Selling tools at markets,car boot
sales and auctions.
For a while the mercedes was used for
deliveries to fishing boats in Lowestoft harbour or local
businesses but the shop now specialises in mail order
tools.. |
You can't make a new Kontiki or Hymer out
of a worn out Merc but we made something to get us away from our shop
which at the time still supplied what little was left of the British
fishing fleet with foul weather clothing and
equipment.The budget for the conversion was easy to work out (bugger
all),and we decided all the work we would do ourselves .This is a sort of
record of what we did,why,who helped and who didn't and other mumblings.If
you have one of these old Mercedes or a similar van,or you are hoping to
create a self built motorhome I hope you find something of interest
here.
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One of the first things to do was cut out rust
and rot,and oh boy there was plenty of it,the tyres and windscreen were
about the only rust free parts left. The sills and rear wheel arches were
replaced with panels from Hadrian
and V-W parts auto
panels who had a good stock of mercedes parts.Initially rivetted in place
then welded the finished repairs were then treated with Waxoyl.As
I was working outside,I didn't want the gas shield that a gassed welder
needs blown away so I used a Draper gasless mig welder,which coped easily
with the whole job.
The most time consuming part was cutting all
the bits of steel to fill in where various sections were missing
altogether.The inner wheel arches were basically half a ton of car body
filler over newspapers and riveted aluminium sheet.Thankfully most of the
chassis was sound and with the outer sills removed it was reasonably easy
to make up and weld in new inners.
My welding
isn't to classic or collectors standards maybe,I don't have their patience
or skill and I can hardly spell concours de elegance. |
Near side sill was basically a load of filler
and old copies of the Daily Mail.. |
Wheel arch literally came off in my hand."Oh
Popeye you're so strong". |
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With the repairs still in primer I fitted a
window in the sliding door,and another in the opposite side panel.I used a
hand nibbler which left a neat edge,the metal removed was nearly all
welded back in around the sills and wheel arches! The windows came from a
LDV in a rather unhelpful breakers yard who charged for each window about
what they probably paid for the whole van they came from.With hindsight I
would have been better going to someone like Leisure Windows or even
buying a scrap transit or LDV minibus.Windows in caravans and motorhomes
must be laminated or toughened,ordinary household glass is both illegal
and dangerous. |
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The roof was changed for a fibreglass one from
a scrap mercedes from a mercedes dealer in Norwich."Vorsprung durch
technic" you know.It would have made more sense to get a roof from a
mercedes with the same wheel base as mine,I blame my mistake in measuring
on the introduction of the metric system and dodgy
glasses!
As it was,I had to cut it and insert a section
about a couple of foot long.Three steel hoops support the new roof.With
another dose of hindsight I could have fixed the front section higher or
re-shaped it to gain extra storage space further
forward. |
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It's obviously about two o'clock here or could
be two foot or even two sugars.I'm starting to
wonder here if I really have the faintest idea what I'm
doing.. |
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Body work just about ready for painting,we
carried on using the van in the middle of most of the work even though it
was winter.This was Aldeburgh beach in Suffolk on a November day,handy for
a bit of "wild camping" and enjoying the sea views.Unfortunately the
second home owners of Aldeburgh have,like the residents of various other
seaside towns decided they don't want riff raff in motorhomes and
campervans enjoying their scenery so they are now banned. Gt Yarmouth on
the east coast of the U.K used to have places to stay overnight by the sea
for a bit of wild camping then it too decided people in coaches,HGV's and
motorhomes were to be discouraged, now if you're in a campervan or
motorhome you're made as welcome in some of these so called
holiday resorts as a fart in a space suit. |
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The interior facing rearwards..We needed floor
space as two large dogs would be keeping us company.A secondhand bed
settee provided the basis of a bed,using a table top to infill.The hideous
green was removed and replaced with brown draylon.( Actually long curtains
from a Lowestoft charit shop).Forward would be the kitchen area,with a
door through to the cab.With the interior stripped,carpet was bonded to
the original ply floor.. |
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Interior looking forward..The van was at one
time refrigerated,the plywood interior panels were retained but the foam
insulation was removed to reduce the fire hazard.This picture was taken as
the roof was being altered to fit.The wooden bulkhead was originally cut
with a jig saw to allow a door through to the cab,but it was soon removed
to increase space,only the part behind the drivers seat was retained.Three
sheets of hardboard fitted to wooden battens lined the inside of the
roof. |
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