1999 MK5 SWB MID-TOP CONVERSION - MoHo

[MinorMatt]

On the pic of the engine it looks like one of the bolts is missing from the water pump pulley... you really need to put another one in (Standard M6)

[MadMoo]

On the pic of the engine it looks like one of the bolts is missing from the water pump pulley... you really need to put another one in (Standard M6)

Thanks Matt, we will replace tomorrow (that's if we haven't already done it...can't remember, the pic is old!)

[MadMoo]

We had a very lucky day when we went to the scrappies the other week, we were looking for a few bits and pieces and what should we come across in the glove box of a van on its side?.........Rocking horse poo!! (Or cup holder!!) Our dash is complete....

BEFORE....All sad and feeling a bit empty



AFTER...Feeing whole again.... (No it didn't take an hour to fit....just to get around to taking the pic!!! )







We also decided to go with clear indicators on the front and sides.....oh and if anyone knows where we can get the clear rear ones for like a tenner let us know....hey! A girl can dream!! We're also gonna tackle polishing the headlights....that's a job for tomorrow!

BEFORE....



AFTER... Haven't got round to fixing the smiley yet....

[MadMoo]

As it's going to be a camper that we are going to use on camp sites with hook up as well as places like GLASTONBURY!!, we decided to put in a consumer unit with some sockets and spot lights, We decided that a shelf above the seats would house one of the said spot lights.


Hook up socket (has since been sealed)




Light at the back...






Double Socket



Other double socket and fused spur (the dimmer is for the LEDs)



Fused Spur is for heater



Wires





Consumer Unit (we know it's a big but it was cheaper!!!)





..... (Remember I am not a carpenter!)








Now the 12V

.. managed to get one off ebay 110aH for £52 and got a 30A split charge relay.




There are actually 2 wires from that starter battery to the relay now as I used thinner wires.

There is also now a wire running from the switched output on the relay into a 12V cig socket that we will use to power the coolbox while on the move.




I bought a cheap fusebox off flea bay...cost me 50p! I made a home made bus bar and fixed the box in the space above the glove box (in the dash).

Bus bar



Box in place



From the fuse box we have a 12v heater, LED lights and a 12V socket.

12V socket mounted on the shelf.




For the LED Lights, I bought a 5m strip (300 LEDs) from ebay for £8 and set about cutting it into smaller strips and soldering it to make a light strip mounted on a bit of laminate. Also got a dimmer from Hong Kong for about £4.







The heater is mounted on the underside of the shelf.

[MadMoo]

We've made a hole in the rear of the van as a sink hole for the gas...

Next we put laminate down in the rear.
First we put down the vinyl that we ripped up, then the remainder of the foil bubble wrap and then a layer of felt then the laminate...








Then added a trim that we sprayed black and mitred, we will put the same trim on the rear when we get some more from scrappies this weekend.



Then covered the wheel arches...

[MadMoo]

So that pretty much brings us up to date on our progress, should hopefully get more bits done tomorrow!

We hope you have enjoyed reading this so far!



Moo and TeeKay
xx

[MadMoo]

OH I forgot!!

Our heater wasn't working...for a couple of reasons...the resistor was FUBAR and the multiplug was fooked!
So last week we bought a new resistor and cut off plug and connected the wires.

Today - the directional knob for the heater wasn't working, it was covered in brown sticky goo (coffee!!) and the little metal ring from the knob was missing. So we got a whole new switch from the scrappies and I have fitted that. So the heater is all fixed, we have all three speeds, cold/hot and directionality!! Good times!

Also today I have managed to fit a digital voltmeter into the cab area.... we had a bit of a late start because of the rain so didn't get a chance to fit the LEDs into the cab. That's a job for another day!

So for the voltmeter, I bought one from ebay and it was shipped from good ol' Hong Kong...cost about £3.



I cut a hole in the roof of the cab lining just above the light



Threaded wires through



Connected Voltmeter



We didn't want the voltmeter to be on all the time so I wired in a switch (The switch to the left is going to be for the cab LEDs)



AND IT WORKS!! ( I am getting good at all this electric lark! )



So that's it for today, now off to drink beer!

Moo and TeeKay X

[BigMonty]

You deserve a beer matey. Good work

[suffolkboi]

Hi,

do those LED strips produce enough light? Iv got 4m of it, and im not sure its going to be bright enough..

[MadMoo]

Hi,

do those LED strips produce enough light? Iv got 4m of it, and im not sure its going to be bright enough..

I would say so, they are quite bright and light up the whole back of the van. (that's the reason we got the dimmer, so we can have 'mood lighting' in the evening when we're chillin.) I'll see if I can get a pic up tonight of it in the dark!

[MadMoo]

Hi,

do those LED strips produce enough light? Iv got 4m of it, and im not sure its going to be bright enough..

I would say so, they are quite bright and light up the whole back of the van. (that's the reason we got the dimmer, so we can have 'mood lighting' in the evening when we're chillin.) I'll see if I can get a pic up tonight of it in the dark!

So the pics have not come out as I wanted but I can assure you that they are quite bright and do the job

[ajpmsport]

Hi, I am sure someone will put me right, just an observation. Shouldn`t your consumer unit be RCD protected ? Looks like the vans on track. gettin cosy. No shower yet to wash off all that Glastonbury mud......!

[ake]

Hi, I am sure someone will put me right, just an observation. Shouldn`t your consumer unit be RCD protected ? Looks like the vans on track. gettin cosy. No shower yet to wash off all that Glastonbury mud......!

Yes it should.

[MadMoo]

Soooooooooo, it's been a while since we posted as we haven't been able to do much as the weather has been as we say.."SHITE!"

BUT there are only just over 11 weeks until the big event of Glastonbury so we have had to get a move on!!!

We've cleaned all the crud from underneath the van.
Changed the headlights.
Fitted some LEDs into the cab
and started a very crude repair of the front O/S wheel arch.

First the headlights....

Old ones..yuck!




Took them off



Gave both the bays a clean and a quick coat of rust treatment and primer



New N/S Light...shiny!


New O/S Light....just as shiny!


Together! We think they look smart especially with the clear indicators!



The new cab lights...

I got another reel of LEDs from ebay..the same ones that I used for the back light strip.
Got a piece of laminate that was just the right length to fit across the cab and it wasn't too wide so no need to saw it...result!

So, I cut the LEDs into strips and stuck them to the laminate and then soldered them together...without burning myself!!!!
Finished it off with some insulation tape to make it look neater and secure the wires and strips.



Tested them... they work.. YAY!



Then fitted them onto the shelving unit in the cab...



Not tested them in the dark yet...will do that tonight so keep an eye out for an update later!

Also, the front O/S wheel arch is in a bad way so instead of getting a new arch I am in the process of doing a crude repair so that it'll pass the MOT that we will hopefully be booking next week....scary times!!




I cut the edge off using a hacksaw and a small rotary tool, then used an angle grinder to smooth the edges.
#

I then used P40 with aluminium mesh and 'wrapped' the wheel arch front to back to create a more rounded and smooth edge. (forgot to take a pic as my hands were gunked up!)

I have then put a layer of P38 over the mesh/P40...



It's pretty smooth at the moment but I am going to put another layer of P38 on it and then sand it down to a smooth finish and then give it a quick coat of primer and paint. (If it's still rough after the second layer...duct tape will be used!) Just need it to have no sharp edges so it will pass.


Oh and we have fitted some new wipers. 99p for the pair! I think the ones we took off were the originals!! LOL!

So that's pretty much all we've been able to do really. Going to wait until it's dark to test the new cab lights out!

Oh...and as a side...our handbrake is fooked, so hopefully will be fixing that tomorrow!

Hope you have enjoyed it so far!!
Moo and TeeKay

[MadMoo]

So just popped out to test the cab lights in the dark....boy are they bright!!