Rick's 1997 Ram van conversion build

[ontheroadagain]

So I got this awesome deal on a battered B2500 ram van. It has decent tires and is not a complete rust bucket. The young guy who owned it bought it from an older gentleman (his words) who had driven the raised roof into a garage and damaged the top and totaled the little tv above and rear of the front seats. The interior ceiling has dropped down where the damage occurred. The kid hadn't used it since Sept.2012 because it refused to start. He told me it needed an alternator and a battery but it did run pretty well. The interior is all there but shows it's age and dirt. BUT...&nbsp; I got it for $450 bucks! 117k, V6, 3spd auto. What a deal if it runs.<br><br>I bought a walmart marine battery, stuck it in, and added some dry gas to the tank.<br>Started the first crank... wahoooooooooo! so excited. I registered it and drove it home. Sticky brakes but no other problems on the ride home.<br><br>here are a few pics of what I am starting with:<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/van2_zpsc1d4fb16.jpg" class="bbc_img"> class="bbc_img"&gt;<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/van_zpsc1b182f7.jpg" class="bbc_img"> class="bbc_img"&gt;<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/roof_zpse51b9301.jpg" class="bbc_img"> class="bbc_img"&gt;<br><br>roof damage area at the front center.<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/sideinterior_zps76d83737.jpg" class="bbc_img"> class="bbc_img"&gt;<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/rearinterior_zps96fb7bd5.jpg" class="bbc_img"> class="bbc_img"&gt;<br><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="/<a" class="bbc_img"><img rel="lightbox" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a495/OnTheRoadAgain3/frontinterior_zps40dcb2d1.jpg" class="bbc_img"> <br><br>My current plan is to remove the two rear bucket seats and then repair the ceiling somehow in the front. I looked under and the seats are bolted through the body and exposed to the elements under the van. 8 rusted bolts in my future. I may have to take it in to have them cut off with a torch. I am still trying to decide on how to mount the solar panel I already have. It is 250 watts and measure 63"x39" so it will take most (all) of the flat top area. more to come.

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Cool Van OTRA,</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">That will come up a treat for you. With the seats being bolted down, you may be able to get away with spraying some penetrating oil onto the threads and they might just unbolt easier.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">The solar panel you can&nbsp;mount using&nbsp;some "L" shaped alloy drilled&nbsp;/&nbsp;screwed to your&nbsp;panels outer frame and carefully drilling two holes per bracket into the roof.I used simply self tapping&nbsp;SS screws making sure&nbsp;you use sealant on the threads so it won't leak.&nbsp;</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Geoff</SPAN></STRONG></EM>

 

[ontheroadagain]

Thanks Geoff. The roof is fiberglass so I'm not sure self tapping screws would hold driving down the highway.

 

[rokguy]

<EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Yeh, with fibreglass you can add some glass resin to the area where your brackets will go to bulk up the roof thickness for screws. Even add some 2in (50mm) Dynel tape (fibreglass tape) and resin over to make it thicker where you need it.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Alternatively if you can get under the headliner ??&nbsp;glue some backing alloy pieces to screw into.</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">The dynel method is easier plus you can fix any damaged sections with it&nbsp;</SPAN></STRONG></EM><BR><EM><STRONG><SPAN style="COLOR: #888888">Geoff</SPAN></STRONG></EM>