new member from Florida,USA

[kiwijim]

Howdy Wayne,

Those vans of yours look great,
If you could increase the size of the photos in the Photobucket Options to around 640mp they would look a treat,
But they have still come up O.K.
Theres something about the American vans that really makes them stand out, I think it could have something to do with your love for polished aluminum, and the styling is something different altogether,

The interior of the van you refurbished is a very pleasant light color,
Unfortunately my Thomson has the varnished wood grain look, which, to my personal feeling is rather dark.

I was going to reline the Thomson when I first got it, but the "One who Rules" fell in love with it and stuck the foot down, so it stayed as it was made, almost 40 years ago.

I tow the Thomson with a 89 Nissan Patrol, I picked it up almost a year ago at well under the market value, but after getting it out of the garage (after a pre trip examination) last week it
now owes me around $4700.00 in engine repairs.

There is a photo of the Nissan some-where on this forum but here are a couple any way.....


The Nissan has a 4.2 diesel motor, and 5 speed manual gear
box, no turbo, just a plain old cast iron motor, but I think it will pull the house off its foundations now that the motor has had a new lease of life.

cheers kiwijim

[wbski007]

G-DAY Jim,
my daughter is going to see if she can increase size of photos, love your patrol, if they had them here in the states I'd own one, closest thing here is Toyota Landcrusier but not in diesel, only gas. I'm a diesel guy from way back, drove over the road big rigs for over 40 years and they all had diesel motors so of course I had to have a diesel for my every day driver, one of the best ones I had was a 81 International Scout 4X4 with a Nissan T33, 6 cyl turbo diesel, International had the diesel as an option in the Scouts from 81 to 84 here in the states, first diesel SUV made here, bodys were prone to rust out which mine did but the motors were bullit proof, the Isuzu I have now is a 2.5 turbo and has good pulling power for its size, but your 4.2 must be awesome, can't imagine what it would be like with a turbo!
I have a 49 Dodge fire truck that I was going to make into a camper, I installed a 91 5.9 Cummins diesel out of a Dodge 1 ton P/U with a 5 speed in it, but the cost of fuel here went nuts so I had to scale down and go to the Isuzu and a small pull behind as I"m retired and just have my SS to live on. Sorry if I carry on a bit, but I love talking to folks who have the same interests as me and thats diesels and caravans, I've found the best people in the world own them.
Cheers, Wayne

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[Deleted]

Gidday Guys,

Glad to see that the mal-appreciated diesel still has some stalwart fans, I have a couple of coal burners myself and matey's I wouldn't have anything else to tow a van.

All that low down torque and then the economy factor against running petrol plus the availability if you are unlucky enuff or silly enuff to run out in the bush (every farmer has diesel).

I run a Toyota landcruiser hj60 with a 4.0 litre diesel and a chev suburban with a 6.2 V8 diesel as well which pulls the van with ease no added extras or turbo's though and both do fine with a 21 ft caravan on the back.

Long live the Diesel.

Carl

[wbski007]

G-DAY Mate, Two great vehicles you have there Carl, I had a few 6.2's one in a P/U and one in a suburban and they were both good runners, I really like the suburban's, big and beefy.
Cheers Wayne

[Deleted]

Gidday Wayne,

Yeah I have to agree with you about the suburbans mate we have nicknamed it the flying living room its just so easy and comfortable to drive.

You and your countrymen sure do build a fine motorcar have been a fan of American muscle for many years, and perfect for towing a caravan as well.

Carl

[wayne kopinski]

Howdy Carl,

Your right there Mate, I like the name flying living room, discribes it to a T, all the comforts of home and then some, even enough room to hold a good size fridge and lots a beer, people see you comin and get out of your way, roo's probably don't like to tangle with im either. ;D

[kiwijim]

Howdy Wayne,

Sorry I'm a bit slow catching up on your last post,

"Yep" I'm happy as hell with the diesel motor in the Nissan,
after getting it I now wish I had bought one many years ago,
the fuel economy is fantastic, I checked to fuel consumption a while back, worked out at 11Lt to 100km.
This will change a bit with the van behind and the Nissan fully loaded but if I still get 15Lt to 100km, I'll be happy.

Now the eyes bulged when I saw that Fire truck you have,
Being an ex-Fire-fighter myself, I have a natural interest in most Emergency vehicles especially Fire trucks.


This photo is of myself and the Daughter, (also in the Brigade)taken at a fire-awareness display in a local shopping forum back in 98.

Here in the West, all front-line fire-fighting vehicles are Diesel powered, having a petrol motor in Bush Fire-fighting is a definite No-No.

The danger of a petrol fume explosion while fire-fighting is a very big risk, as one person was to find out while I was with the Brigade, the poor sod never had a chance, he was buried a week later after suffering 90% burns from a petrol can explosion which he was holding.

This poor blokes funeral was the largest one I have ever attended. the procession of Fire Trucks behind the Funeral Hearst stretched for over 7 km, it really caught the Police by surprise and off-guard, they were forced to close a 20km stretch of major Highway for over an hour to allow the procession to move to the burial sight.

Well, on that sober note, I still like being around old fire trucks any chance I get,
they say once smoke gets in your blood, you can't get it out.

Cheers kiwijim .

[wbski007]

G-DAY Jimbo,
My uncle was captian of our local fire department back in the 60's,I used to hang around the fire house and then became a volunteer until I moved away in 70, so yes I went to many a fire myself.
have a merry Christmas Jim, Wayne