The Saga of Tortuga's "Resto"

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by [:DSbS:], Feb 1, 2014.

  1. More work on the camping electrics, mainly running cables around the van, but also on locating the fuse box, charger, heater, etc. out of the way under the back seat;
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    That's the heater at the bottom, the black box is the charger and the fuse box and bus bar are just in a 'mocked up' position. Right-hand rear speaker will go in front of that lot and I'm putting the consumer unit on the side of the wheel arch.


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  2. Just about finished running cables for internal lights and sockets. Picked up a consumer unit to link with the charger (probably going to put the mains socket under the van) so that and the split charge relay set up are ready to go in.
    Still waiting on the leisure battery tho. In the meantime, varnishing the headlining continues and I've finally 'walled off' the back of the overhead locker :)
    Moving on for Sumer Island Hopping on the West Coast of Scotland!


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  3. [​IMG]
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    Ve haf power Herr Doktor!


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  4. So I decided to replace the sliding door seal as part of the prep to go island hopping round Scotland. Removed the door and the seal to discover galloping rust (!) under the roof channel. Three and a half weeks to go, so bodge time - I have no knowledge or equipment, let alone time to carry out a lasting repair.
    First time with filler;
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    And now covered in primer
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  5. So here's how the filler bodge above the sliding door turned out
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    Again, not the best solution, but it'll do until I do a full strip of the paint in a few years time - I got this to use, not restore to show standard!
    Next up, wooden bulkheads - fitting the buddy seat has shown there's still some fettling to be done with these, but that's going to have to wait til after the holidays
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    And finally the cooker unit; under construction...
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    ...and being trial fitted.
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    Under the hob will be a drawer and the cupboard will have a shelf above the water and gas canisters. I'm also going to fit a removable board in front of the canisters to stop them moving around. The position of the 'spice rack' is filled by a whiskey rack instead :)


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    Day, Dicky, paradox and 2 others like this.
  6. Specifically for @Dicky (as he requested more photos) and showing the interior as it currently stands - all hand built and loosely based on conversion plans posted on here ages ago
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    Oh and today's work; the surfboard table, using my longboard as a template :)
    [​IMG]


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    Day, Lord Congi, shielsy and 4 others like this.
  7. Im liking that. My skills are somewhat limited and i tend to go at it a bit cack handed as im never quite sure how to achieve what i want. Its the finish that lets me down. I need some routing skills!
     
    Coco and [:DSbS:] like this.
  8. So it’s been ages since I posted on here and loads has gone on! I got the interior finished for a trip round Scotland at 3am the morning we were due to set off and... yeah, well...
    Short version is;
    3 weeks island hopping round Scotland were a dream only highlighting minor issues with the interior so very pleased :)
    Engine broke down (disintegrated?) en route home from Scotland :( and has been replaced by a brand new 1641cc version - very pleased with new engine :D less so with the unexpected expense :(
    1 week surfing down in South Wales - no surf so ended up stand-up paddle boarding - again only minor niggles with the interior; promised myself I’d sort them over winter...
    Shattered my ankle kiteboarding in South Wales the day before we were due to come home operation, 2 plates, eighteen screws and eleven weeks off work but unable to do any work on Tortuga...
    Wife announces she is pregnant and therefore Tortuga needs rear seatbelts - realisation dawns that to fit the mounting plates (3 small squares of metal), pretty much the entire rear interior needs to come out and part of it must be totally destroyed to do this Curse my carefully interlocked craftsmanship!
    Of course, once the welded bits are fitted - including the 3 point bracket from @davidloft - I can sort out the interior refit, taking care of those issues highlighted by the trips in the summer, right? WRONG - interior must be refitted and ready for a half-term surfing trip to Woolacombe (the only surfing holiday we’ll get with baby due end of July). Not a problem, only I’ve just started to reroute the camping wiring...
    So, yet again the interior gets fitted with me finishing it at 1:30am the morning we’re due to leave...
    Since then, it’s come out once more and I’m taking time putting it back, sorting those issues highlighted around a year ago. So here we go, current stated of play; all the fuses, leisure battery charger and electric heater have been relocated to the base of the wardrobe. The RCB box is on the opposite side and the wiring from the leisure battery, RCB and a couple of sockets crosses under the R&R bed. All the other wiring runs up the inside of the wardrobe and along the drivers side under the roof.
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    The black tube feeds the heater vent on the lhs of the van. All the woodwork seen is new...
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    And above shows the 3 point bracket and section fixing it to the van. Next jobs are to sort the shelving in the cupboard, some surrounds for the lhs windows and a better arrangement for the chalkboard in the rhs rear window...
    Watch this space!


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    Day, shielsy, MeelisV and 4 others like this.
  9. Last time I posted I said I would be “taking my time with putting it all back” - how true!
    The interior is still in pieces all over the house as various repairs/replacements/improvements are worked on, but progress is being made. For your delectation, a couple of ventilation covers to allow air to reach the “electrical locker” in the base of the cupboard;
    [​IMG]


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  10. nice work on interior
     
    [:DSbS:] likes this.
  11. Well over a year since last posting on here...
    The interior refit has finally been completed and we’ve done a couple of trips which have gone well in the intervening time.
    Last month I finally got around to dropping the rear by 2” (only five years after first attempting to do so!) meaning Tortuga now goes into the garage with the roof rack on!
    However, the brakes have now failed. Not sure why, but after looking at the state of the rear back plates and struggled with the adjusters, I’ve decided to replace the lot including the drums (they seem slightly out of shape).
    My intention is to start at the back and work forward and I’m going to strip and repaint the suspension plates and whatever I can access in the process. Although I can’t find a brake fluid leak, I’m tempted to replace the brake lines using the kit from JK as well - any advice on this?


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    Mully_89 likes this.
  12. We replaced our from these guys

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302701436912

    Kunifer pipes and worked fine apart from our crossdressers needed a bit of a mod on a pipe so needed a pipe flare kit to make up a short length anyway .. the stainless braided end hoses seem like a good upgrade too if you're at it

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