Gettin' started on the Orange Rat

Looks great Joe.

Joe that color vinyl looks great, can't wait to see the next pic's

I like my old dinosaur mavica camera ,, but I really need to get a better one ,,,lol

your hard work is paying off Joe, Looks great

Wow...... it's looking great, a very clean look. I like it. Regarding the headliner I have a two things you could try.

Use 1/2" foam, glue foam to board then apply vinyl and fred is right you have to have it some what in the shape when it will be installed to gett the material tention right. You could also try a heat gun to reduce wrinkles, but be carefull.

Use a different material you can get special materials that are made for headliners, the fabric is already attached to the foam. Make sure you use the proper adhesive. 3M makes a spray can one that I found works great. look for 3M 80 Vinyl and Rubber Adhesive.

It's crafty work, take your time.

Thanks for the input !! I have already picked up some closed cell foam for the roof panels, and ordered some adhesive that company stocked and recommended , I have no idea who makes it as the can is printed with there logo and Im guessing a part number, but the stuff sure bonds well and fast !
I was using what I could get from the local Auto parts store a 3M super spray trim adhesive, It worked okay but nothing like this stuff. I have made some mistakes I may have to re-do at another time as work will be getting in the way of alot of progress now and I am waiting on the last 2 side panels before I finish the roof panels in case I have to trim some here and there. Any screwups I make on this one I will keep track of and try not to do them again on the next project. I have kept it fun for myself by trying stuff I have no clue about !!!

Joe,

I've been following along and for someone's first attempt it sure does look pretty darn good to me. I'm looking forward to checking it out first hand when the weather clears up around here some and the temps go up a bit. Maybe another month or so I'm thinking. You should have it all wrapped up by then too, no? Scott...

I hope to have it wrapped up, by then , Im chomping at the bit to get started on the next and I realized I cant do 2 at one time very well !!

Re-doing the front roof panel.

These are the 2 types of foam I have am using. The one on the right is a poly foam, it has a backing on one side and is very compressable. on the left is the foam I picked up for the roof panels, it is a closed cell foam, somewhat stiffer and only about 50% compressable, but the adhesive really likes it.

The adhesive I cant tell you much about , The company that makes it is Bway, they make lots of stuff from what I have googled. Once you stick the material together it doesnt look or act like its going anywhere , at least at room temperature. I got it from the foam place I ordered from. And lighter fluid works well for clean up on scissors and fingers.

Still kicking around an idea on the remaining roof panels so thats on hold for a bit longer.

lol, that upholstery work is sticky business. power to you. The closed cell foam take to glueing much better then poly. A bit heavier but also better for sound reduction. What type of board are you using their? Some boards flex a lot better then others and the 48" width bends easier then the long 96" lenght. Carefull with that glue its addicting. Hee Hee.

Digz, awesome work!!! What a transformation!

Been so long since seeing all everybody's projects... My plan for strapping is not as sturdy as yours, but similar. Instead of using aluminum studs for mounting the panels to, I plan to just use strips of sheet metal between the existing ribs to give a good flat surface for the screws to go. My last van (an 85 Chev Conversion) also had contoured edges bent and trimmed to kind of hide all the tricky edges where the roof and walls meet... a solution that I think will work wonders for the rear corners too (I know... worthless without pictures). Anyway, welding in 2" wide strips of sheet from front to back instead of using studs is the only thing I would have suggested. Your project does give me hope though You've done awesome! Looks great getting the interior covered!

Thanks Guys ! Ya the back corners can be ugly spots withthe fuelfill tube and the spare tire. I have been trying to keep with a "bolt in" theme on everything on the van so far and this is just one more thing and I'm not into the bed N breakfast look anyway. I have watched folks at the local carshows walk up to it and say how cool it looks on the outside and when they stick their heads in the door ,ya can see the look of disappointment when there isnt some kind of interior..lol.. Seems like gearheads and bikers are the only ones who pay much attention to the mechanicals .
Lyrad, the paneling I found was at a RV mobilehome supply place, it's 1/8" real wood except the wood grain print, very flexible and easy to twist into shape and it is 8'-7" long and was 10$ a sheet. The closed cell finishes out thicker the way I am going at it so I will have to get some longer fasteners for the cab roof panel but I wish I had figured on using it from the beginning for all of it,,,next time,,another thing is I would use the wider 3-1/2" metal studs on the roof runners instead of the 2-1/4" i did , it could use alittle more space for the fasteners I am using running lengthways like I am. Still waiting on my 2 big side panels,,

Got the cab roof panel back in ,, wrinkle free this time.

Lookin' good Digz! I've got to get more done inside mine, I'm anxiously waiting to see what you do with the corners in the rear of the van.

You know... the Shambulance has a sheetmetal ceiling... edges radiused nicely to the edges of the windows. No reason you couldn't use sheetmetal to make nice corner panels... then paint or upholster those...

Those are done Carl. I just angled back the laterals from the rib to the doors and contorted the panels to fit. The wrap on the tire was for a smooth curve to fit to.

The other side I did the same and just had to fit around that goofy feul fill cover I made. I put a 12v power outlet and a switch for a light there.

All the cargo area panels so far just snap in place so I can access wiring and stuff real easy. Yeah Coery I ran all that trhu my head ,,but this fit in with my removable stuff idea . even after its all in , I bet I could gut this thing in 15 minutes !

cool! I really like the spare tire treatment... I hate the idea of hanging a continental kit on the back door... even heard about someone recently whose spare tire came flying off a rusty hanger after a good jolt! I'm leaning towards using metal for my tricky interior contours like that! I like everything you did, and am really thinking "I've got to frame out the interiors in all my vans so I can get rid of some of the tubing I have in my garage!" I'm inspired! Thanks!

WOW Joe, That front roof panel really looks sharp! Great job!

Dan

Digs the van is coming along nicely .

Nice job on the roof panel it came out great Bill

Can't wait to see it at Baker's

I was going to try some design stuff in the roof panels, but the extra orange I ordered came in a shade redder than I wanted (tried to save a couple bucks), so Im going with all vanilla on the rear roof panels same as the cab area for now, Will be doing these this weekend yet.

A friend of mine made me this totebag to keep in the van. I think its pretty cool.

I also ordered some stuff for the floor, Going to try just making something like a custom fit throw blanket for the cargo area that can be rolled up out of the way in case I want to haul something nasty in it. Then do the auto carpet in the front. This cold weather is driving mee nutz.

Joe here a idea for you, I was thinking about installing my carpet in the 64 (if I ever get there) with industrail velcro . For the very reason you spoke of, so if I'm working on something I won't trash the interior

sweet tote bag... that's pretty "hot rod"

Corey,, Wait til ya see what Im gonna put on the floor ,,LOL
I got the roof panels in today.





I have one area that is going to need some help, the transition from cab to cargo, I have some of the good orange left and think I will make a trim strip up to help that out. Theres room for improvement in the fit, I could have allowed a smidge more room for the cellcore foam at the panel edges, but the clips seem to be doing thier job for now, very snug fit.