Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion
- Thread starter tgreening
- Start date
patoz
Expedition Leader
They would work well on my F250 also, but I have five new ones on it already. Besides, I'm waiting for Chris to put a good set of Toyo's up for sale that will fit. Maybe from someone who bought a set and then decided to go bigger. :safari-rig:
Sweet Baby Jesus with Tom Cruise voodoo magic, somebody please help me figure out what to do with this thing before the Expo arrives. I've got 2 gallons of Koi Orange, 2 gallons of Black, 1 gallon of Gun Metal Grey, and 1 gallon of glossifier coming that should be here tomorrow. I was going to blast the whole thing in orange (except lower body black) but figured that might be a bit much to take on as a first and semi-rushed project, but I still ordered the orange. The whole unit in orange I think would look fine. Had a truck that way and liked it. But I'm not so sure on the orange stripes and lower body black out. I used my mega mad photoshop skills to bust this out in about 16 hrs. Thoughts, suggestions? It's more of a deeper orange btw, but my mad photo shop skills havent gotten to the color matching chapter yet.
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patoz
Expedition Leader
Since Halloween is right around the corner, go with the orange and black stripes like you have there, slap an evil pumpkin face decal in the center on each side, and call it done!
You said it was just temporary right? I'll bet no one else there will have a Halloween theme.
You said it was just temporary right? I'll bet no one else there will have a Halloween theme.
Sprayed plasti-dip today. Fail. And I'm not sure why. Anyplace I sprayed up against the white it was pretty much fine. Anyplace I sprayed over that old red stripe was trouble along the edge. It seemed like it just didn't stick to that edge very well. I'm not 100% sure on a proper course of action that doesn't include peeling it all and starting over (nah) but I have a plan anyway. Tomorrow I'm going to head to the local auto paint supply place and see if I can pick up some pin striping tape about 3/4" or so. I'll trim off everything thats lifting and try sealing the edge with the tape. Short term solution but hopefully I'll get by for a bit. Other than that I like the color, and it goes good with black. Thinking about spraying everything below the stripe black. Thoughts?
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huskyhauler
Adventurer
Strange. I wonder if the red paint needs to be roughed up a bit to better adhere? The only thing i can think of is try a smaller section with a decent overlap into the white so the seams adhere. However, you may run into issues with it peeling when at highway speeds or in inclement weather if it's not adhering properly.
It's shouldn't cost more than $500 to have that stripe painted by Maaco. That who I used. You have to research each individual shop to make sure you don't get burned though.
It's shouldn't cost more than $500 to have that stripe painted by Maaco. That who I used. You have to research each individual shop to make sure you don't get burned though.
Forgot to post a pic of some of the prep. Which as it turns out wasn't quite enough.
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It's not shown here but I did tape off more than you see. Mostly on the windshield, hood, and front end. On the sides/back I didn't go much higher/lower than what you see and it worked out ok. Sort of. The biggest thing I learned, and part of the peeling problem I think, was that there was no way to spray everything I had marked off and get the tape peeled before the dip set up too much. I "had" planned to do it in stages for just that reason but once I started the project I had a complete brain fire and went at it with the idea of shooting everything and peeling all at once. Boo-boo. Of course I had intended to shoot the whole thing orange instead of just striping it but I thought it might be a good idea to get my feet wet first before going that big. As it turns out it probably would have been easier to shoot the whole thing. That's where my shooting it in stages idea had stemmed from.
Anyway, I dealt with the peeling edge problem by buying some stupid expensive 3M 3/4" pinstriping tape, and going at it. In the end it'll be a waste no matter what because the goal is to color the whole rig, so everything you see including the lions share of a $70 roll of 3M will get peeled off. In the mean time hopefully this will keep the edges nailed down till I'm ready to do that.
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So there it is. I'm liking the orange/black combo but I'm not super crazy about the way it sits at the moment. Right now it looks way too much like a past ambo build here, and I'm gathering there is some bad blood floating around connected to that. This wasnt my plan, but there is only so much to do with what was already there, and my limited to non-existent artistic ability. And I didn't have time to get the bottom done up in black like I had planned. Btw, see that long skinny trim piece just under the stripe towards the back of the box? Does anybody know how this comes off?
It's getting there. I got my window visors on which I'm diggin. Hope to get the grill blacked out tomorrow, but wouldn't swear to it. Probably just going to spend the day packing up and making sure I'm ready to head out Thursday morning for the Expo.
If you're going, see you there!
It's not shown here but I did tape off more than you see. Mostly on the windshield, hood, and front end. On the sides/back I didn't go much higher/lower than what you see and it worked out ok. Sort of. The biggest thing I learned, and part of the peeling problem I think, was that there was no way to spray everything I had marked off and get the tape peeled before the dip set up too much. I "had" planned to do it in stages for just that reason but once I started the project I had a complete brain fire and went at it with the idea of shooting everything and peeling all at once. Boo-boo. Of course I had intended to shoot the whole thing orange instead of just striping it but I thought it might be a good idea to get my feet wet first before going that big. As it turns out it probably would have been easier to shoot the whole thing. That's where my shooting it in stages idea had stemmed from.
Anyway, I dealt with the peeling edge problem by buying some stupid expensive 3M 3/4" pinstriping tape, and going at it. In the end it'll be a waste no matter what because the goal is to color the whole rig, so everything you see including the lions share of a $70 roll of 3M will get peeled off. In the mean time hopefully this will keep the edges nailed down till I'm ready to do that.
So there it is. I'm liking the orange/black combo but I'm not super crazy about the way it sits at the moment. Right now it looks way too much like a past ambo build here, and I'm gathering there is some bad blood floating around connected to that. This wasnt my plan, but there is only so much to do with what was already there, and my limited to non-existent artistic ability. And I didn't have time to get the bottom done up in black like I had planned. Btw, see that long skinny trim piece just under the stripe towards the back of the box? Does anybody know how this comes off?
It's getting there. I got my window visors on which I'm diggin. Hope to get the grill blacked out tomorrow, but wouldn't swear to it. Probably just going to spend the day packing up and making sure I'm ready to head out Thursday morning for the Expo.
If you're going, see you there!
patoz
Expedition Leader
That looks pretty good Tom, and you still have plenty of room to add a logo later on if you want to.
Do you remember me asking you about the 4" round red lights on the sides near the rear? I finally figured it out, and these last two pictures confirm that they are the rear side marker lights. The OEM van body would have had some in the same place, and since the tail lights are flush mounted and can't be seen from the sides, additional light are required. But why Wheeled Coach use round lights, when everything else is rectangular, is beyond me. They must have been 37 cents cheaper or something, I guess!
Do you remember me asking you about the 4" round red lights on the sides near the rear? I finally figured it out, and these last two pictures confirm that they are the rear side marker lights. The OEM van body would have had some in the same place, and since the tail lights are flush mounted and can't be seen from the sides, additional light are required. But why Wheeled Coach use round lights, when everything else is rectangular, is beyond me. They must have been 37 cents cheaper or something, I guess!
patoz
Expedition Leader
Tom, these are a little late, but here are the pictures of the AC hoses and fittings I told you I would get for you.
This is the top of the AC cabinet with the cover and unit removed. The white plastic vent hose goes from a round vent on the AC cover to the chrome Perko vent on the outside, and provides fresh air into the Patient Compartment when the exhaust fan, located in the left rear cabinet, is turned on.
If I remember correctly, the wire bundle (in convoluted tubing) coming down in this picture connects to an electric water valve, which is mounted in that 8" aluminum channel piece just outboard of the wire bundle where you see the two bolt heads. This valve controls the hot water going to the heater core, which is mounted just inboard of the wire bundle at the bottom of the AC cabinet, next to where you see my batteries sitting.
Here you see the AC and Heater hoses exiting downward at the corner of the body. Normally, they travel across the frame to the left front corner to the valves located there. I wanted to keep my hoses intact, but my welder misunderstood me and just cut them off.
This is the top of the AC cabinet with the cover and unit removed. The white plastic vent hose goes from a round vent on the AC cover to the chrome Perko vent on the outside, and provides fresh air into the Patient Compartment when the exhaust fan, located in the left rear cabinet, is turned on.
If I remember correctly, the wire bundle (in convoluted tubing) coming down in this picture connects to an electric water valve, which is mounted in that 8" aluminum channel piece just outboard of the wire bundle where you see the two bolt heads. This valve controls the hot water going to the heater core, which is mounted just inboard of the wire bundle at the bottom of the AC cabinet, next to where you see my batteries sitting.
Here you see the AC and Heater hoses exiting downward at the corner of the body. Normally, they travel across the frame to the left front corner to the valves located there. I wanted to keep my hoses intact, but my welder misunderstood me and just cut them off.
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guidolyons
Addicted to Gear Oil
Tom,
Looks like the thick 3m pinstriping is working for now...
Check with Mike Moore at ScoutCo http://www.scoutcoproducts.com/ they specialize in stripes for International Harvester Scouts, but the other half of his business is graphics for big trucks. I don't personally know if he's ever done a stripe for a van or ambo, but if you take some pictures and get some dimensions I'd bet Mike could cut a stripe for you for a reasonable price.
Scoutco Products
3610 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-433-5136
I got the hoodstripe on my Scout from him. Easy to install.
Looks like the thick 3m pinstriping is working for now...
Check with Mike Moore at ScoutCo http://www.scoutcoproducts.com/ they specialize in stripes for International Harvester Scouts, but the other half of his business is graphics for big trucks. I don't personally know if he's ever done a stripe for a van or ambo, but if you take some pictures and get some dimensions I'd bet Mike could cut a stripe for you for a reasonable price.
Scoutco Products
3610 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
540-433-5136
I got the hoodstripe on my Scout from him. Easy to install.
Yeah, the pinstripe/Plastidip is hanging on ok, but the ship has sailed on the whole vinyl wrap idea. The companies that bothered to respond were stupid expensive (in my book) and some others couldn't even muster up the gumption to get back to me. I guess an $800-$1,000 stripe wasn't big time enough for them.
I went to Maaco to see about a quick and dirty spray just to make it all white again, and they wanted $3,000 for that. I only paid $4k for the van and told them it wasn't worth it, to me, for that particular vehicle. They kept trying to do the tried and true used car dealer tactic of " let me go run it past my manager" when I said it wasn't worth but about half that number, again, to me for that particular vehicle. They kept calling me back and last offer was $,1700, but by then I was annoyed with whole thing. If you can do it for $1700 then why are you trying to jack me for $3,000?
Anyway, the plan is to let it roll as is through the winter and come spring scuff it all down and give it the Raptor Liner treatment. Bet I get it done way under $1,700 even.
The only real question is what color(s) and what design.
I went to Maaco to see about a quick and dirty spray just to make it all white again, and they wanted $3,000 for that. I only paid $4k for the van and told them it wasn't worth it, to me, for that particular vehicle. They kept trying to do the tried and true used car dealer tactic of " let me go run it past my manager" when I said it wasn't worth but about half that number, again, to me for that particular vehicle. They kept calling me back and last offer was $,1700, but by then I was annoyed with whole thing. If you can do it for $1700 then why are you trying to jack me for $3,000?
Anyway, the plan is to let it roll as is through the winter and come spring scuff it all down and give it the Raptor Liner treatment. Bet I get it done way under $1,700 even.
The only real question is what color(s) and what design.
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rlrenz
Explorer
That's one reason why I looked for a white truck instead of one that was red or lime green or whatever. I have a white truck with a blue Scotchlite stripe down the side. I knew that a trip to the truck-sized body shop would cost me many, many bucks. The default paint for most ambulance manufacturers is the truck manufacturer's standard "fleet white", so I bought a quart of Freightliner white, plus reducer, hardener, and all the rest of the required chemistry - I'm good for now.
Someday, maybe. But now today.
Someday, maybe. But now today.
patoz
Expedition Leader
I was wondering how much it cost to paint an ambulance...now I know!
I only need half of one painted, but even that is going to be expensive. This past weekend I got my auto detail guy to come by and we buffed, polished, and waxed the pain that is on there, and it actually came out pretty good. If the DOT yard apes that scratched off the lettering using hatchets, hadn't gouged up the paint so bad in places, I'd be Ok for a couple of years yet.
My biggest objective was to get some kind of sealer on the remaining paint for the winter, so the black mold that falls out of oak trees wouldn't eat into it. Also, we managed to get rid of the remaining lettering outlines so nothing shows now.
I only need half of one painted, but even that is going to be expensive. This past weekend I got my auto detail guy to come by and we buffed, polished, and waxed the pain that is on there, and it actually came out pretty good. If the DOT yard apes that scratched off the lettering using hatchets, hadn't gouged up the paint so bad in places, I'd be Ok for a couple of years yet.
My biggest objective was to get some kind of sealer on the remaining paint for the winter, so the black mold that falls out of oak trees wouldn't eat into it. Also, we managed to get rid of the remaining lettering outlines so nothing shows now.