While that was going on, I knew that it would be the ideal time to wrap the dash while the windshield was out, so I got the vinyl I needed and negotiated with an upholstery shop in the same complex. They found an open slot and laid down some padding under the vinyl and got it done prior to re-installing the windshield. I also took advantage of the time to get things situated with my roof panel before she came home. I had the rear section done (previous posts), but needed to wait to get the front section completed because A) I didn't know whether the roof section that was on it was going to remain, or whether the section from the spare roof I bought would need to be grafted on, and B) Regardless, I had not cut the sunroof opening prior to it heading to Cambra.
After the dash was wrapped and windshield installed, I started gathering and bringing stuff that would enable me to actually drive it home rather than foot the bill for another tow. I brought the doghouse, driver seat, tail lights, actual wheels/tries, and license plate. I had them drill and mount the mirrors, put all the window glass in, and work on the issue I had with window tracks and cranks. That is STILL an ongoing issue which I will delve into later, but at this point it was ready to FINALLY leave the nest.....
On the day I drove it away, I still knew it would be back for some things, but at least it was mobile again. Which would lead to MORE issues....but I immediately made the decision that the lower end auto carpet I had bought to put on the forward cab floor was not going to cut it, so I made an appointment at Bill's Auto Upholstery to get the front section done with more appropriate materials.
It can be seen that the carpet I cut and installed on my doghouse no longer matched, so I had them pull that off and cut pieces of the new carpet that were the same.
After that was taken care of, it was "game on", as I had been invited by Ron to have the van displayed at the Cambra Speed Shop builder's booth at the Grand National Roadster Show if I could get it in "presentable" condition. First on the list was to start getting things bolted back on, and then second was to try and get the roof panel to a point where it was at least one PIECE, and could be installed, even though I knew there was no chance in hell of it being wrapped.
I first bolted the trailer hitch back through the frame rails, then laid the foam insulation down and screwed the floor plywood back in. For the forward roof, I did careful measurements, and also used the spring steel particle board perimeter mount that the van came with originally to get the shape needed around the outer trim. I did a few test fits and made a template from chip board, and once I had the location laid out used the template from the sunroof and cut out the opening. Once that got positioned correctly, I needed to re-install the aft portion, so I screwed it back in. That allowed me to overlap the two segments, and trace a trim line on them. I then took them both out, determined the best location to splice, and cut them both. At that point it was time to butt them together, and then mix up some resin and lay down two layers of glass on both sides to make the whole panel one piece. I still did not have a final plan yet on how I was going to attach the damn thing with no visible screws, but that would come later. At least at this point all of the roof would at least be covered. While that was going on I trimmed and fitted thinner foam insulation I had ordered into the recesses in the roof, and bonded them all in with my glue spray gun.
I also cleared for, drilled and mounted the driver shoulder harness, and rattle can sprayed the defroster vents to match the padded dash. In addition, I masked the CRAP out of everything, removed the steering wheel and levers, and used the same paint to spray the steering column. That was definitely a challenge, as the gear indicator lens needed to be snapped out of the bezel. It was NOT a simple task to do without breaking anything (luckily I had bought a new one before...). I then wrongly sprayed it down with acetone prior to painting, which immediately reacted with the plastic, necessitating me sanding the entire thing before I could coat it. I also removed the orange indicator lens and pancake LED I had installed so I could match paint the housing as well. After this, I set about trying to get the dash itself back in. That was a laborious process, as the padding and vinyl that had been installed prohibited the clips from snapping in place. After much cutting, trimming and pounding, I finally got it in. Then the process of re-connecting all my switches and vents started, and swapped out the steering wheel.
Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250 Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20 The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van) Outcast Vanners van club Support your local 2%