New Project 1968 A108 Sundial Camper

After following VV for a few years now, I stumbled across a complete, no rust, 1968 A108 Sundial Camper with a very rough interior that had been sitting since 1988.

The interior was all there, minus the sink cabinet, but much of it had weather rot from the van not being sealed for many years. Several louver windows are broken, and honestly with this much dirt inside, there must have been a door or 6 left open.

However, after a lot of sweeping and cleaning, it's starting to take shape. I'm going to keep as much of the camper cabinets as I can, but this won't be a true full camper as much as an early morning comfy surf mobile - think 5:00 am watching dawn with a fresh cup of coffee and a leisurely consideration of which board (stashed in a custom rack in the highroof) I'll ride..

I have a solar dual battery fridge setup I'm going to swap in from another project, and my neighbor is a skilled upholsterer, so we're looking at fabric for the seating. On the VW buses I've fixed up in the past, the constant pressure to keep everything stock can get a little stifling, so i'm excited to have a bit more freedom on this one.

After sitting for 27 years, with an oil change, new points and coil, and topping off the radiator, the motor starts and is actually quite smooth! The radiator leaks, the brakes are scary, and the rat-torn insulation was doing it's best to jump onto the headers and burn down the van, but it looks to be a really fun project. I plan on keeping the original paint, just buffing out what I have, and that amateur tagging on the back should wetsand off pretty easily. Then I plan on leaving the outside alone, bringing up the mechanical side, and then creating a sort of period correct interior that keeps the original cabinets when possible but makes room for boards and an additional sleeping platform in the roof for kids.

Just noticed when posting that the photo editor software cut the right third off each photo. Just imagine that I know where to point a camera when you look at these

When you click on the photo it comes up full size.

wow very clean 68,next time you change the oil use oil with zink. this time go to a auto parts store and buy a zink additive, these old engines need the zink in the oil like the old days  , welcome to vintage vans,

Looks like a match made in heaven, you and the van! It's finally getting the much needed attention that it deserves.

Amazing what a lot of sweat equity can get you. Welcome to Vintage Vans and it looks like you've found the perfect van to suit your needs!

Congrats and can't wait to see what you do with the interior. Don't be afraid to make it your own, that's what makes these vans so Great!

Welcome to VV. Your camper looks awesome. Keep those pics coming as you move forward on this project.

Thanks for the welcome! The prior owner did mention putting some sort of oil treatment into it when he got it running. I changed the oil yesterday before I brought it in for radiator work, just with (probably not ideal) 10/30 pennzoil that I plan on changing again almost immediately just to try and flush the motor a bit. I'll look into the Zinc additive for the next change.

Once I get it back I plan on hitting the cleaning stage hard inside. My neighbor is ready to go on fabric and seats. My front seats are basically just frames with wrecked covers and rotten, misshapen foam, so I have to decide whether to rebuild them or find some early 70's highback chairs. Not as cool, but safer and still generally "older" looking so they don't look so out of place.

I'm torn between making a relatively common system of removeable plywood boards for a futon setup upstairs with upholstered cushons or having her sew up a lightweight, removeable canvas hammock/cot/tarp platform instead. Not quite as sturdy, but so lightweight and it would be cool to be able to quickly remove it if wanted.

Get the Zinc in it =NOW!! r = u'll be =SORRY!!

Any recommendations for Oil with zinc? My motor has either 25,000 or 125,000 miles on it

Shell Rotella (Diesel oil) has the max zinc allowed and won't gunk up like Pennzoil.

Get the engine warm, then add a quart or so of ATF. Don't run it hard, just let it circulate a while. This has a lot more detergent and will clean out the passages and buildup. Shut it off and drain the old stuff (let it drain a while), then put in the Shell.

You can do amazing things with some PB blaster while letting it drain. Squirt it on every metal to metal surface you can think of. Door hinges, latches and linkages, throttle and brake linkages, the bolts you plan on undoing in the near future, E brake cable, handle and wheel, window cranks, heater cables, etc. Get a grease gun and hit every zerk fitting you can find. This will help awaken the beast and become a proper LUBE, Oil & Filter.

Don't use petroleum lubricants on rubber parts (spring bushings). There is a water based lube for this. Don't spray it in the locks either, it gums them up.

Gibbs Brand lubricant/penetrating oil is a lot better than PB Blaster. 1/2 ATF 1/2 Acetone is also better than PB and cheap to mix up. Don

Thanks for the pointers! The van has three cans of PB Blaster in it already, so I'll finish those but I'll try the Gibbs also. I use PTFE spray these days for locks usually.

Believe it or not, my locks all work, it's a one key van, the windows all roll, PB Blaster got the louver windows gradually freed up, and it also eventually loosened a very stuck oil filler cap.

I think the prior owner followed substantially what you mentioned with the ATF flush, in fact I remember him mentioning it. When I drained the oil this time around, it slowly drained for a few hours, gunk at first, ending with very thin broken down oil.

When it comes back from radiator work I'll drain it again and do the process again with ATF and rotella, hopefully the stuff coming out starts to look more appealing soon!

great find an good lock with your new toy

Nice! One of the other members and I found one of those in a bone yard in Oceanside, and the roof was so rusted at the back that he could just lift the top up. yours is much nicer.

Thanks! I've been really impressed with the body condition. I'm from SD actually, still visity parents every few months down there!

When you post pic's, change the setting to 640p instead of 800 and you will see the whole shot.

Will do! Thanks!

Amazing van and project

Thanks! I'm excited to get it going!

I'm torn between stock 14" steelies with hubcaps or 15" spoke rims. Any opinions are welcome, Both sets would need new tires, although the stock wheels have moveable roller tires at least.

The steelies are classy and stock looking (but actually off a dart) but are smaller and narrower. The spokes are bigger and wider, but they have a very strong visual style - not sure I want that aggressive a rim or not. Not saying I don't like them, they're just a very definite look.

It all depends on the way you want to present it...kind of like when I was a kid, mother would make us dress nice on Sundays and then wear what we like during the week! You could change them out depending on what type of mood you're in. Get new tires on the ones you like best and if you get tired of it, you could get new sneakers for the other set later.

Make it yours!

Nice find. If you ever want to sell it I have dibs. John

Thanks! I suppose nothing is forever, but I'm really enjoying this one! My neighbor is doing my seat cushions for me, here's a peek she gave me. We're going for a woven beach blanket look.

Love the surf/skate board stripe motif

Thanks! I'm waiting for a carb kit and service manual in the mail, and then it's hopefully going to be pretty driveable! I'm trying to figure out how to put in brackets for an upper sleeping platform also. Lots to do!