Having stripped it i know how it comes apart - i have about 200+ hours in it at this stage, but starting with a blank canvas. I am respraying the dash black, both driver and passenger seats and all the trims around the cab and dining table etc. are being reupholstered now. Should be pretty good when i am finished - not a lot of money spent suprisingly. Doing all the interior and exterior myself with the exception of upholstery. Never done this before but i am really enjoying it. My wife has severe health problems so i am making a home away from home for her and I to do things together. The engine is my big worry, it seems sound but can i trust it, and i have not found a mechanic who is Chevy Friendly.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Had some lamiated floor boards from a recent job in the house - thinks it looks good, still a lot of work to do but the wall boards have all being replaced since monday.
sprinter
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Co Wicklow Age: 92 Posts: 7421 Registered: 01 / 2015 My Motorhome: Matilda 2 Pilote 703FP Explorateur Base Vehicle: 3ltr 318 Sprinter Automatic
Being able to control the purse & the time-line is the key. Same with me, Given the depth I've gone into our restoration you'd have thought the costs would have spiraled out of control, but on the contrary, I haven't spent a huge amount!
Quote by Chevy Andy
The engine is my big worry, it seems sound but can i trust it, and i have not found a mechanic who is Chevy Friendly.
There are several American car groups around the country who can direct you to the right mechanic. Midland American Auto Club is probably one of the biggest groups in the country and closest to you in Wicklow. They're on Facebook and they have a website too.
Nice job on the Kitchen wall. Looks great.
eirebus
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: kildare Posts: 7455 Registered: 10 / 2011 My Motorhome: Dethleffs Advantage Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.3
I have a small warehouse which i am using as my workshop, but i park the MH outside. The weather during the last few weeks allowed me to seal everything from the roof down replacing all old rusty screws and staples with new incmuding trims etc. On a 30 year old van that included a lot of angle grinding and drilling out broken screws. Got great ideas for sealing etc. From You Tube videos from the USA with similar Chevy models.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
To be honest i thought changing colour would be a nightmare but i cleaned the dash with sticky remover (€5 in woodies) which is much better than the more exspensive Tech 7 cleaner. It is also great at cleaning away excess sealer from the trims. The grey plastic primer from Auto Care goes on like a dream, and tomorrow i will spray it matt black. The kitchen cabinets are white for now but i plan on painting them two tone grey , the main body in a light grey, and the cabinet doors a darker shade - but not too much. The wall panelling was cheap as chips and treated too, so will resist any future water leaks better. I have not spent a lot of money - just time.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Are you going to leave the lower doghouse as it is, or will you wrap it with carpet? If you haven't driven the camper much you may not have noticed there's a fair bit of engine noise and heat comes from the doghouse and floor. Wrapping the lower doghouse with carpet helps. Fitting additional heat-reflective material under the carpet and on the inner face of the doghouse is also a benefit.
Ally
Founder
Gender: Location: Muckamore, Antrim Age: 55 Homepage:motorhomecraic.com Posts: 32600 Registered: 08 / 2011 My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780 Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
Thanks Ally, both are excellent links. I am in awe at the work done on g20's motorhome. Makes me feel pretty usless when it comes to my chevy restiration.
killiand
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: n/a Location: Meath Age: 33 Posts: 870 Registered: 09 / 2015 My Motorhome: Knaus Traveller S520 Base Vehicle: Fiat Ducato (1993)
And your restoration puts me to shame with my lightbulb replacement - but we're all doing our own pieces, driven by our passion, to our best ability, which is as good as it gets fair play to you on your work!
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
I dont know where to start with (blag) Kevins restoration, either your nuts Kevin or you have a great deal of knowledge. You have done work i think i would be scared to even dream about, when i saw the cab cut off i could not believe it. Your clearly experienced in body work and other mechanical know how, i cant wait to see the finished restoration.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Kevin, i did not realise the post i was looking at re the restoration of your 1980 chevy was from 2012-2013, i am assuming you finished the project - any pictures.
Kevin, i did not realise the post i was looking at re the restoration of your 1980 chevy was from 2012-2013, i am assuming you finished the project - any pictures.
It started in 2013 but it's still going!!! My last post in the coachmen thread today (with the carburettor) was the most recent update. She's still up on blocks.
Yeah, it's a slow one.
And yeah,
I'm probably nuts.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Well i can appreciate all the work you have done, i have about 300 hours in mine and i thought i had a lot to do sorting out damp, roof issues, and the engine, at least my body work was ok, a bit rusty here and there but nothing beyond my simple skills. Im not going to respray the cab and body as its 30 years old and i think it should look 30 years old to a point, but make the inside as modern as possible. One last thing. You mentioned you worked for a LED light supplier. I need to replace the old interior lights in mine and was thinking LED - do you have any suggestions where or whom i should contact about 12v replacements ?
One last thing. You mentioned you worked for a LED light supplier. I need to replace the old interior lights in mine and was thinking LED - do you have any suggestions where or whom i should contact about 12v replacements ?
I've changed jobs since. Most of the stuff the led company did was big 230v industrial high bay & 24v commercial shelf lighting. Not really suitable for motorhomes unfortunately. Otherwwise i'd have hooked y'all up!!
But if you still have your old light fittings I'd have some recommendations for retrofitting 12v LED panels sourced on eBay and Amazon.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Still on ebay and amazon for under €2 each delivered. I bought another blast of them recently.
Look for "48smd warm white" on ebay and you should get lots of options.
Select the correct base to connect to your lamp and you should be good to go.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
Not 100% when you say select the correct base for your fittings - do you mean so they fit inside the existing fittings like your picture. Mine are bayonet fittings too - did you have to do much alteration to the bayonet as i am not electrically qualified - or put it another way, shite at electrics.
You can get most of the different types of fitting now without having to modify anything. If your lamps are like mine using standard indicator bulbs then the base you'd need would be for an ba15s or 1156 type bulb.
Check the following item number in ebay for what I'm talking about:
352214709278
Thats a good deal actually 10 panels for €11!
But hey, do a search on the forum for LED upgrades. Lots of folks have upgraded their bulbs and/or lamps to LED so there's lots of options and advice to choose from.
Chevy Andy
Craic'er
Gender: Location: Wicklow Posts: 42 Registered: 07 / 2018 My Motorhome: Mallard Sprinter Base Vehicle: Chevy P30
I know in the Comments above Ally knows a good Chevy mechanic in Antrim, however given my Chevy has been standing idle for a while and it snapped a belt on my first trip for a basic service leaving me with no brakes, power steering or coolant - any of you know a mechanic near Dublin or Wicklow that knows these 6.2 V8 engines (Diesel). I would like it to have a good look over before i hit the road for a longer journey.
Ally
Founder
Gender: Location: Muckamore, Antrim Age: 55 Homepage:motorhomecraic.com Posts: 32600 Registered: 08 / 2011 My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780 Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
The statistic shows who was online during the last 5 minutes. Updated every 90 seconds.
Note due to EU Cookie Law This page uses cookies to handle logins and unread markers. If you use this forum you allow that this page is storing cookies on your computer. To remove Cookies from this site just click on "Delete cookies of this forum" on the bottom of the page. You can find more infos in our Cookie Policy.