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Post by jdmac2312 on Nov 28, 2014 16:06:03 GMT 10
Hi all
We have just purchased a Millard Micro Poptop. The RVMA badge to the left of the door has the number 032539 on it.
The drawbar has MM 2970 on it as well.
We are going to do a refit on the inside, as the internal walls are in very bad shape and it needs a spruce up.
We decided to just clean the poptop canvas as it is in not bad shape but will replace the fly screens as they are perished in some and non existant in others. The zippers are a worry but I thought I might be able to tyr and repair them with some candle wax maybe and some very gentle persuasion.
The wheels are sooooo very tiny and are looking at replacing them with 13", 5 stud holden pattern. Have others tried this?
We are also going to attempt a paint job as well to maybe match out vehicle. Silver grey with maybe a darker grey stripe of flash.
All advice will be greatlt appreciated as this is the first project of this kind that my husband and I have attempted.
Have posted a couple of photos of the van as it is know.
Thanks in advance for any information.
Jacquie and Kevin Attachments:
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Post by atefooterz on Nov 29, 2014 2:05:20 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2014 8:33:17 GMT 10
Hi Jacquie and Kevin
I too have just purchased a Millard Micro that is a 1978 year model (see my signature for chassis No), I have already started with the van restoration and have planned for it to take 6 months but the main parts completed in 3-4 months. This will depend on the weather as it is stored in our shed/workshop and with high temps it is impossible to work down there in the middle of the day. My van has 13" wheels but only 4 studs ?? I am in 2 minds as to go to 14" wheels/5 studs but I hope to get the wheels off and look at the brakes and bearing in the next couple of weeks. What is your location ? Will be very interested in what you find while fixing your van up.
Cheers lawrence |
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Post by jdmac2312 on Dec 2, 2014 13:33:31 GMT 10
Hi Lawrence,
We are located in Woodridge, Logan City.
We will be unable to start our renovations as yet due to 2 days afterwe purchased the van my husband had to have major surgery and wont be able to do any major repairs until about February next year, so in the meantime I keep going into it to try and work out what we will be doing.
It will be a major strip down due to the fact that the internal walls are in need of a major redo, also will be redoing the wiring, so may as well redo the whole lot. :-).
Will keep you all updated as we go along.
Thanks
Jacquie
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 13:50:52 GMT 10
Hi Lawrence, We are located in Woodridge, Logan City. We will be unable to start our renovations as yet due to 2 days afterwe purchased the van my husband had to have major surgery and wont be able to do any major repairs until about February next year, so in the meantime I keep going into it to try and work out what we will be doing. It will be a major strip down due to the fact that the internal walls are in need of a major redo, also will be redoing the wiring, so may as well redo the whole lot. :-). Will keep you all updated as we go along. Thanks Jacquie Sorry to hear about hubby having surgery, hope he's mending quickly. So far we have removed the front table and chairs and have stripped the rear bed back to it's frame. There is water damage at the rear but it hasn't gotten into the floor, but the front of our van will need some new flooring fitted. It is amazing the issue's you will find once you start pulling things apart, plus what's be hidden under carpet and/or vinyl in cardboards or under beds etc. My wife is busy working out what colours she would like it painted and has already bought pvc venetian blinds !! Good luck and will keep an eye open for the start of your reno. Cheers Lawrence
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Post by atefooterz on Dec 2, 2014 14:26:35 GMT 10
Hi Jacquie, wishing Kevin a sturdy recovery and hope the planning & wait helps make your resto that much better.
Ate
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Post by jdmac2312 on Dec 3, 2014 12:09:28 GMT 10
Thanks Ate and Lawrence for your kind words and we are looking forward to the renovations and will keep you updated
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Post by jdmac2312 on Dec 28, 2014 14:00:25 GMT 10
Well, Just an update on the pop top. With all this rain we have had I am happy to say that we found no leaks at all. That is a bonus.
Can anyone tell me if you can convert a 240v caravan fridge so that we can us it on 12v as well?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2014 15:44:47 GMT 10
Well, Just an update on the pop top. With all this rain we have had I am happy to say that we found no leaks at all. That is a bonus. Can anyone tell me if you can convert a 240v caravan fridge so that we can us it on 12v as well? Hi J
Is this the original fridge ie a 3way or has it been replaced ? If it is just a 240v fridge the only way to run it off of 12v is via an inverter
www.jaycar.com.au/productResults.asp?whichpage=2&pagesize=10&w=12v+inverter&form=KEYWORD
You would need a large battery and good charging system.
If it is a 3 way fridge you can keep it cold on the 12v but they run best on gas or 240v and the 12v side is just use while travelling with power coming from the tow vehicles charging system.
The other way is a 2 way fridge 240/12v new models, they are designed to run effectively from a 12v power supply.
Cheers
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Post by jdmac2312 on Dec 29, 2014 9:56:04 GMT 10
Hi Lawrence, I don't think it ks the original fridge and yes I think it js an old one and not worth converting. Will replace it with a new model 240/12v as we have a waeco 3 way and have had a lot of problems as it got older in trying to light the gas. Kevin even contacted Waeco and they told him our model did have a problem with that and gave him the fix but still is stubborn to light. Once alight though works fantastically.
So will replace the caravan one with a new model. Big expense tqhough but well worth it in the long run.
Kevin is not allowed to drive for 3 months at the moment ( he didn't drive much anyways as I love to drive and he doesn't). We are going to start stripping out the inside very soon. Once I get over this stupid cold.
We have been following your restoration with eagerness.
Take care
Jacquie
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jan 27, 2015 17:55:54 GMT 10
Hi Everyone,
At last the caravan renovation has begun today the 27th January2015.
First of all, we had to move the Micro under cover so that we could get started.
Then we took photos of the inside so that we could remember what it looked like.
Then the renovations started.
First off we decided to remove the front seats as the previous owner (bless his sole) tried to fix things up but made it worse. Well what a time consuming effort that was.
Seeing as we can only post 5 photos at a time this first lot of gas bagging will be done over a few posts.
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jan 27, 2015 18:03:00 GMT 10
Round 2>
After much spraying of WD40 and hitting and shoving a a word of advice from lockyer, we were able to get the bolts cut out/ undone from the seats.
We have removed the front seats because the supports were all rotten and broken. We are going to use the old frames as templates to make new seats.
Upon taking the table out, I noticed the surround on the table is coming off, otherwise looks okay. We have taken the old wall paneling off the front and after doing that thought maybe we should have started at the back.
But no, decided that was the right way to go.
We are going to strip all the wiring off as it looked like a mess of tangled whatever behind the paneling.
So far all appears okay. Enough for today as it was getting too hot under the metal roof.
Probably won't have much to report over the next few days as we have Dr appointments etc. so will be back to it hopefully by the weekend.
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Post by atefooterz on Jan 27, 2015 22:19:05 GMT 10
Productive start indeedie!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 8:17:43 GMT 10
There's no looking back now...Oh the fun you will have...lol
Cheers
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Post by jdmac2312 on Feb 4, 2015 16:55:00 GMT 10
Hi all,
We had to move the micro as we couldn't get the poptop all the way up, so have had to put it further around the back of the house, which means no more gatherings under the roof. Oh well onlymused it for xmas and birthdays anyways, was usually full of, tools and equipment for our hobbies, know it is our new hobby, RENOVATING.
Today we took out more of the old panelling at the front of the van and all the old stuff which looked like what we used to cover the kids school books with. That was stuck all around the top of the van where the poptop is.
And, wait for it. We took/pulled out the old wardrobe. Kevin wondered why I was doing that. Well the old panels were a yucky yellowy stained old looking and seeing as we are putting in new shiny white panelling, best to remake the wardrobe, rather than try and cover, up old panelling.
Sorry no photos today but will get some next week when we do more work.
Take care everyone.
Jacquie
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Post by bobt on Feb 4, 2015 17:12:45 GMT 10
Sounds like your having fun..
Do keep us posted on the progress.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2015 5:45:34 GMT 10
You guy's are powering, you will be in front of me shortly....
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Post by jdmac2312 on Feb 5, 2015 14:54:14 GMT 10
Hahahah no we won't Lawrence.
We have yet to do the treadplate at the front. Decided to let you do the hard yards on the front, to show us how it's done.
We decided to do the ripping out of the internals first. We will leave the back bed as is, just make sure there is no rotten wood though.
Jacquie
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Post by jdmac2312 on Feb 16, 2015 16:45:04 GMT 10
Hi everyone,
Well we have gutted the inside of the van all abr the frame of the double bed and kitchen sink/bench.
Had a great visit with Lockyer and he gave us some tips and tricks from his van build.
Have ordered the new window weather strip for the top of the windows.
Next task is to check if the floor board is okay, crossing fingers that it is, as we don't want to have to replace it if don't have to.
Mesaured up for the supports for the double bed as some were bodgied up and rotten, otherwise doesn't look to be too much that needs replacing in that end of the van.
Next on the adjenda will be to set out the wiring for the 12v system and get that installed so that we can get onto the panelling.
Will keep you updated with photos as we go.
Take care Jacquie
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jul 6, 2015 17:01:21 GMT 10
Well we are back into the renovations after 12 months of medical concerns. We have decided to go forth with the outside first. So have been busy sanding and repairing where needed before we give her a good wash down and repaint.
Will post photos once the painting has been done.
We have purchased the new 2 way fridge and oh so nice, a folding 160w solar panel and also a small noiseless Generator. So lots of new toys to play with.
Will keep you updated with photos as we progress.
Jacquie and Kevin |
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jul 26, 2015 20:18:00 GMT 10
Well to keep you updated, when we tookmup the plastic under the bed, we found a piece of ply that had been screwed inplace. After taking this off we fou d a hole about the size of 1 to 2 soccor balls. This went as far back as the wheel arches, so we had to cut ojt a fair amount of the floor to be replaced.
We have started painting the outside of the van a light silver, similar colour to our car.
Will be getting the 9mm marine ply and the 3mm ply for the walls on Tuesday. So forging ahead steadily.
Jacquie and Kevin
Well, I have been trying to upload photos but it will not let me. Keeps saying, "this forum has exceeced its attachement level".
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Post by atefooterz on Jul 27, 2015 12:58:15 GMT 10
Well to keep you updated, when we tookmup the plastic under the bed, we found a piece of ply that had been screwed inplace. After taking this off we fou d a hole about the size of 1 to 2 soccor balls. This went as far back as the wheel arches, so we had to cut ojt a fair amount of the floor to be replaced. We have started painting the outside of the van a light silver, similar colour to our car. Will be getting the 9mm marine ply and the 3mm ply for the walls on Tuesday. So forging ahead steadily. Jacquie and Kevin Well, I have been trying to upload photos but it will not let me. Keeps saying, "this forum has exceeced its attachement level". Pics can be hosted remotely via sites like photobucket, start an account and create an album or just use upix.me that allow free pics, select family safe & copy the BB code into your post here = [ img ] your pic link [ / img ] |
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jul 27, 2015 17:02:59 GMT 10
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Post by jdmac2312 on Jul 27, 2015 17:15:28 GMT 10
Well, there are the photos above. That is how much off the floor,we had to remove due to the hole,we found and the wood that had rotted. Also our first attempt at spray painting. If you have any tips on spray painting it would be much appreciated. We are using Thermobond which is quite a,thick paint and is also insulating. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2015 7:21:56 GMT 10
Looking good, tips for spray painting...1/ Don't ask me....2/ Because I cannot do it, useless at it.
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