1st Sleep Over in Keith!

Sunday 18: 
Sammy and Danny went off in Keith to her sister Leilani & Mat's "Mexican Fiesta" at North Ipswich.  They caught up with family and there was lots of great food, drinks, goodie bags and a wonderful real Mexican Mariachi Singer, Jose. (Soundtrack to Danny's film!)
They then drove to Sammy's brother David and Geraldeen's property at Mt Greville, outside Boonah.
But all did not go as planned...

Monday 19:
David and Geraldeen gave them a beaut camp oven (in which Danny cooked a lovely chicken & vege dinner), a hand rotating washing machine & an old mangle wringer + some kitchen drawer and cupboard fronts.

Poustie comes back with a Vengence!

Pousite spent 2 days with Keith and this is what he did:         Roof Cage fitted with the help of Danny and the Suzuki;  Fridge Vents in and checkerplate door well.        

Exterior Lights and Door Latch.

 Awning assembled and fitted.  To other side: Gas Bottle Door sealed properly &  Exterior Power Outlet in.

 Then Michael came along and he did a big couple of days:  the ply wall joining strips are still on order, so Sammy did a quick trip into Redcliffe for a vinyl offcut for the bed chamber.  Michael fitted it and Sammy recovered the mattress with a doona cover she was given by her Folks when she left home at 17yrs!

 Michael put the wool batts in the walls, ready for the ply sheeting and fitted the record cupboard into the back corner.

Danny has been doing some white undercoating of the bathroom and wardrobe, as well as more silicon on the outer joins to make sure it is definately, possatively water proof.
               
It's amazing the difference a couple of days can make in the world of Keith.  
DAY 78...

The Danny & Michael Show

It's been a big couple of weeks for Keith, with Michael and Danny putting in a big effort to get him plywooded inside.  Michael braced the walls in preparation and then put an elaborate series of wooden off cuts to hold it in place once fitted.

The guys had 4 hours of fun up on the roof re-fitting the 4 Seasons Hatch and Airconditioner with the correct sealant - Z Bond, by Bostik.  Danny found a great place:  Caboolture Caravan Repairs http://www.caravanrepair.com.au/ with lots of parts and v friendly service.

Danny got a new phone, Galaxy S by Samsung and made a little film about the ply  (see Facebook page).  He has also been working on a system for the grey water from the toilet, but there will be more of that in a later post...  He luckily found a Fuel Tank Kit from the UK which is new old stock still in it's box, so Keith's Fuel Gauge will work again!

Yesterday, Danny and Indigo Velvet picked up some alloy from Northgate and then back to the ply man in Clontarf for some more sheets. 

99 Days to Go!

Last night we celebrated 100 days until we are hoping to be heading off in Keith. 
We shared a wonderful curry meal from Marsala Pt  http://www.masalapoint.com.au/ with our neighbours The Palmers, ( Michael is currently helping us with the fit out ).
Here is what needs to be done in the next 99 days:

Finish Fit Out - walls, cuboards
Attach roof cage to roof
Hook up & Test - toilet, hot water, fridge, sink
Investigate Solar & buy, fit a big panel for the roof
Pack up house:  sort what to store (as little as possible), what will go in Keith & what to get rid of
Maintenance on house & Big Clean
Rent house & move into Keith (hang out with the family till we go)

Final checks for the trip
Finish work & say Adieu
Leave town!

Keith's First Big Bath and the Walling Begins!

NOV 5:  Pouste puts in some 12volt wiring (and fixes our leaky taps in the house!)

NOV 6:  Sammy cleans out the wood from under the house and some left over mangrove items. 
We score a 13ft green & white stripe house awning (that can be modified for Keith) from the Redcliffe Refuse Centre for $30. 
Danny and Michael work on the guitar cupboard and cut the silky oak benchtop to size.

 

Sammy gets handy with a razor blade and scapes the paint off the side windows.

NOV 7:  Keith goes back to the car electrics place for the 3rd time!  Danny and James Palmer discuss and design image for Keith's sign on the front.  And they pick up the plywood for the interior from Peninsula Plywoods in Clontarf.      Keith then goes to D'Bay for his first bath at Car Lovers.                              NOV 8: Danny paints the newly welded corners (thanks Poustie) of the roof cage black.    Sammy & Danny have a clean up out the front and find a dog bed at the tip.  Just needs some new shade cloth.   

NOV 12:  Danny & Michael prep the walls, put in the heavy ply for behind the seating and cut out the back window wall.  Sammy cleans the 3-way fridge with gumption and vanilla spray.                                                            

                                                    Danny and Michael fit Keith's first wall in Keith! 

NOV 14:   Sammy finishes cleaning the fridge (it looks and smells heaps better - just needs a gentle sanding of some bottom rust).  Sammy and Danny pull out Keith's annex from down the side and give it a wash.  We are going to sell it because we have an awning and it a bit too heavy and bulky to carry it on the trip.

NOV 15:  Danny puts a combination of insulation in the roof - alfoil, glass wool batts and gladwrap all staple in neatly.  Ready for the ply this weekend. 

Frames for Keith's cupboards in the Jam Room for storage. 

With the help of our good neighbour Michael, we are hoping to have Keith almost completed by Christmas!

A Big Month for Keith

Sunday 9: After weeks of " who's going to help Danny with the fit-out", Sue next door said her husband Michael is a cabinet maker. So, Danny and Michael finished the trim outside, Michael wired up the stereo, cb radio and they also attached the aerial and spotlights (ex-Suzuki!).  

Thursday 13:   Keith gets dropped off at Carb-Tec to get his carbie overhauled...and he comes back with a bit more grunt.

Sunday 16:  Meeting with Michael, Danny and me about the Internal Plan:  Michael agrees about putting the guitar cupboard in the corner and the pantry will be above the gas bottle compartment.  Hoorah!

Michael and Danny re-build the box for the gas bottle to be housed in - has to be contained in metal for saftey compliance.

Sunday 23:  Sammy's first drive of Keith to the Palace Hotel, Woody Pt.  After a day of Danny and Michael building the framework for the stove and sink cupboards and answering the question:  Where will the water heater go?  Under the fridge ofcourse!

Saturday 29:
Sammy and Danny score some free vintage laminex for the kitchen splash back and cupboards (from out the back shed at Moreton Bay Floor Covering in Sutton St, Redcliffe) and purchase a couple of woodgrain end of rolls for the floor.

Michael and Danny do the fridge cupboard framework and Poustie comes back in the late arvo for some 240 volt wiring (Thanks Matt, Poustie's son for the cable!)

Sunday 30:
Michael and Danny build more framework for the little cupboard next to the fridge and the outside storage boxes.  They explain to me how the lounge cushions are going to need to be modified for the fold-out bed and storage underneath.  Takes a while for me to catch on...but eventually I get it!

Monday 31:  Sammy and Danny take a few things in Keith to Albion Auction Centre.  We have a lovely lunch at the corner shop in Shorncliffe, then pop into Peninsula Plywoods  and order the ply for Keith's interior - a 70's looking woodgrain.

What a great month - the end is now in sight!

Keith Goes for a TEST DRIVE on his 36th Birthday!

Thursday 15:

Danny rang Ford Australia and found out Sep 15 is Keith's birthday.  He was always a 6 cylinder and originally seated 6.  He has since got a compliance plate for 2.  

Today, he took Keith for a test drive around Scarborough.

 

Friday 16:

Danny takes Keith down the road to the servo for a RWC.  One guy seems a bit daunted by Keith, so he rings another guy who says it will cost at least $450 just to look at him!  Waffled on about the carby matching the reconditioned motor.  Luckily, Poustie convinced as to not to even think about all that stuff.
We asked Mick next door if he knew anyone and recommended a bloke in Clontarf.

Monday 19: 

Keith goes in for his RWC.  All is good with the engine, lights etc but they can't find the chassis number? There is a compliance plate, but you need the number punched on the chassis somewhere.
Well, there is an inch of blackjack all over the chassis.  Someone says it's on the firewall, someone else on the leftside wheel arch.  Eventually we * find * it there and Keith gets his RWC.
Sammy takes it to Main Roads (while Danny has some medicinal beers) and Keith gets his Rego - no worries at all.  

* Finding * can involve a helpful tip and believing it will all work out.

Poustie and Danny get Keith ready for Roadworthy

 Monday Sept 12
Poustie came back from Moreton Island and started work on Keith.  Danny took a few days off work to help.  Here is the list of stuff that had to be done: 

Locks on Gas Door + 2 Outside Storage Doors
Tow Bar + Utility Basket hand made, painted and attached on back
Bullbar on front + Kangaroo Screen (Danny's invention using window screen from the scappy).
Vent sausages attached
Side Door attached (temporarily with screws)
Rubber Mud Flats made & attached
Some of the Aluminium Trim put on the other side
and...
Side Truck Mirrors fitted

Jimbo, Danny's Dad popped in for a chat.

 

 Poustie fitting the gas door lock

Roadworthy booked in at The Matilda down the road: Friday 16.
But is Keith ready?

A little help from (work) friends

Last Wednesday, we saw Brett from work at a local gig Danny did and he said:  "I'd be happy to come and help with Keith".  I quickly replied "What are you doing this Sunday".  He said not to take the offer lightly - so I didn't!

On Sunday (Father's Day), Brett 'volunteered' to get up on Keith's roof and do some gapping:  around the 4 Seasons Hatch and also the Airconditioner. 

 
Danny worked on the front end, bolting on the bumper bar...

... while I screwed some taps onto a pair of tap shoes I am giving to Danny's niece, Liana.    

            Not sure what Danny is doing with this edging, but it looks good!

 

I did make an effort and taped up Keith a bit and Danny painted some more stripes down the door and other side. 










THANKS BRETT and  Keith looks forward to seeing you again real soon....

Hey Brett, what are you doing next Sunday?

A short film about the paint work

Danny and I are very happy with how his painting of the cab and stripes turned out.  Here's a little film he made, with original music.

                                                                                  

       All we have to do now is somehow get Poustie back from the Island and tick off some more of our Working Towards Roadworthy List:   bumper bar and tailgate inc number plate housing;  fit aircon ducting; fit side truck mirrors (Danny has already assembled) and put the door on.

C'mon Keith....Let's keep it movin'!

Heading towards roadworthy...

       Over the past few weeks Danny has put in lots of hours doing rubber seals for the doors, bonnet and one of the storage hatches.  As well as putting more stripes down the side.

Lookin good Keith 

     We have done many trips to Clark Rubber and Indigo Velvet (our Boxador) even came into the shop for a look the other day.  Poustie had a birhtday and went back to Moreton Island for a couple of days.    (Come back soon Poustie!)                                              

         We went to Repco and asked about blades for the old wipers we got from Harry, but they don't make them like that any more!                                                                              

Then Danny put the door bits back on, bolted the seats in yesterday, while finally Sammy finished the carpet.

 



Our aim is to have Keith roadworthy by Aug 27 (Danny's birthday) for him to take Danny and Poustie to the Gympie Muster.

Manscaping and Keith Gets Windows

     It's been a busy few weeks of manscaping for Keith.   Danny got a quote for painting the cab and a stripe down the side...$2000!!  Which is fair enough, but Poustie said:  "Nah, do it yourself".  So Danny has been working very hard painting and wet sanding a few coats of white and the stripe.  Still negotiating on the blue on the cab, but thanks to all your hard work Danny - he's going to look great. (See facebook page for pics.)

     Poustie has practically finished in the engine bay and cab, so last night Danny and I started carpeting the foot well with our choc brown auto carpet from Clark Rubber, Rothwell.  Took a while to work out the best way to do it, but it's going to look great.

     Today, Poustie is fitting some of the windows (although we can't find one of the small bedroom ones ??)  and also the outside access door for the gas bottle.  Danny has recycled and pained the old one.  As requested, I went to Clark Rubber to get some bailey channel for the window cavity and a variety of engine hoses.

Keith is definately on the downhill reno slide now - thanks to Poustie, and ofcourse, the continuing weekly efforts of Danny.  

Off with the Roof and Pouste Returns!

Over the past few weeks, Danny has been very busy with Keith.  First he took the roof off...

Then Danny and Cousin Todd did some of the aluminum trim,

Danny sicaflexed the trims...





Then Todd did some window bracing inside and took the floor out. 

Then Pouste came back!  He told Danny about his plan for the underfloor wiring and water pipes and then he and Danny spent a couple of days tidying all the chassy up.                                                                  Danny black-jacked...

                                                                   And Pouste soldered, clamped and fitted all the 20 lights! 

 We will not need a Xmas tree this year!