I found some similar trim black stuf which worked nicely on the dash pod, but the ashtrays all go brown... I think it's a Bakelite compound. I've pondered spraying mine Matt black, however I don't have an original sticker on mine!!
I might try and pick another one up and fit an iPhone doc so painting would not be out of the question.
Clocks go forward Sunday, winter is almost over, surely??? I haven't got a fraction of the work done I had planned for the winter but I did get a few bits done. I've now got an OG radio back in with an iPhone adapter so I can listen to my own music, audio books, phone calls and Waze (my lifesaver). I'm just using a single dash speaker for now, upgraded and sounds fairly decent. I think it works on the same principle as listening to an iPhone in a cup, the sound somehow bounces back off the screen and amplifies. Tow bar electrics are all working as they should now. I use the tow bar for my bike rack, we carry 3 mountain bikes and it works well. I got some of the Vanwurks lighting in. They supplied a full length light strip but with the gas box in the run is only 3/4. It was in the end a pretty simple job to cut it down and it give a pretty cool glow to the van when switched on. I also bit the bullet and installed the Propex. Vanwurks supplied an HS2000E. This has the additional benefit of working off electric. On the downside it's way bigger than the regular 2000 and I can't get it to work off electric as yet. It does work well on gas though and even over the last week the interior got warm though not the 'toasty warm' I had read about. Maybe my thinned blood from working in Singapore is to blame. Next up is to tackle the 240v power sockets which I hope (if Youtube) is to be believed, is fairly simple. Just need to make sure I have a good ground. Left on the list then is; Ply headliner Jimmy in the overhead locker as the one I have is for a pop top and I have not yet popped. Some gratuitous snow shots to end with..
Been busy on the Swede as we are about to head off to the Isle of Wight for Easter. I've stalled on the 240v side of the electrics but unlikely we'll been hooking up anyway. I'm halfway through installing a Birch headliner - I read some horror stories of the eBay ones but could not get hold of SJH Joinery via their website or phone? Anyway I ended up buying the eBay one and it's actually pretty good. Fit is spot on except the interior light cutout is the earlier more rounded shape one but I have a spare light so will stick that it. I've bashed out the grip rails and had everything in for a test fit. Today I will be putting in some plasterboard grip rail and fingers crossed job will be a good un. I've found the best way to stop the sag is to screw into the roof strengthening bars. Apparently this is what Westflalia used to do. Fit is good once persuaded. It helped that it was a bit damp out as the birch became easier to manipulate Cab fit is good. I'm hoping to get this all finished today as it makes the interior feel so much nicer. Also treated her to a new Bra. I had to make some cuts and adjustments for the headlight washers and the number plate.
Another smaller job I had to do was to fix the stiff and clunky passenger window winder. I took off the door card and was pleasantly surprised to see an intact plastic barrier. I found the cause of the clunking... Looks like someone took a shine to her in the past. Anyway a bit of grease in the mechanism and good as new.
Not so far but very time to go in to do one small job I end up in there for ages and come out with something I didn't need or want.
We did 600 trouble free miles this week in the Isle of Wight, well that is if you don’t count me leaving the lights on for 2 nights and running the battery down flat...oops. Thankfully with the PMS I could plug in, switch it to charge mode and we were up and running again in 30 mins. There are a few squeaks from where the headliner fouls the units which I need to sort but nothing major. I have of course written a list of upgrades to sort now which include removing the interior to sort the interior panels and some external bodywork.
