CompoSimmonite
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What about trawling scrap yards to see if you can find a van with a suitable roof section that can be modified to fit rather than making from scratch ?
- Thread starter julianf
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julianf
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I dont think it will be too hard to make a fixed roof -
All the construction is is box section, clad in aluminium sheet, the cavity filled with rock wool, and then 3mm hardboard on the inside.
Ive re-done the inside a couple of times (ive owned the vehicle 15rs, and changed my mind about the inside once) so have seen how basic the construction is.
Id figure on getting my Rapidor saw on the job, and then just riveting on some cladding, with plenty of sikaflex.
All the construction is is box section, clad in aluminium sheet, the cavity filled with rock wool, and then 3mm hardboard on the inside.
Ive re-done the inside a couple of times (ive owned the vehicle 15rs, and changed my mind about the inside once) so have seen how basic the construction is.
Id figure on getting my Rapidor saw on the job, and then just riveting on some cladding, with plenty of sikaflex.
I used to work for a truck body builders and the order of the day was sealed end rivets and sikaflex, we didn't rivet the whole roof down just the edges, for the rest of it we used a jelly type sticky tape (I'll remember the name later). Other than that it's just common sense such as overlapping the joints so that as you drive the water can't get in. If you can, put a slight upwards bow in the roof from side to side other than at the very front/back so that water can't pool.
julianf
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Thank you wookie,
Ive been thinking more -
As I recall, I think I'm wrong about the steel frame on the original. I think most of it is probable actually folded aluminium.channels, with steel only used at some sections (like the rear, where the doors hang, for example)
I was initially thinking steel, but obviously that is a lot heavier, so I'm wondering if I shouldn't start thinking more about ac rig and use aluminium box?
...although I think the reenforcement currently is just folded channel that's then riveted into place.
Ive been thinking more -
As I recall, I think I'm wrong about the steel frame on the original. I think most of it is probable actually folded aluminium.channels, with steel only used at some sections (like the rear, where the doors hang, for example)
I was initially thinking steel, but obviously that is a lot heavier, so I'm wondering if I shouldn't start thinking more about ac rig and use aluminium box?
...although I think the reenforcement currently is just folded channel that's then riveted into place.
octo0072000
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if you are hanging the spare wheels on the back that will give you an extra storage area/box under the 101 you need steel and sickaflex/tigerseal same stuff
If you mix steel and ali you must provide a barrier where they meet, we used to use 2" wide electrical insulation tape stuck to all the ali bits where they met the steel. Otherwise you'll get a galvanic reaction and your lovely new body will soon disappear into a white dust.
