The van that wouldn't float.

[marret]

Subscribed as well. Glad you are resurrecting the van and making progress.

Thanks for bringing us along.

[TomsBeast]

Having the internals not match up is just plain weird. Either way, I'm glad you were able to make a small modification and get my mainshaft to fit up correctly.



It sounds like you're 'out of the woods' so to speak, and it's all little cosmetic stuff from here on out.



Even with a few tense moments, you made out like a bandit on the gamble, awesome!

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

Quite amazing you didnt find any issues with the electrical -

Well, actually I never said I didn't find any issues, I've decided this van is electrically challenged, but for reasons other than it's lack of ability to tread water. Over many years of things being installed and removed, there is quite a bit of,....... lets say, unnecessary wires and, somewhat questionable wiring practices. As a marine engineer, I've spent days straightening out this kind of challenge. Currently, everything is working fine, but the lack of tidiness keeps me awake at night. Much more disturbing are all the cables attached to the battery under the hood. All the connections are clean and working, but it's not up to what I'd consider a commercial standard. There are way too many heavy duty battery cables (8) attached to the battery. In the photo, I haven't even connected the two 2/0 winch cables yet. That's a massive amount of strain on the battery terminals, not to mention a short circuit hazard. I'm really glad the hood is fiberglass, but something accidentally shorting out this huge collection of marginally insulated conductors could be catastrophic. So, I'm thinking of running the original battery cables on the battery, and one more conductor to a buss bar, where all the remaining connections will be made. I need a couple good battery clamps, probably a Blue seas buss bar and some new cables. Anyone have a favorite high amp battery clamp?

[carringb]

[carringb]

Originally Posted by arctictraveller

Anyone have a favorite high amp battery clamp?

I like the Napa cast battery terminal ends. They can be soldered (they sell corresponding matched solder pellets) or swaged with a hydraulic clamp. You just order them individually by wire gauge.

[IanF]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

I vote for you getting the personalized license plate: FLOTSAM

Or maybe "NOFLOAT"

Wiring is something I kinda look forward to with my van and since it'll be a blank slate build I won't have any PO issues to deal with (other than the current PO work I need to rip out entirely).

[TomsBeast]

I've been looking too... I cam across these being sold as Military Battery Terminal Connectors.



I've not used these, but they versatile enough so a guy could add more than one cable, cleanly

[TomsBeast]

What I refer to as 'Winchester Mystery House' wiring

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

What I refer to as 'Winchester Mystery House' wiring

In Mexico, I once saw an entire convenience store's florescent light ballasts extended to the outside by the entrance, and all just hanging by the wires a foot or so above the entrance door.

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

Even with a few tense moments, you made out like a bandit on the gamble, awesome!

Well, the jury is still out on things like the transmission, the winch, the brake system (the rotors are pretty scored up, I'll probably end up doing a complete brake job) and other systems I can't or haven't tested yet. I'm pretty happy about the Starcool though. It seems to be all there, but needs some serious maintenance. The fans are both toast, there have been wiring modifications I haven't figured out yet, and I haven't been able to get the compressor to run on 120V, but that's one system that will get my full attention prior to the heat of summer. All in all, I'm pretty happy about the whole thing.