Mick n Janes 17.56OB writeoff rebuild

[1756mick]

Might be an abstract method of obtaining an Expanda but I enjoy challenges and get pride from repairing, rebuilding or making things.sometimes $$ has something to do with it.

Anyway, we got ourselves a repairable writeoff 12/13 17.56-2 OB from auction.
In December 14 we started repairing it in our driveway much to our neighbours disgust probably.

I'm not sure how it was damaged but it seems the roof has come up and slammed back down buckling the walls folding in all the cabinets, bending the draw bar. The safety chains are two links different in length and the retaining clip on the tow hitch is missing. I suspect it was towed by a car in a head on. The van physically had no impact. Though hard to believe from the pics.

 

[bigcol]

awesome sauce guys

great job.........

how long did it take to take it from wrecked to good.......?

 

[1756mick]

A few more random pics I have found. (It is not as easy in iPad as a PC uploading and editing)

 

[1756mick]

awesome sauce guys

great job.........

how long did it take to take it from crap to good.......?

Thanks. Started December 15th?? Worked on it over Xmas break 2 weeks off work. And then weekends since then till now. Drawbar was last weekend

 

[dagree]

WOW.... Looks better than new @1756mick. Good job :encouragement:

 

[burnsie]

Nice work, looks great

 

[Smergen]

What a cool and awesome thread! Did you have any van building experience prior to this? Obviously got access to a pretty handy workshop there by the looks of it!

 

[1756mick]

What a cool and awesome thread! Did you have any van building experience prior to this? Obviously got access to a pretty handy workshop there by the looks of it!

Not really, I did buy an eagle pop top with slight damage that had a bent chassis which for fun I removed the alloy crinkle skin and replaced with flat composite sheet.
But saying that I'm a bit of a jack of all trades type. Mechanic, with a cert 3 in boatbuilding for the fiberglass repairs to the nose cone. Repaired a number of written off cars over my lifetime, not for profit but for personal use.

Work in management now of a concrete pumping company. We have a large workshop with some highly skilled welders to weld up the drawbar for me.
We have a truck spray booth where I painted the nose cone. I am a reasonable spray painter from my damaged car repairing experience..

I wasn't going to discuss cost, but it's bound to come up. Van cost me $3500 $1500 shipping back from Townsville. Owes me $10,500 all up purchased repaired and registered.

I will tell you one thing I learnt. The roof on that thing must weigh 200kg with the gear on it. With out the metal hinge arms that thing is highly unstable and outa control. We had 6 blokes lifting it trying to clip on struts. It's fair to say it near ended up upside down on the lawn twice. Had 6 attempts over a month to get it on. If you ever break one of those hinge arms.. RUN.. Hahahahha

 

[17triton]

Great effort Mick!!! What a awesome feeling that first trip will be when you can sit back and admire the top job you have done!:yo:

 

[Pace]

Ladies and Gentleman, award for the most outstanding/ painstaking repair, understanding family/ neighbours for getting their van together goes to :drum:

@1756mick

Get build there Mick and family, absolutely grand effort. Cheers Pace.

 

[Four of us]

Very nice job mate, are you planning on keeping the van?

 

[DRW]

I looked at one ages ago and got scared, it was no where as bad as yours, congrats @1756mick the neighbours will be pleased to see it finished, now for the 40' cruiser lol

 

[Bushman]

must admit when I saw that first pic I asked myself "why bother"? However you now have a van a for the fun times and adventures ahead,
A sterling effort on your part and an awesome job, it's a credit to you, thanks for sharing the build. :first:

 

[blacky]

Mate! Thats unreal! I too was pretty sketchy when i saw the first few pics.. but what a job!

 

[Robbie Reddog]

I was looking at the first couple of photos and thought to myself what the hell would you do with that but I must admit you've done a great job.

 

[chartrock]

Man, looking at that first picture my first thought was just 'No way' but what a terrific job you have done and in such a short time, a lot less than having to wait for Jayco to build one.

 

[bigcol]

Not really, I did buy an eagle pop top with slight damage that had a bent chassis which for fun I removed the alloy crinkle skin and replaced with flat composite sheet.
But saying that I'm a bit of a jack of all trades type. Mechanic, with a cert 3 in boatbuilding for the fiberglass repairs to the nose cone. Repaired a number of written off cars over my lifetime, not for profit but for personal use.

Work in management now of a concrete pumping company. We have a large workshop with some highly skilled welders to weld up the drawbar for me.
We have a truck spray booth where I painted the nose cone. I am a reasonable spray painter from my damaged car repairing experience..

I wasn't going to discuss cost, but it's bound to come up. Van cost me $3500 $1500 shipping back from Townsville. Owes me $10,500 all up purchased repaired and registered.

I will tell you one thing I learnt. The roof on that thing must weigh 200kg with the gear on it. With ought the metal hinge arms that thing is highly unstable and outa control. We had 6 blokes lifting it trying to clip on struts. It's fair to say it near ended up upside down on the lawn twice. Had 6 attempts over a month to get it on. If you ever break one of those hinge arms.. RUN.. Hahahahha

I think you may have a few more talents than you let on

the planning to start with would have been enough for me to think not possible - and not in the time frame you have accomplished it

if I was wearing a hat, I would lift it in salute to you Sir & your good nature wife...........

 

[Delano]

I think you may have a few more talents than you let on

the planning to start with would have been enough for me to think not possible - and not in the time frame you have accomplished it

if I was wearing a hat, I would lift it in salute to you Sir & your good nature wife...........

 

[Delano]

Top job there Mick, when and where is the shakedown trip.

 

[1756mick]

Very nice job mate, are you planning on keeping the van?

Thanks all for the generous words. Yes I will keep it. I am happy as I think I actually fixed about 30 Jayco budget build issues, like the addition of vertical alloy supports in the wall/frame for one.

I think there was a few nights where I dreamt I was repairing the van. Glad it's done now.

It's totally done apart from no window yet on the right side. Camec have no stock and will be some months away.

Would you believe I ordered a door frame from Camec. They had to make it. I placed the order on Jan 12th. 4 weeks later sent the wrong one. They ordered another to be made on Feb 9. Feb 24 another arrives now it's a square door frame. What the hell!!!! They order another to be made. March 13 comes I get cranky as they keep saying for weeks that it should be here and yet still no frame, so I go back and pick back up the first one from Jan that was the right shape though too big, end up cutting it down and made it fit. What a terrible service