Matt's '82 T25 Devon

So this one time, I went and bought a t25, it turned up on a Facebook group, having been painted then stored for two years. It's not the best but it's a solid base to work from.

It failed it's first mot on binding brakes, a bulb out and a wiper arm missing the previous (mechanic) owner was gutted. It then stayed at the old dub shop for a few odd jobs that I couldn't be arsed to do, a top end overhaul and new barrels/Pistons. All done in time for Volksworld.

Since then I've been building a list of stuff to do and putting it off til nearer Chimay. I'm not panicking yet, but I'm not far off.

It had more noise to replace the 1.5 working speakers

Then it went to Devon and Cornwall for a break.

Became a waiting room on the way home after two dozy holiday makers tried to fit more than one car in the same bit of road

I then went on a spending spree. £5.50 for a pair of new seats



Uncle gonzo painted a good sliding door which is ready to fit one night this week

Treated the cab doors to new felts cos the old ones looked terrible

Then started on the lesiure battery install. I found a new friend...

Looking good buddy!

Sweet. We like pics.

I felt a little guilty moaning about a quiet forum when I had actually done stuff!

Today I fitted a window and my door. Spent HOURS tweaking it, got bored, ate stuff then realised I hadn't really made it any better than when I started. However, door fitted! I drove home to celebrate with a beer.

Got home, went to get something out of the van.


Realised I had hold of the door, and it wasn't quite where I expected.



COCK. Managed to hold it long enough for my mate to drive over, stop laughing and re hang it. Packed up the bottom roller this time and it seems to be sorted. I did find the cause was probably the rotten plate the bottom roller rests on.

Good old Vee Dubs eh?

And Lo he said, let there be split charge.



And so there was. It wasn't very neat, and I need to attend my supplier tomorrow for some m6 crimps. However, it's in, I'm happy and I've used two spare slots in the fuse board to install a pair of relays to switch the radio and 12v socket feed in the back between start and auxiliary batteries using a switched live.



I have also started workin through the crappy wiring behind the fridge. Hopefully I'll end up with the water pump and interior lights running off the lesiure battery over the next few evenings too.

Good effort

switched live..
is that so when it's running your on the main batt, and then when your parked up it's on the leisure...?

got a diagram.. relay spec?

Yup, I used a 5 pin relay from halfords. The configuration is luckily standardised thanks to the Germans.

Pin 85 - switched live - (coil +ve)
Pin 86 - to ground - (coil -ve)
Pin 30 - to radio +ve - (output)
Pin 87 - to start battery - (normally open contact)
Pin 87a - to leisure battery - (normally closed contact)

I'm also thinking about putting a timer relay in instead so I have less load when cranking.

Today has mostly been a slog to get all the wiring sorted, it's a lot of work for little apparent gain. First, I made an earth stud behind the fridge, then went about wiring up some E.A.O switches to work my water pump and to switch the 12V socket I use for my fridge. Eventually I want to swap the ugly black switch for a push in latching type, with a light to show when it's energised. The beauty of the EAO blocks is that the modular nature means I already have the bits wired in, I just have to clip them onto the new switch. I am also considering filling the old switch hole, and letting my new switches into the original fascia. Once I've done that there's a company near work who reckon they can wrap the units as a temporary way of tidying the interior before I get round to remaking the units.



I also spent fucking hours trying to hunt down the interior lighting wiring looms, since no one on the Facebook T25 clubs could point me in the right direction. eventually new wiring was run in, and a pair of LED light bars from Ikea fitted (they are the kind of thing that you fit into cupboards, but they should do)



I also tried to tart up the outside of the van, and picked a few easy wins. The mirrors were taken off, stripped, cleaned, and tightened before refitting with stainless bolts (cheers for the tip off Griff). The old gas fridge cover got bolted back on, I'll hit it with the duraglit next time I was the van. The old chrome inserts on the window rubbers were picked out in satin black, and the rubbers will get a coat of back to black in the morning.



Next on the list is some door cards for the tailgate and sliding door, maybe a quick coat of black on the door handles.

Nice one buddy

good work dude !

you should post a pic of your sliding door falling off ……lol

Lol bloody woman.

She looked properly worried when she came in and said 'Matt, can you help me a minute'!

I thought she'd got Bailand Dave a birthday cake!