Building an Adventure Van

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by EJ_92606

What about loctite...does that change the torque?

Absolutely. Even though it's not referred to as a "lubricant", it still eases the passing of two surfaces, while wet. To what extent, I'm not sure. However, the same can be said of any lubricant, as it'd be difficult to quantify to what extent "X" lube actually affected the passing of "X" material(s). Too deep a subject for me.

[Geek]

Today was a bit of a frustrating day.

I finished the luxury liner pro on the left side front face I redid


..and mounted it in the van




then I finished the right side panel and mounted it in the van




...as I start to back build the box, the frustration kicks in.

NOTHING in this van is linear or parallel. Yes, I already knew this but didn't realize just how much this would come into play until I start to have to make certain surfaces parallel.

My long floor rails must be parallel for the flooring and my upper rails must be parallel for the flip up bed modules. Everything has to key off of these measurements and although something might be square and perfect.. it is not square and perfect to the van's surfaces.. so every part needs to be custom tended to... measurements become somewhat irrelevant other than in the distances you need to be equal.



The boxes are square are square and parallel (ignore the lens distortion) but each added piece shows another curve of the van needing attention.

It all stems from the fact that my "main rails" that are mounted on the van's sides are significantly further apart at the front than they are at the back due to the "boat shape" of the van. If I was super OCD I'd spend time mitering slightly every piece that bolts to them

[Keith]

I know you probably have this covered, but are you using anti-sieze where the steel bolts are being threaded into the 80/20?

[RedRocker]

Check out this fastening system, start on page 49 and scroll down a few pages. We use this stuff at work and it's pretty easy to assemble.
http://www.schnaithmann.de/uploads/m..._V25www_03.pdf

[Geek]

I received some corner plates and living hinges in the mail today




...when shopping for the hinges I was looking for the strongest I could find - these are the main bed "flip up flip down" hinges so they have to be able to support a few hundred pounds.

They are massive! I think they are up to the task

[a1fa]

[chacha]

Originally Posted by Geek

It all stems from the fact that my "main rails" that are mounted on the van's sides are significantly further apart at the front than they are at the back due to the "boat shape" of the van. If I was super OCD I'd spend time mitering slightly every piece that bolts to them

Would it be a super pain in the ass to shim your main rails to square everything up?

[Geek]

I considered it.. there is more than an inch that would need to be shimmed (per side). I have the isle square.. I'll taper the outside wood to match the van and just shorten the rear aluminum

I'll be going through the same thing all over again with the upper cabinets.

[Gummee!]

Originally Posted by Geek

I considered it.. there is more than an inch that would need to be shimmed (per side). I have the isle square.. I'll taper the outside wood to match the van and just shorten the rear aluminum

I'll be going through the same thing all over again with the upper cabinets.

At least you'll have already done it once. Second time'll go quicker.



M

[Geek]

Yeah at least it is going shorter instead of longer.. I can use the same materials (all the same wood) - just need to take a little off each piece

Now if only the darn weather would go above freezing so my hands would stop sticking to the aluminum

[Geek]

Kind of old news (announced Oct 21st.. can't recall if it made it in this thread?)

Ford has confirmed... Transit in 2013 on US soil made in Kansas City.

They're putting 1.1 billion in tooling upgrades to produce both the new F150 and the Transit. That investment is $700 million more than Ford had previously allocated for its Kansas City facility.



Quote from autoblog:

"it certainly sounds like the days of the E-Series/Econoline range are numbered"

[dox]

Originally Posted by Geek

Kind of old news (announced Oct 21st.. can't recall if it made it in this thread?)

Ford has confirmed... Transit in 2013 on US soil made in Kansas City.



Quote from autoblog:

"it certainly sounds like the days of the E-Series/Econoline range are numbered"

This seems to be the next logical step forward. The E-Series is tired and the diesel option is no longer available. Some may not like it, but the full size Transit should be a suitable and versatile replacement.

Following this thread with great interest... Had given thought to purchasing a used Transit Connect down the road and doing a low-budget camping/bike hauler.

Awesome build, Geek

[c.vestal]

Originally Posted by dox

This seems to be the next logical step forward. The E-Series is tired and the diesel option is no longer available. Some may not like it, but the full size Transit should be a suitable and versatile replacement.

Following this thread with great interest... Had given thought to purchasing a used Transit Connect down the road and doing a low-budget camping/bike hauler.

Awesome build, Geek

I decided this summer to keep ESV until these full sized Transits come out. For me it all depends on the motor choices they roll out.

[DirtySantana]

Originally Posted by Geek

Kind of old news (announced Oct 21st.. can't recall if it made it in this thread?)

Ford has confirmed... Transit in 2013 on US soil made in Kansas City.

They're putting 1.1 billion in tooling upgrades to produce both the new F150 and the Transit. That investment is $700 million more than Ford had previously allocated for its Kansas City facility.



Quote from autoblog:

"it certainly sounds like the days of the E-Series/Econoline range are numbered"

Smart looking van!

[morini-ford]

Originally Posted by DirtySantana

Smart looking van!

The full size Transits are popular here in Europe. The Mercedes Sprinter and a lot of others also ( French and Italian brands) . Most of them , almost all of them , are diesels.