Gav's New Viscount Van

[reluctantvanner]

These are the ones that I bought, they are an exact match for the ones that where on my van. I just repainted the metal surrounds and fitted these.
They are now twice the price paid at the start of 2016, but make an offer and you might get them cheaper.
LED side lights

[snoops]

Thanks for that, they are very close, and would be fine but not quite what I’m looking for. The square base is a bit too 80’s for me. 😁

[78466noM]

if you leave the front open you will stop the accumulation of dirt and those bloody ants my draw bar originally was closed in the rustiest part was the front not overly bad that it was unsafe but only had a few years left in it so it was replaced also being open the water dries quicker.

[snoops]

Hadn’t thought of that, it will also save me some work. 👍😊

[snoops]

More done this arvo getting it ready to move. New safety chains welded on which is a requirement of reg - they were held on by the hitch bolts previously. Chain is rated although interestingly enough, rated chain is not a requirement, only a recommendation here in Vic.

Fitted the last of the new lights, fitted a new trailer plug, plugged it in.....

And.....

All lights worked first time!!! Can’t believe it myself, didn’t even have to frig around with the earth.

So, all that is needed now is to drill the hitch holes out to size, bolt the hitch on and re grease the wheel bearings. This will be done on Saturday weather permitting - I haven’t even checked the forecast but I think it will be fine. All going well, that means the move will be Sunday to a mates property for a couple of months until I finish and sell the Franklin.

Oh, also plugged 240 volts into it for the first time - most lights work, one or two don’t, thinking only globes though. AC works too! Not bad for its first run in 30 years.

[snoops]

Finished off the prep required to move it today. Hitch installed and wheel bearings greased. Bearing cups on one hub were able to be spun so had to locktite these in place - should be fine for the 100KN it has to travel in the morning.

Wish me luck, I’ll take some pics on the road tomorrow. 😊

[snoops]

Ok, the van has moved more than 100 metres for the first time in around 35 years! It was a bit tricky getting it out of the property this was due to a steep driveway into a steep camber on the road - no way to actually take a direct route so had to drive it down the thankfully wide footpath to the next street and over the gutter to make it bituman.

First time on the road for yonks.
32936BE6-6091-4C46-9C79-8735B68F2692 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And tucked away at its new home while I finish the Franklin. Towed very well but I was being cautious and didn’t get above 90 but most of the trip was on back roads which gave the suspension a good workout and gave me a feel for how it tows. While there are things I like better about it - like it doesn’t buck like the Franklin can over really uneven roads - probably due to the dual axles, I did however see a bit of tail wag at times. Nothing much, and it could be the AC unit that is hanging right out the back which will be going, but something I’ll need to look out for as the Franklin is rock solid under the same conditions.
0D356BA7-05E3-4A42-B584-F8461B30DCC6 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Don’t expect much progress now until the Franklin is finished and sold, but stay tuned.

[78466noM]

could be the air con also could be suspension bushes and pins may be seized also check rocker box had to go though your post to find out if it had springs or the rubber suspension. To get up a sway in a bogie there you would think it would take more than just an old air-con back there. My millard had been sitting for years my luck was that there was just enough original grease to keep the pins from rusting in the spring eyes so new pins and bushes all was good.

[snoops]

Thanks for that - everything was greased before moving it but exactly what got greased is unknown. All of that is to be pulled apart yet. The sway wasn’t there all the time, just noticeable once or twice, so it’s not really bad just something that needs investigating. 😊

[Mustang]

May be the front was empty?

[snoops]

Certainly isn’t a lot up front at the moment but the draw bar was quite heavy - it made the back of the Hilux drop a bit, but again, actual numbers, etc are still unknown.  There’s a lot of stuff that needs cleaning out of it, and the 4 original rims and tyres were on the floor, but stacked over the axle so assuming they had nothing to do with it.  Compared to the Franklin there is more down the back and less up the front.  

[snoops]

Picked up a bit of a deal today. It will form the backbone of the 12 volt system. While exact quantities for solar panels and batteries is still not known mostly due to weight of everything else going in it, I scored 5 x 90watt mono crystalline panels and 4 x 100Ah deep cycle batteries today for basically scrap value. Batteries all hold a charge and panels are in v good condition - the whole system was working on a trailer that was being towed behind a motor home which is now not required. Trailer is being modified and all this had to come off as the owner doesn’t need them any longer. Also scored the controller and an 80 litre water tank, some battery isolators and cabling too. 😊.

Not sure if I want or need all of this yet but it was too good a deal to pass up. 👍

[78466noM]

sounds like you were in the right place at the right time.

[snoops]

Yep, at a car show with the 101 talking to a mate about the new van and how I was going to set up the electrics. He piped up ‘I’m getting my FIL old car trailer which has a heap of solar and batteries on it - I don’t want them...’ 👍

[78466noM]

I looked again at the photo's of you towing it home if it is down in the front a bit in rises in the road it could put most of the weight on the front axle for a brief moment giving a massive rear over hang for a second hence a slight wobble occasionally on highways this should rarely happen if this is the problem A decent load leveler should eliminate this problem nearly completely.
What got me thinking about this is I saw a four wheel drive the other day towing a bogie caravan 80's it was so far down in the front the rear axle was nearly off the ground.

[snoops]

Was fairly level, but yes, down a bit in the front. I have a set of load levelers somewhere, there are brackets already welded on the draw bar too, so worth trying. 😊

[78466noM]

the load levelers made a big difference on the single axle millard behind the territory. They seemed to help stabilize the van more than anything

[snoops]

Spent the day up where the van is at the moment going over it and giving it a clean inside and out. Below is a link to a video of the interior now it’s tidied up a bit. I’ll post some pics later and pics of the exterior too once I finish giving it a tub.

youtu.be/azSNhV5VH0Q

[thehohars]

Nearly as much work as we have

[snoops]

Only have to seal the windows and it's ready for Corowa. 👍 Anything else will be a bonus. Hopefully new fridge, hot water and batteries/solar panels in. The ensuite can wait until after Cooma. 😊

[snoops]

So a heap done today - just cleaning and going through every cupboard to see what was in there. Found some gems too. 😊

The video above shows the interior looking quite good, I really could get away with using like it is, it really doesn't need anything doing to it. Below arw a few shots fo the interior.

Club lounge is comfy enough - spent a bit of time kicking back in it having a cuppa or two.
BA2BECD2-C503-40E0-ABA2-7139A8202106 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Bedroom with top bunks removed - the beds will stay like this - at least for the time being, depends on what SWMBO thinks, but certainly our first two trips out in it will be just as it is.
DE638AA7-CF0D-4941-8B1E-B740BC4D38AC by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Found 2 sets of towing mirrors, a set of load levellers with the hitch plate to suit, and 2 drawbars off something.
14465AA2-2099-48EC-A158-2878F2FCB398 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Found a set of cards while cleaning up - 1953 Coronation decks - mint condition cards in the box which is slightly worn, but the cards have never been used I don't think.
E2893FBE-0C9C-4908-A0D4-D23861A13E2B by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
2B5291D0-E0CD-42CC-9BCF-0807592EA8DC by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then put the back bit on where the AC vents as the old hinges had rusted off.
418D4C57-85DB-4EDF-935B-D7ECF137FF00 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then gave the whole van a tub - it looks so much better without the lichen all over it.
623268E7-E6D5-4CF2-B0BA-2C4C5F36E51C by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
E2CD541F-1C94-4E7F-B509-2F25EF116DB6 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Will try and get back to it 1 night a week and start re sealing the windows and J moulds as this is the next biggest job getting it ready to use. As no one has been near it with silastic I should have an easier time than the Franklin. 😊

[Mustang]

Seems to have lack of major dents as it sat for so long??

[snoops]

There isn't a dent in it that I can find - it is very straight. Being that it is so straight, and yes, I think because it has satin a yard for so long, but even when used, it was only every used on their own property, so no caravan parks, etc.  I'll be treating it to a very good paint job - will be spryayingnthis one when the time comes. 😊

[snoops]

As you can see from the last lot of photos, the front awning thingy was removed as when I was washing it, I found it had nearly fallen off. I bought it home, ordered and recieved new hardware from Vintage Caravan Spares (no affiliation, just fast and easy to deal with) and pulled it right apart, cleaned all the frame up, and trialed a paint job on it this arvo.

I'm going to do this one a bit different and spray it, so thought this would be a good place to start. As those know that have these old vans, the paint almost wipes off completely with Metho so after removing about 90% of the old paint, etch primed it, then gave it a tack coat and first coat of Killrust Enamel gloss white - I've had this tin for years and it's almost full so I think enough to do the whole van by the looks of it - the first coat (which covered very well) took less than 50ml of paint so it goes a long way. Will see in the morning how it comes out - the biggest drawback is having to wait 24 hours between coats. Hopefully it will be ok and if so I'll do the whole van like this when the time comes.

Not sure if I'll be able to do it at home though, it's almost never calm enough to spray outside and I'm sure the overspray would get on ours and our neighbours vehicles, so not yet sure how this will proceed.

No pics sorry, you'll have to wait dor a couple of days until I top coat it and reassemble it. 😊

[Husky]

Looking Good Mate and looks like a single door twin of mine. those wheels just set the van off too. so hoping i can find four for mine some day. for now i'm stuck with multi colored rims and different sized tyres lol

I noticed the same deal with the paint too while working on mine. Was thinking of once i get all the windows and doors back in and the J sections re sealed,giving it a good tub which will also test water tightness. From what you have written about yours do you think I'll have to metho wash it as well?