Old ghost (woohh ha ha) I mean Geist - actually LMC - restoration question (1 Viewer)

[PaulOH]

Hello all: am the (struggling) owner of a 1992 LMC Liberty 560, Polish import to Spain, very original, very basic model which I'm trying to fix.

I have over cab bedroom accident damage and water ingress to sort. The van had had a frontal tip at some stage before I had it and then I hit the front offside corner of the over-cab off a branch of a (far too) low hanging tree.

My accident broke up the original repair which had been highly ineffective and reveals extensive front corner damage, plus the knock on of nearside seal breakage and water ingress to the bottom end of my overhead bed area. I probably need to repiace a crazed front above window but until it leaks I won't.

Van has very old fashioned alu-wood caravan construction using external window frame - no fibre glass or plastic that I can see.

Advice I'm seeking (from anyone who has been mad enough to undertake similar) is - what did you do that I should not?!

I'm on a shoestring but bought my sealant and my gun from a local shop. Everything else - framing timber, 3mm ply and polystyrene, is sourced from bins and dumps. I even have a 5mm-card tube from a friend to replicate the internal curve at the front. Plan is to cut out the damaged timbers, replace & seal&screw them internally, then seal & screw-up,externally and repanel internally.

I have half an idea to add a modification that exploits the eyesore of unrepairably cracked/bent seam extrusion in the front corner. I thought of rearranging the front corner to act as a ram air vent, channelling to the main habitation area for use while driving - with the aim of calming complaints from sweltering passengers - there is no air con - this is old school!!

It's do this mod or forever wish for a drive to Germany/Poland to get a full side extrusion molding from an equivalent scrapper!!! These vans are that rare here!
Anyway, your thoughts please!

 

[bobandjanie]

How about getting a sheet of aluminium and bonding it over the front and maybe even doing away with the window that being your next problem. Bob.

 

[Jamesh]

How about some pics?

Why not it's not going to cost you much.

I'd use tannalised timber to give it some protection.

 

[Winger]

Timber thickness is crucial. You could do worse than look at YouTube. Search for Paul Glover Talbot. He has a lot of videos but you could pick out the ones that are relevant to your issues.
Keep us posted

 

[PaulOH]

Timber thickness is crucial. You could do worse than look at YouTube. Search for Paul Glover Talbot. He has a lot of videos but you could pick out the ones that are relevant to your issues.
Keep us posted

Yes! I have been watching Paul Glover and finding his deadpan style remarkably refreshing compared to others!! Was upstairs in the bedroom earlier, hacking away at what was covering up the water damage and - compared to Paul G - I think I might have got away a bit more lightly than he. Thank goodness no fibreglass involved!
I have pix and will post some when I get a few mins. I'm looking at replacing frame to varying degrees on the lower parts of both sides upstairs and a full replacement of the front crossmember, plus some of the front window framing.
I swear to the people who've gone before me that the only reason it's not worse is cos the van's normal parking space since 2017 has been on a slight decline that sees the water drip forward and out rather than back and in!

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[Winger]

Well I think it’s good policy to park any van on a slight tilt to stop water pooling on the roof.
Good luck with your repairs

 

[Lenny HB]

You said you bought your sealant from a local shop, household sealants are not suitable you need a proper caravan sealant that a allows for expansion of the joints.

 

[PaulOH]

You said you bought your sealant from a local shop, household sealants are not suitable you need a proper caravan sealant that a allows for expansion of the joints.

Point taken! I can't put my hand on it now, but it is a brand I've not seen before sold here in Spain, being assured it would suit. I did look for Sikaflex but was sold this in place of it - not to worry as I can use it elsewhere if it is not suitable.

 

[PaulOH]

How about getting a sheet of aluminium and bonding it over the front and maybe even doing away with the window that being your next problem. Bob.

I hear you Bob - I'd like to do this but the van's roof runs in a single sheet of aluminum from the chin of the OH cab to over the rear curve of the roof at the back! I'd be worried about integrating that, plus the cost. People who I've seen do it include this guy https://www.doityourselfrv.com/class-c-cab-area/
.... which is great for him, but maybe not the look I was going for!

My front window is crazed on the inside in a couple of places having been head-butted by kids, and it will have to be replaced, but currently it seems to be the most straightforward and simplest thing to reinstall it with surrounding repairs in place with a view to future replacement!