More progress + Electrickery

Some brief dry spells this week allowed me to get a bit more carpeting done. The final two side panels are now completed - with batons for the wheel arch boxes to screw into and MDF reinforcing rings where the speakers are to be mounted. I'm really pleased with the result - it's starting to look pretty smart (although I'd quite like it to be all finished now!)


























More rain was forecast this weekend so I decided to have a go at the electrics as this could be done inside the van in the dry. I removed the head-lining and roof panels to reveal the spider's web of wiring left over from the van's AA days (when it used to have flashing beacons etc on the roof)










Spent a few hours with a multimeter working out what did what, what could be removed, what should stay etc. I re-wired the original interior lights so they worked off the side and rear doors then re-wired the 8W florescent tube lights so they could be used regardless of whether the doors were open or closed. While the head-lining and roof was down I ran new speaker cables from the head unit in the dash, up the front windscreen pillar and along the roof to the holes where the rear speakers are going to be fitted. I also fitted the new Blaupunkt AM/FM aerial I'd bought from Germany off eBay which mounts to the inside of the windscreen glass (the original VW aerial is broken and replacing it involves removing the front wing, glove box and wheel arch) The new one looks a bit strange with little wires along the top and down the side of the windscreen but I'm sure I'll get used to that, plus the reception seems pretty good (it has a built in signal amplifier).

In the end it stayed dry today so I also managed to also carpet the two roof panels and re-fit them - so that's all the carpeting done except the wheel arch boxes (this coming week's job!)

After a full day on my knees and bent over double in the back of the van it's time for bed...