12 volt, drawers & the Gas Man!

February 8:  So much has happened to Keith in the last few weeks, it's hard to keep up. 

Michael has been very busy finishing off the draws and cupboards and Danny found a use for the iron.

Poustie got stuck into hooking up the hotwater system, making a door for the battery box (below) and connecting the 12volt power.  We got some cute lights from the Scarborough Chandlery (gee they've got some interesting stuff there) and a few lighter sockets.

Under Poustie's guidance,
Danny got down & dirty servicing the diff and transmission. 

Sammy made a big cushion cover.  It took the whole of last Saturday. "It goes with the gypsy look."

Then today, the Gas Man came and declared that the hot water system was on the wrong side!  Holy shissen!  So Poustie is out there now doing the switcheroo - the  access door to the left will now be for  boots and the like and a new one on the right, will partly house the water filter AND the hot water system  Still leaving a smaller access compartment for the tools. 
So, although it seems it will all work out and our team of men will take Keith to completion in the next few of weeks.

       Sammy & Danny are very happy with how it all looks inside.

Keith's Badge / Logo

Danny designed this badge to go on the front (and possibly back) of Keith. 
Our friend, Jamie Palmer did the graphic artwork for it.
Sammy scrutinized it until she got just the right colours.

The Interior is lookin' good! (and the new petrol tank!)

Monday & Tuesday 16, 17 Jan:
Poustie and Danny as his gopher /  helper, work in the rain getting the 'new' petrol tank and fuel sender fitted. 
Luckily the holding straps fit the new one.
Poustie does a bit of welding at home in his garage workshop.            Poustie also fits the hot water system and hooks up the sink pipes.  (Very neatly, I must say!)


Friday 20 Jan:
Keith took Danny and Sammy to the Redciffe council building to deliver Danny's art work:  The Ibis and the Beadweed (3m x 2m).  Councillor Rae Frawley proposed the piece to the CEO and it was accepted as a gift.

Then Keith ran out of petrol (again!) and Danny vowed that we will not let the petrol gauge go below half way ever again!  

Saturday 21 Jan:  Michael has been busy keeping the interior literally 'on track'.  He's putting in the overhead cupboards in the kitchen area, with much discussion with Sammy about how many sliding doors and whether they can be made from the retro laminex.  (We still have some brown, pale pink & green).

Michael's wife, Sue & the kids pop in for a look.   

Michael recons another 4 weekends should just about do it!

Sammy Finishes the Curtains!

January 18: 
With 6 weeks to go, Sammy finished sewing the last pairs curtains for Keith today. 
All (except for the purple ones) are backed with pale yellow retro-look fabric and most are tab design.
They are as follows (in no particular order):

2 pairs of paisley for the lounge.
1 pair of blue / white gingham with bobble trim for the kitchen.
1 pair of blue / white gingham for the bed chamber.
1 pair of orange / purple with orange bobble trim for the bed chamber.
1 pair of purple for the entrance to the cab.
1 pair of batik sarong for the windscreen. 
2 pairs of leopard print for the driver and passenger windows.



Next job for Sammy...
re-sealing the bath and kitchen sink!
                                                                                                               


 

Heat 'n' Sound Proofing

The Problem:  One of the few downsides of Keith, is that his engine juts into the cab.  This causes substantial heat and noise for primarily the driver, but also the passenger.  So, when driving along the open road, you would have to almost shout to each other, while the heat came up into your feet and legs. 
Not a pleasant concept for driving around in Australia's hot climate. 

The Answer:  After some researching, Danny purchased 3 products -

1. Thermal Reflective Heat Shield (self adhesive)
2. G Force Exhaust Wrap
3. Roll of Insulation Mat - Acoustic Dampening / Heat & Sound

He applied 1. to the internal firewalls in the engine bay. 

Then he used 2. to wrap the exhaust, which was quite a difficult process, calling on the not-so-expert assistance of Sammy.
And finally, Danny took out the cab foot well and fire wall carpet and plastered 3.  all over it and under the bonnet and cab as well.  The carpet pieces mananged, to Sammy's surprise, to fit back quite easily.

Danny took Keith for a test drive around Redcliffe, and the 3 products made a considerable difference to the heat and noise.  Yipee!

50 Days to Go...

January 8:  Michael (our neighbour) has been going flat out since he got back from his NZ holiday this week. 
Sammy and him had a meeting yesterday about the configeration of the drawers and cupboards.
Danny is away with his Dad & Nephew on a long awaited trip to Cascade & Dorrigo, Northern NSW.
10 draws are now in (we bought the frames and runners cheaply on ebay).  Next is the internal framework for the lower cupboards.  Go Michael!

So what's left to do on Keith?
Finish internal fit out
Finish making tab curtains (only have the cab left to do)
Line cab with silver heat / sound proofing (unfortunately means ripping up the carpet, but has to happen!)
Fit new petrol tank & sender (new old stock from UK)
Buy and fit solar panel kit
Connect water & filter
Connect Gas & get Certificate
Evaluation for insurance through CMCA (cheaper and more specific)
Diff check & final service


Oh, then there's all the stuff to do to the house before we rent it out in mid Feb...
"It won't happen overnight, but it will happen!"

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.