1986 GMC S-15

[Andrew_S]

Quick tease of things to come.

 

[ITTOG]

I have to ask, what are the details on the gasket? Where are you using it and dimensions/link to where you purchased it. I have to purchase something similar for my build. I have questions on the Sika too but I figure you will show us where you will be using it.

 

[Andrew_S]

The main gasket that will seal the boxes to one another is 2828 on this link.

D Sections

www.cleanseal.com

I built my upper box with a 1/2" gap all the way around the main frame. So there is a bit of play when popping the top. This 1" d section gasket will fill that gap nicely. It's backed with 3m tape and should hold up fairly well. If the tape fails or the gasket begins to deteriorate I've got a plan b that is way overkill. Hoping this gets us on the road and time will tell how long it holds up. The other roll is just a 3" wide end cut of epdm I bought off the same local company for $10. It will be my bed rail/camper isolator (basically canopy tape) It's 3/8" thick and will make up for any inconsistencies in the bed rail/camper. It's got a nice amount of give but doesn't squish down paper thin as well.

I'm using sika combined with rivets to secure all my aluminum sheeting. I considered vhb tape but it looks like an absolute pain to fit up a panel - one shot deal. I have a really good habit of messing up one and dones every single time. The sika is nice because you can place the panel and center it up and then drill your holes and start rivoting. Also if I want to remove a panel and redo or alter something about the camper afterwards, its very easy to scrape/wire wheel off sika and maybe save the panel as well. Vhb turns the panels into shear walls and adds strength but honestly with the tubing I used on the main frame this thing is already so overbuilt it's just not necessary.

One last tease until the weekend. 5 sheets of .032 and 5 sheets of .050. Frig this stuff is pretty. Going to have to drive the camper through some thick alders immediately after completion and give everything a nice pinstriping.

 

[Deleted member 374434BT]

This is gonna be good!

 

[Andrew_S]

^ friggin hope so lol,

Nicole picked up some screen for the windows yesterday. We opted for a screen with a tighter "no-see-um" pattern.

If anyone is doing this themselves; definitely by the little spline roller tool. Also a little silicone lube goes a long way.

Happy to have this done. Now we can mount the windows right away.

Some more bits and pieces for the weekend.

I was trying to make a stock skid plate work for my trans plate. After beating on it and trying to re-shape it for an hour plus I decided to just go the easy route and make my own. More on this 3/8" plate later.

Just drinking a coffee and relaxing watching this vid right now. Hopefully I'll get some momentum here soon and get off my butt.

 

[frozenmoustache]

Man what a thread. Has anyone read through it all and not contemplated moving West?! Seriously, I might start job hunting out there once I'm done my build!

My first truck was a '92 S10. Far to rusty for anything more than a highschooler, but I loved it nonetheless. What you're doing with this S15 is really something to be proud of, keep it up!

Looking forward to how that canopy build goes!

 

[Jo_Duval]

I’m in Ottawa, Id pay a lot to find a gem like that truck here.. well it would be near impossible.

amazing truck and build!

 

[Jo_Duval]

I had two s10 first gen, a blazer 1st gen an s-10 second gen(extreme) à Colorado z71 first gen..

Id get an s10 again in a heartbeat!

 

[Andrew_S]

Man what a thread. Has anyone read through it all and not contemplated moving West?! Seriously, I might start job hunting out there once I'm done my build!

My first truck was a '92 S10. Far to rusty for anything more than a highschooler, but I loved it nonetheless. What you're doing with this S15 is really something to be proud of, keep it up!

Looking forward to how that canopy build goes!

Thanks I really appreciate the good words. I have to say out west felt like a world away when we were contemplating moving out here. Now it's definitely home.

I’m in Ottawa, Id pay a lot to find a gem like that truck here.. well it would be near impossible.

amazing truck and build!

I had two s10 first gen, a blazer 1st gen an s-10 second gen(extreme) à Colorado z71 first gen..

Id get an s10 again in a heartbeat!

Believe me I know what you mean. I grew up in Kingston. Even trying to find a clean rust free 2nd gen would be pretty tough.
I followed almost the exact same truck lineage, '84 s10, 2000 blazer, 2008 colorado and so on.

Made a bit more progress this weekend.

Got the plate for the front lift struts/upper box support/lights mounted up. Looks a bit better with the other box on top. More on this later.

Then we started cutting,

and cutting and cutting

Soon we had all ten sheets cut up and a panel for just about every single side of the camper.

I intelligently decided to pick up this absolute gem of a tool. As well as 600 rivets.

So we got to it. This proved to be a lot more work then either of us anticipated. Pre drilling every rivet, measure, measure, sika flex, rivet, and then wiping it all down. Hours upon hours.

Nicole dipping every single rivet in sikka in hopes they don't leak.

This was end of day Sunday.

We got a little bit more done this afternoon.

Almost there, only 8 more panels to go.

It just looks like a couple of aluminum boxes at the moment but we are happier then pigs in ******** to see this materializing.
Can't wait to get the windows and gates mounted up.

 

[Todd780]

It just looks like a couple of aluminum boxes at the moment but we are happier then pigs in **** to see this materializing.
Can't wait to get the windows and gates mounted up.

Amazing work. Looks like it's coming along very well!

 

[Todd780]

Maybe you need to add this to your collection of 1st gen S10's!

This Chevrolet S-10 Custom Dually Camper Is Rarer Than A LaFerrari

This bizarre 1984 Chevrolet S-10 was turned into a custom conversion van and is now for sale in Wisconsin, though it does have some issues.

www.motor1.com

 

[Andrew_S]

^ Thanks I can't wait to actually try it out. Fook me that s10/van looks heavy. Holy crap I hope they regeared that thing or that little 2.8 must be just screaming.


So in other very exciting news!!!!

This probably won't mean anything to most, so let me explain. Here in BC, in the interior, bull moose hunts are given out like a lottery (limited entry hunt). The odds of getting a bull draw in the region I wanted to hunt in were 65:1. So I could put in for this draw for the next 65 years and get one shot. Well this October I get my chance. Couldn't have picked a better year to build this camper. So friggin excited.

 

[Todd780]

So in other very exciting news!!!!


This probably won't mean anything to most, so let me explain. Here in BC, in the interior, bull moose hunts are given out like a lottery (limited entry hunt). The odds of getting a bull draw in the region I wanted to hunt in were 65:1. So I could put in for this draw for the next 65 years and get one shot. Well this October I get my chance. Couldn't have picked a better year to build this camper. So friggin excited.

Enjoy!

 

[Andrew_S]

Quick update, been busy.


Took a quick road trip out to the coast.

I can never get out over the size of the slugs.

Salmon berries are out.

Pretty innovative ladder to the rack!

Took the scenic route home

So cool to see the little baby bighorn rams

Camper updates, been real busy

Got the sidewalls finalized.

Then started on the first gate

 

[Andrew_S]

We got a nice little storm followed by a rainbow.

Test fitting the canoe and coming up with creative solutions for tie downs and slides for it.

Finalizing the top box. Pretty stressful moment.

Main gasket installed

Need some tape for the windows before I can final install them.

A little more bracing for the bed tray.

Had to insulate this before we closed it off.

Pop up walls completely finished.