no.1 had one there too 
health & safety prob asked rootes to relocate it
Commer Dandy by Dandy Caravans
The Colonel Mustard
health & safety prob asked rootes to relocate it Commer Dandy by Dandy Caravans
The Colonel Mustard
THE ICEMAN restoration
- Thread starter THE ICEMAN
- Start date
Yes its the main battery box. It has a plywood lid that fits into the top and is then flush with the floor. I dont think the battery was ever behind the seats as there is no sign of fittings (or acid damage). I will be fitting a huuuuge deep cycle battery under the floor somewhere just behind the bulkhead but have to work it out yet. As far as i know all the highway men had the battery under the passenger floor. Yours is different?
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
Jostein
0
Yes, the earlier ones (I believe all of them, but could of course be wrong) have them in wooden boxes behind the seats. They are placed in the panelled area set aside for the battery, but have wooden boxes covering them so they are concealed.
The one behind the driver's seat contains the main battery, and the one behind the passenger seat contains the "leisure" battery
Much more clever hiding it under the floor, I think. But there you go. Can't have it all
The one behind the driver's seat contains the main battery, and the one behind the passenger seat contains the "leisure" battery
Much more clever hiding it under the floor, I think. But there you go. Can't have it all
Best place for them is as near the back as possible, to get the weight off the front
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Alloy engine and a cast iron coal range in the back should give approx 50 - 50 weight distribution for best handling performance!!!!!
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
Jostein
0
Aren't you a funny lot, Tim and Aaron ! [)]
With these vans having trouble enough staying on a steady course at the best of times, the weight distribution issue in relation to battery location is equal to which side of the vessel you choose to stand on when crossing the English channel by ferry. Not an awful lot.
Take a Highwayman out in strong side winds, and I can guarantee you that the battery location will be the last thing on your minds ! :I[8D]
)]With these vans having trouble enough staying on a steady course at the best of times, the weight distribution issue in relation to battery location is equal to which side of the vessel you choose to stand on when crossing the English channel by ferry. Not an awful lot.
Take a Highwayman out in strong side winds, and I can guarantee you that the battery location will be the last thing on your minds ! :I[8D]
Mine are in the wooden bench, i am hoping to make some battery boxes up and sink them in the floor too makes sense to keep them out of the way although i guess having extra bits here and there under the van will create a nice water trap with mud collection and stuff!
Progress on the van looks great!
makes sense to keep them out of the way although i guess having extra bits here and there under the van will create a nice water trap with mud collection and stuff!Progress on the van looks great!
Another few hours spent tinkering in the garage this weekend. But before the progress update a question. Does anybody know what material the steering wheel is made from? I hope its not asbestos! It had gone rough and sticky in the areas where the black paint like finish has worn off. A good sand down and three coats of etch primer then a couple of coats of gloss glack should sort it.
Got the paint onto the inside of the cab. It was quite a difficult job to spray but got there in the end. Three coats of Tudor White by Jaguar and it came up a treat.
Once that had gone off i statred to get some of the fittings etc sorted and put back on.
Some pix...
Steering wheel gets some TLC
Dash in and all cleaned up
Some nearly new pedel rubbers
Drivers side floor
Nearside floor
Engine bay starting to come together
A new spot for the overdrive switch
Nice new grab handles
Not to peakey
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
Got the paint onto the inside of the cab. It was quite a difficult job to spray but got there in the end. Three coats of Tudor White by Jaguar and it came up a treat.
Once that had gone off i statred to get some of the fittings etc sorted and put back on.
Some pix...
Steering wheel gets some TLC
Dash in and all cleaned up
Some nearly new pedel rubbers
Drivers side floor
Nearside floor
Engine bay starting to come together
A new spot for the overdrive switch
Nice new grab handles
Not to peakey
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
Jostein
0
Looks stunning, Aaron !
I thought the steering wheels (at least that earlier design) were made of bakelite, that old strong pre-plastic material which is gorgeous - but will be prone to cracking after many years of use due to material fatigue. And there will be a steel ring structure inside the steering wheel, I'd imagine.
Then I could of course be completely wrong..
But I still find bakelite a fascinating material, and have even sourced new bakelite power sockets and switches from Germany for our flat's electrics (we're installing completely new wiring in the flat) - in keeping with the historic aura of the building itself (which is a nonsense excuse, of course, as the building itself pre-dates domestic electrical installation by at least 30 years, I should imagine). These old-style remakes of sockets, rocker and rotary switches cost at least 15 arms and 22 legs, of course, but then we're already mad - being involved with Commers an' all .., right?
I thought the steering wheels (at least that earlier design) were made of bakelite, that old strong pre-plastic material which is gorgeous - but will be prone to cracking after many years of use due to material fatigue. And there will be a steel ring structure inside the steering wheel, I'd imagine.
Then I could of course be completely wrong..
But I still find bakelite a fascinating material, and have even sourced new bakelite power sockets and switches from Germany for our flat's electrics (we're installing completely new wiring in the flat) - in keeping with the historic aura of the building itself (which is a nonsense excuse, of course, as the building itself pre-dates domestic electrical installation by at least 30 years, I should imagine). These old-style remakes of sockets, rocker and rotary switches cost at least 15 arms and 22 legs, of course, but then we're already mad - being involved with Commers an' all .., right?
Nice progress [8D]
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Yes Jostien i love the bakelite too. I am a fan of the deco radios and just about anything made of it. They just dont bother putting any effort into the design esthetic anymore. Its all cheap plastic and LEDs!
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
Wow has it really been that long since my last post[:0]
I have at last got a couple of week off to spend in the garage so with any luck will be able to get a great dollop of work done. Seems as thought his resto has gone on forever and feels like i might be catching up on Pankys BOTG thread[B)]
I was not happy with the work i had previously done on the doors so set about sanding them down and sorting the filler out. After much messing about they are done and i am much happier with them Primed and ready for paint[8D]
One of the quarter lights has been compleatly rebuilt and the other just needs a small bit of fettling. Once the doors are painted i will fit them to the van before installing the quater lights to avoid any damage to the paintwork.
I had not looked at the front panal for some time and like the doors i was not happy with the finish so out came the sander and some hours were spent re doing that. I still have to sort the lower vanance. It is solid but not original although it looks fine. I will be going bumperless so need to weld up the old bumper mounting holes and generally grind, fill and finish.
For some time i have been putting off looking at the roof of the coachbuilt section as i had a sneaking susspicion that there would be gremlens about...
Turns out that a previous muppet had done a dire seal job on the seams and then replaced all the screws with steel wood screws which had of cours rusted and let in water. I think this was the major cause of the demise of Icemans coachwork. In the end i had to rip off the entire roof and replace almost all the wooden ribs as they had all split, rotted or had so many rusted in screws there was no way they could be saved. It will make for a better job in the end but i could have done without the extra work not to mention cost[B)][!] All mew alloy is waiting to go on in the next day or so.
The old roof[V]
After all that i got stuck in and started on the floor. I am pleased to say the original floor is in top order,[8D]just a little flakey paint to scrape back and prime. Pix of that tommorow...
The rear roof moulding was looking a bit rough so it got a good sand down as well.
Back in the garage tomorrow so will post more progress.
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....
I have at last got a couple of week off to spend in the garage so with any luck will be able to get a great dollop of work done. Seems as thought his resto has gone on forever and feels like i might be catching up on Pankys BOTG thread[B)]
I was not happy with the work i had previously done on the doors so set about sanding them down and sorting the filler out. After much messing about they are done and i am much happier with them Primed and ready for paint[8D]
One of the quarter lights has been compleatly rebuilt and the other just needs a small bit of fettling. Once the doors are painted i will fit them to the van before installing the quater lights to avoid any damage to the paintwork.
I had not looked at the front panal for some time and like the doors i was not happy with the finish so out came the sander and some hours were spent re doing that. I still have to sort the lower vanance. It is solid but not original although it looks fine. I will be going bumperless so need to weld up the old bumper mounting holes and generally grind, fill and finish.
For some time i have been putting off looking at the roof of the coachbuilt section as i had a sneaking susspicion that there would be gremlens about...
Turns out that a previous muppet had done a dire seal job on the seams and then replaced all the screws with steel wood screws which had of cours rusted and let in water. I think this was the major cause of the demise of Icemans coachwork. In the end i had to rip off the entire roof and replace almost all the wooden ribs as they had all split, rotted or had so many rusted in screws there was no way they could be saved. It will make for a better job in the end but i could have done without the extra work not to mention cost[B)][
!] All mew alloy is waiting to go on in the next day or so.
The old roof[V]
After all that i got stuck in and started on the floor. I am pleased to say the original floor is in top order,[8D]just a little flakey paint to scrape back and prime. Pix of that tommorow...
The rear roof moulding was looking a bit rough so it got a good sand down as well.
Back in the garage tomorrow so will post more progress.
The ICEMAN is alive!!! - just needs a change of fur....