so you wanna build a beddy....

[obsession]

 
scared ya well we see lotsa new guys come-to the site and lately guys have been asken what to do and how to start so I thinks to me self , self why dont we make a down load sheet like mezzmos checklist on what and where to start every one could contribute to it and we can come up with an easy formula alot of guys say drive train 1st then body then paint? interior? guys we got so much knowledge we should use it to help out newbies.
so if drive train is 1st what would you do?
research diff no1 ?
disk break front?
ect

[hotrod]

step 1 get the trouble and strife on side and all other steps will work themselves out

Ideally there is no one right way to build a van as all sorts of restrictions come into play be it financial,daily driver,garage,skill, tools etc etc
so I personally think what ever order you can or do do things in is the best way at the time

[jesus_is_alright]

Now your talkin my language (newbie)
Just bought a beddy and i'm gettin it trucked from melbourne and should have it this weekend.
Its got some rust and panel damage, and needs a few little things done to get it running. (Pics in Gallery)

I'd really appreciate a checklist of how to and in which order

I (apparently incorrectly) assumed that body would come before drivetrain.
My only basis for this is that i'm changing a white beddy to any other colour, (white reminds me of work too much) and that it'd be easier to paint the engine bay without an engine in it.
And sodablasting / rust repair / panelwork OBVIOUSLY comes before paint. (Please tell me I got that right)

[kimbosound]

first thing......mortgage the house.....2nd - send your kids to India [it only costs $1.00 a day to look after them there] 3rd - marry into money [preferably the bank managers daughter], sign up for live organ donation [$10,000.00 for kidney should do it] and so and so on

[jesus_is_alright]

Well i don't have kids, I've got my permission slip filled out and signed by the wife, and her brother is a mechanic

[hotrod]

personally I am doing the body work first as that is the painful fiddly bit that takes time and patience
and will then look at mechanicals, van goes and will be keeping it standardish for now, so no biggy.
can't wait to do the interior, old skool crushed velvet. alvin purple eat your heart out

[jesus_is_alright]

Ditto hotrod
But i'm the kinda guy who would do a rubbish job, get frustrated and then kick it. So im looking at getting all the body work and painting done professionally.

[rossie]

l do my own panel and mechanics, and l prefer to do mechanics first cos that way you have less chanse of damaging panels. then the wheels so you can do the gaurds to suit. then some thing will happen to throw a spanner at it and you'll end up redoing things any way. Don't forget to do a rough plan first. body, mechanics and interior cos they end up clashing and talk to all contractors to get an idea of cost and planning to see what stage suits them .

[Bedfordcrazy]

i agree, there is no right way because everyones situation is different. In my case this is what i did.

 MECHANICALS :
 
1. 4wheel disc brake conversion.
2. Powersteering
3. V6 transplant
4. Gearbox
5. Tailshaft
6. Diff
7. Suspension
8. Engineer inspection on all modifications

BODYWORKS

1. Sorry guys you will have to wait to find out what we are doing here lol.
2. Customise interior [mock up]
3. Electrical
4. Strip all out back to bare rolling shell
5. Sodablast
6. paint

ASSEMBLE

1. Start putting van back together
2. Register
3. Insurance
4. ENJOY  ENJOY  ENJOY
5. Get a doctor to supervise while you check your total build bill.

george.   

[BusyKiwi]

I don't think disc brakes on the back are a good idea unless you have some weight (full interior) as they will just lock up with a touch. also be sure to change your master cly to disc/disc or disc/drum to suit as well