycled from something else and most of Rusty is.
Cost about £6 for the paint and varnish. I keep toying with the idea of sticking some air horns in the ammo box (from the previous picture) and fixing a switch to the outside, with "DO NOT PRESS" painted above... we'll see what happens though.
I'll have a measure for stereo fitment tomorrow, I'm trying to get the cab finished off, then a bit of distributor tinkering, brake adjusting and we're slowly getting there!
Bah, replied before I was finished... I blame the drink.
I'm loving Bonnie's steering wheel cover, Panky.
I may have to steal your speaker position in Harvey too, my dad had speakers in the middle under the stereo in his Bluebird. I have a bit of a problem with something in the front leaking though, had some heavy rain the last couple days and the passenger-side glove compartment gets a bit soggy...
And as I'm posting again, thought I'd slip this in. Facebook reminded me that it's been about a year since the interior was about finished, so I put this together.
I'm loving Bonnie's steering wheel cover, Panky.
I may have to steal your speaker position in Harvey too, my dad had speakers in the middle under the stereo in his Bluebird. I have a bit of a problem with something in the front leaking though, had some heavy rain the last couple days and the passenger-side glove compartment gets a bit soggy...
And as I'm posting again, thought I'd slip this in. Facebook reminded me that it's been about a year since the interior was about finished, so I put this together.
genius. absolute genius ... love it...