8th February 2023 - Disco Transit Green Long Wheel base and Hi Roof Conversion

Updated - Jobs pencilled in till Sunday

Ok we did not get everything done last week, so for now, I will not add any new jobs to last weeks list...

Well not quiet !! as a few jobs are pencilled in that involve me & the transit heading back over to Kev's workshop for more things to be done..

1. Finish the frame work around the portaloo. - Still being Painted
2. Add cross batons to bathroom/kitchen wall. - Need to make sink mounts parts arrived
3. add sound proofing/insulation to bathroom/kitchen wall. - Started - as above
4. find position for sink in bathroom. - PARTS ARRIVED LATE SUNDAY
5. add extra supports to mount the sink. - PARTS ARRIVED LATE SUNDAY
6. Panel the bulkhead battery frame work.
7. Area next to passenger door, needs washing and going over with wire wool.
8. Finish adding sound proof pads - 2 x new rolls arrived Yesterday
9. Insulate Bathroom - roof done with 1st layer, side wall nearly done - waiting on parts 
10. Clean old original panels - Lynne has just about washed every panel she can get too so far
11. Glue extra Insulation in the inside of the panels. - Done panel behind Kitchen

12. Paint the panels - Done Panel Behind Kitchen
13. put them back were they belong. - behind Kitchen - Waiting on drill bits 

14. Kev's workshop - Make some brackets and install roof rack on roof of transit. (Funds ring fenced)
15. Kev's workshop - If time and funds allow, get water tanks installed underneath and plumbed into the back. (have some funds available but I know it will not be enough!)

Double Bonus job, to have worked out and cut the bed frame & have it mounted!

Not got much done the last 2 days, but what has been done really stands out at this point.

My body seams to be struggling to recover from everything we did over the weekend!

Fingers crossed today is that day ??

We were that impressed with this insulation when we started the bathroom, kitchen wall, that we brought 2 more to do around the bedroom area..
And compared to some of the insulation we have brought it is very good value...

When Lynne was cleaning out the years of dirt and washing around the drivers side rear wheel arch.

She found a rusty bit, I had a look at it and it is still solid, so I will clean it up and give it a few coats of Rust Remover and then seal it with some primer and some of the white rattle cans.
Once I have done inside, I will have a look at the wheel arch to see if I can find it on the outside.
It is a bit too cold to do anything about it now, but I will add it to the jobs, to be done, whilst I am in Scotland and not up to going for a drive or a walk..

We liked the rattle can areas we have sprayed and it looks so good, that we are gonna do some more spraying in places were it will show.

The difference in brightness and feel inside the van is massive! 

that's the last coat, nice n dry.

The green marker just will not cover up!,

but as it will mostly be covered up in the end, it does not matter.

The new clips are 7.5mm and will not stay in place.

I have found an old retainer clip and it fits perfect (8mm)
I have had a good look around the workshop,

but I can not find 7 or 7.5mm drill bits,

so had to bite the bullet and order a couple..

It will give me time to look at the hot water heater to see what cables I need to route behind this panel and were they need to come out!

God it is nice to have a pencil sharpener again, instead of using a sander !!

I also need to look at the wires on the back of the kitchen unit and find out what they were for.
Something I can do later on, if I do any painting.

The stud for the sink is 10mm
and I only have 8mm stainless thread.

So again had to bite the bullet and order a few lengths on 10mm threaded bar..

the wall brackets for the bathroom sink.

Altho the existing mounts will hold the sink in place easily,

these are just in case I have a fall and lean on the sink.

Out comes the bathroom sink.

And I use the mounting holes to mark the batons in the wall

Time to drill the holes.

Only 8mm for now,

but will allow me to mount and get other small jobs around the sink done.

In goes the 8mm threaded bar,

and I mark it to size i want and cut 2 pieces the same length.

This side will have a towel/cooking gloves holder and a domed nut

and the sink is mounted,

ok only finger tight,

but that is good enough for what I need to carry on.

Just to play safe,

as the van gets blown around some what when the lorry's go past.

I use on off-cut to prop the front of the sink

And it is nice and level :) :) 

I use the polystyrene packaging to measure and act as a template for the 9mm ply board, that will sit under the sink.

2 X 3X2" OFF-CUTS ARE SCREWED TOGETHER..

Then are drilled and screwed into place.

ready for the under the sink brackets to be screwed in place.
Once this panel is insulated and boarded over

Just as I was drilling the holes to mount the other side baton for the under sink mount.
The battery went flat!

The other battery is already on charge, so for now flat battery's stops play....

everything is securely earth strapped and in the correct places.

I will have a good look when I next go down there..

I label both pipes, just in case I forget which goes where....

and I remove the taps.
Both have switches in them and they click nicely when you turn the taps on and off.

I just hate the colour tho !!
Will have to check to see if funds will allow replacement with something more pleasing on the eye.

The back grill place is very loose and I am not convinced it is supposed to be like that.

It looks as it the whole grill is stapled in!.
I do have a stapler somewhere,

but not seen it for 5 plus years ??

As I have stripped the kitchen unit this far down, I may as well try n remove the staples and pull the grill out, and see if it can be fixed.

After all, we do not want hot air escaping onto the timber carcass and possibly setting it on fire!!

With the taps removed, the unit here needs a good clean!

I also need to measure the holes, in case we decide to replace the taps..

Still waiting on batteries to charge, so I decide I am gonna make a framework for the kitchen carcass to make it stronger and more solid.

But since the weekend, it has become a dumping ground, so gotta find homes for everything

Luckily the transit has some useful cubby holes :) :) 

Starting to look better, but not yest clear enough to use the saw safely.

I pull some 1" square timber down and mark it up and get it cut ready for its new home..

That is the 1st piece cut, the gas pipes rubber has perished,

plus it is in my way, so I will drill a new hole for it.

In goes the next upright.
at this time I am dry building the frame

Next the top part is cut and is a nice snug fit

the the 2nd cross frame rail slides in with a gentle tap

The bottom rail soon joins in 

And finally the last cross member is cut and tapped into place.

I mark each piece so I know where it goes..

with the aid of this clamp, I am soon drilling and screwing away

and finally it is all screwed together, and I give it a very light sanding were it needs it.

I need to cut out a small chuck, so the gas pipe is loose

It is a nice tight snug fit all round, but with me rubber persuader, the new frame slide in nicely.

That's the outside of the kitchen carcass now screwed to the new frame.

Lynne's just come out to say dinner is ready!, 
so that is it tonight unfortunately..