Any advice on gutting interior??

[bearfootmama]

I have a '96 Ford conversion van. My partner and I are really interested in gutting the interior (like the walls and ceiling) bc, quite frankly, it's bulky and atrocious. It seems like a daunting task and the wires are somewhat intimidating. I can't seem to find any websites with tutorials since most of them start with a blank slate. We aren't sure if we should just start tearing everything out or if there are certain things we should be doing to remove the wires, etc. Any advice on how to begin gutting the interior? And any advice for the electrical work? Any special skills involved? I don't have a picture of my exact van but this one looks pretty damn close.

 

[DannyB1954]

Disconnect the battery, then it will be safe enough to cut any wiring. I would remove all the light fixtures and 12 volt power outlets which would be attached to the paneling and leave the wires in place until all the panels were removed. You can then decide if the wires are where you will be needing them for the new lights.

Before it was converted, it was a regular factory van. Any wires that are necessary for the actual vehicle should be in a loom running through the frame or structure the vehicle. If you accidentally cut a necessary wire, it can be repaired.

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome bearfootmama to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

yep just start taking it apart starting with the seats. then the walls. do not cut any wire until you know what's it for and you know for sure you don't want it. save all the wire, you might be able to use it for your build. highdesertranger

 

[Ticklebellly]

I converted an ex-ambo. Given the time again, I would have gutted the interior rather than doing the minimum to make the thing usable. A lot of wiring installed for the ambo functions was left on decommissioning and has been a pain to sort out. But, that was my experience. Bare walls and floor at this time in your conversion my be all that is needed right now. The more you strip out, the more you will need to do in the final job.

 

[dr_nelson]

Mine looked similar, and I gutted my van, but left all the wires in place.
I disconnected the battery and started with the interior light fixtures, then the seats, etc. I knew that I wouldn't be using anything that was in there, so where necessary, I just used brute force. I kept anything that was still in good shape, just in case I want to  re-purpose it later.

You'll see the wires pretty soon once you start gutting, and just work around them and do not destroy them. And you'll probably also see the rear AC and heat unit. I will keep mine.

Gutting interior

PROs

• you can find leaks and address them (this was my major reason)
• you'll know where the ribs and holes are and where NOT to drill
• you'll know how well insulated it is (I didn't want any fiberglass and there was a lot)
• you can address any rust
• you can address any dirt or mold (I couldn't smell it without gutting, but mine was stinky & nasty under the carpet)
• you can remove animal stuff (insect nests, or someone here had dead mice)
• you do not have to build around existing stuff

CONs

• it can be overwhelming once you gutted the van and see how much is ahead of you
• it takes a hole lot more time to make your van "liveable"
  

To me, the PROs win. I was really glad I did tear everything out. I had two leaks, a lot of that nasty fiberglass stuff, and under the floor and carpet it was damp and smelly ,and I also removed a dead wasp nest.

And welcome!

 

[Almost There]

We aren't sure if we should just start tearing everything out or if there are certain things we should be doing to remove the wires, etc. Any advice on how to begin gutting the interior? And any advice for the electrical work? Any special skills involved?

I gutted mine entirely but then it was a home done job done poorly...   really poorly!!

Advice, take a long cold drink of your choice out to the van and sit there figuring out where to start....

The obvious is the seats but after that it's a guessing game depending on how the interior was put together. Be prepared to get something part way out and then find out that you have to remove 3 more things before THAT piece will come loose. Have patience and maybe even document if you can keep the language clean....

You'll more than likely be able to identify which parts of the electrical are factory van parts and which parts are aftermarket custom interior stuff. Leave the wiring harness from the manufacturer alone. All the rest, either decide to keep or pull. It will probably be pulled because the aftermarket conversion companies weren't known for using wire of the right gauge, they put 18 where you'll want 10!

I had the rear heat unit removed by my mechanic because it was big, would never be used and was in the way of my design plans. YMMV.

I was the one with the mouse cemetery....

 

[GypsyDogs]

And don't be surprised.. as you take it apart.. when you find that the spiffy interior is a gilded turd. LOL
Looking at the finished conversion interior, you wouldn't guess how many short cuts they may have taken. Like 2 or 3 layers of duct tape instead of grommets for wires through metal, using cheap threaded nuts stacked on long bolts to mount lights at angles, and people constructing it using the wall space as a trash can during construction.. (trash mixed into fiberglass)
When I was taking Hank apart, I found all of the above, and other weird things. Have a camera handy, sometimes you find the strangest things.. and document, as others have said. It is amusing to look back on all you have done/been through- to get where you will be.

 

[caretaker]

tape labels, as you go, or just leave fixtures attached, remember if you leave the circuit intact you can modify them to use as you see fit, just take your time and if not sure take pics. for future reference. good luck and have fun

 

[ArtW]

so seats, walls, subfloor
I was wondering what the likely order was, myself

 

[dr_nelson]

so seats, walls, subfloor
I was wondering what the likely order was, myself

Trust me, the "van" will tell you the order as you start pulling things out. 

 

[user 37446]

Look about 12 threads down from your question. I wrote on and posted the link to the site where the couple started with what you have now and completely gutted and rebuilt...

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]One of the best conversion descriptions I have read[/font]

Can't blame you for missing the thread, it got a grand total of 1 reply... :huh:

 

[JulienN]

I converted an ex-ambo.  Given the time again, I would have gutted the interior rather than doing the minimum to make the thing usable.    A lot of wiring installed for the ambo functions was left on decommissioning and has been a pain to sort out.  But, that was my experience.  Bare walls and floor at this time in your conversion my be all that is needed right now.    The more you strip out, the more you will need to do in the final job.

What did you do with your wiring? im on that part now lol. I dont know what to and not to remove.

 

[MrNoodly]

...quite frankly, it's... atrocious. 

Yeah, there's something about light blue velour that really annoys me. Burgundy is worse.

If this were my van, I'd remove the existing panels as carefully as possible so I could use them as patterns for new ones.

 

[MrNoodly]

...when you find that the spiffy interior is a gilded turd.  LOL
Looking at the finished conversion interior, you wouldn't guess how many short cuts they may have taken...

I was helping someone redo their conversion van and was surprised to find the curly steel bits (rusty, of course) a nibbler creates when cutting the window openings.

And since previous owners had done some of their own modifications, there was some "creative" carpentry and a rat's nest of badly done wiring.

 

[nature lover]

I guess I took the lazy man’s route. I left the panels and ceiling in place thinking that the small amount of insulation they provided would be enough for somebody following the sun. I did remove that old carpet clean the floor and insulation and three-quarter inch plywood floor. My cabinets battery box and almost sleeping recliner are screwed into that three-quarter inch plywood so it doesn’t move. I ripped out that stupid TV and VCR providing myself with a nice loft for storage. All the seats but the drivers I took out and sold. My recliner now sits where the passenger seat was and that may have been a mistake but I’m committed. (Too close to the front window heat) I plan to cover at least two of the big side windows with some type of foam covered by material which will be more colorful than the grab green that the rest of the van is in. I’ve been living in it since June 1 and I’m very satisfied.

 

[tx2sturgis]

If this were my van, I'd remove the existing panels as carefully as possible so I could use them as patterns for new ones.

It's possible she did exactly that....three years ago....

 

[PineyCruisin]

LOL! Here I was glued to this thread and only realized how old the thread was started when you mentioned it. 

Nature Lover: We took your route down the lazy trail. Kept all wiring in its place, removing the fuse for the entire back accessory system to avoid any accidental shorts.

 

[tradesman]

I would suggest saving the parts that cover irregular sections. Either to reinstall as is or for templates. Certain sections can be very difficult to fabricate and it’s nice to have a ready made piece.