WanderingScribe
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- Nov 15, 2016
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Well, I've procrastinated so long on starting a build thread that I'm in the final stages now. In fact, I've already been roaming in the van for the last month and have returned to my parent's driveway to complete the finishing touches after seeing what I need vs. don't actually need.
Here's what she looks like inside right now:
[img=450x600]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/I...FqTOrXZRqLK395H7_QoQvkqJGt=w690-h919-no[/img]
But back to the beginning…
I purchased Gigi The Great White Beast in March - a 1992 Dodge RAM B250 with 90,000 miles - for $1,300. A finance company had listed her on Craigslist for $1,500 OBO. Side note: I sold my 1997 Honda Accord for $1,300 via Craigslist as well to pay for her.
[img=479x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/z...iPMVBtwu4KCDw929TBECdJVIfQ=w337-h450-no[/img]
She was running good and had fairly new tires. She did need a new battery (I got the biggest, highest cranking amps available to allow for running her interior lights at night), and I had a $400 tune-up done that included checking the spark plugs, flushing the transmission system, flushing the coolant/radiator, recharging the A/C with Freon, a new belt, new windshield wipers and repair, replacing all filters and changing the oil.
Here's what she looked like inside - March 2017:
[img=479x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u...36G_8262h29xn6TDF0AFgOV-6Q=w257-h343-no[/img]
I started ripping stuff out right away. First, the two captain's chairs in the rear. They were in better shape than the front seats, so we swapped them, and I took the front seats to the dump. We being me and my dad, who is the smartest, grandest dad in the world!
Then I got rid of all the old, dirty curtains and blinds.
Next, we removed the back seat and all associated seatbelts (heavy-duty bolt removal required). We put the back seat aside (aka on the front porch) for the time being. Eventually, it would become my bed. I had planned to build a bed platform, but my dad suggested keeping the fold-down bench seat, topping it with foam for extra comfort, and raising it so I could get more underneath (more on how we did that later).
First, though, all the carpet etc. had to come out. The carpet came up easily enough, but I found a really gross wet spot near the back, which led to the discovery that rain was getting in around the rear doors…
[img=360x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X...KPMGHzDSBuVOfqp8Tr58RdSw8A=w202-h359-no[/img]
(to be continued)
Here's what she looks like inside right now:
[img=450x600]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/I...FqTOrXZRqLK395H7_QoQvkqJGt=w690-h919-no[/img]
But back to the beginning…
I purchased Gigi The Great White Beast in March - a 1992 Dodge RAM B250 with 90,000 miles - for $1,300. A finance company had listed her on Craigslist for $1,500 OBO. Side note: I sold my 1997 Honda Accord for $1,300 via Craigslist as well to pay for her.
[img=479x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/z...iPMVBtwu4KCDw929TBECdJVIfQ=w337-h450-no[/img]
She was running good and had fairly new tires. She did need a new battery (I got the biggest, highest cranking amps available to allow for running her interior lights at night), and I had a $400 tune-up done that included checking the spark plugs, flushing the transmission system, flushing the coolant/radiator, recharging the A/C with Freon, a new belt, new windshield wipers and repair, replacing all filters and changing the oil.
Here's what she looked like inside - March 2017:
[img=479x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u...36G_8262h29xn6TDF0AFgOV-6Q=w257-h343-no[/img]
I started ripping stuff out right away. First, the two captain's chairs in the rear. They were in better shape than the front seats, so we swapped them, and I took the front seats to the dump. We being me and my dad, who is the smartest, grandest dad in the world!
Then I got rid of all the old, dirty curtains and blinds.
Next, we removed the back seat and all associated seatbelts (heavy-duty bolt removal required). We put the back seat aside (aka on the front porch) for the time being. Eventually, it would become my bed. I had planned to build a bed platform, but my dad suggested keeping the fold-down bench seat, topping it with foam for extra comfort, and raising it so I could get more underneath (more on how we did that later).
First, though, all the carpet etc. had to come out. The carpet came up easily enough, but I found a really gross wet spot near the back, which led to the discovery that rain was getting in around the rear doors…
[img=360x640]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X...KPMGHzDSBuVOfqp8Tr58RdSw8A=w202-h359-no[/img]
(to be continued)
