Well, hmmm, what has happened. A LOT has happened. Mostly miles. I've put almost 45k on this van already. These things are pretty easy to cover the miles in. I have spent a lot of the winter in the mid west states and been a whole lot of ice and snow. I wish I had coated the underside first but a Tennessee boy just doesn't think this way. I'm already seeing some rust on the exhaust and drive shaft and it will definitely be ready before next winter. I'll be coating it with Fluid Film or the like.
Anyway, my point was that this thing drives amazingly in the snow. I have an open rear, not the factory limited slip, and with the BFG's it's still on rails. It's very confidence inspiring compared to the lumbering feel of a big converted E-series.
Moving on. I tried for months to get my rear cabinet done but kept getting held up by the crap that needed doing first, a ceiling for instance. Got that done finally and got both roof vents mounted since I have no other opening windows. I set one to draw in and one to exhaust. Works well so far.
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
With that I was finally ready for my rear cabinets. I have the van set up for work or play so the quick release seat tracks are still there for the middle seats. My galley and rear cabinet design required lots of compromises to make these seats work. Here are the seats in place:
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
As I think I've stated before I have to haul 48x48" pallets regularly so I need the space from wheel well to wheel well open. So how to do this and still have some storage? Not easy but easier with a square high roof van. I started by building some low boxes to enclose my batteries and still provide access to tie down points and give me some storage nooks. Here's the passenger side one:
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Also, the Transit has threaded holes everywhere! There are plenty along the upper sides above the windows where ac ducts and curtain airbags used to be. I was able to use these to rigidly mount my cabinet backs and then just build the cabinets off of them.
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
From there it was just a slow process of cutting templates out of thin material for the cabinet sides to hug the van walls and window recesses, and then to figure out where I needed shelves to fit my junk.
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr
Untitled by
86scotty, on Flickr