Doug from Detroit - 99 Safari build

[doogaloo]

Time to start a build thread to share my progress as I build out my 99 GMC Safari into a weekend camper. The van spent 95% of its life in Washington State (west coast). Apparently this means milder winters than the mid-west. So no rot/rust. Purchased form a young guy who moved out there and purchased it and returned home. Brought it home in November and had one weekend to clean it the best possible, because temps were dropping into the 30's. So did the best cleaning possible for the time allowed.

[doogaloo]

So during November and December I tackled items that were possible, weather permitting:
Replaced drivers side door handle
Replaced drivers side window motor
Installed an alarm
Installed radio and front speakers
Sound deadening in front doors
Replaced front door actuators
Replaced dash bezel

[doogaloo]

Then the weather became too cold to work outside. So I tackled other items that did not require me being outside:
Swivel passenger seat base
2" Lift by local mechanic
Tires and wheels
New bumper cover
Line X front bumper cover and other front areas

[doogaloo]

With weather warming up, time to get ready for outdoor projects:
Items for house battery and solar

[Fire57]

Looking good!

[sixsix]

Very Nice work - Looking sharp & Ready.
Thought you would have done the tires yourself -
LOL



Mike

[doogaloo]

Started working on electrical. Typical tire jack storage converted to House Battery storage. Fabricated bracket for 2 inline fuses. One for the CTEK charger. The second for a powered subwoofer in the near future. The final connecting of Starter battery and House battery are not complete in these pictures.

[doogaloo]

This weekend I finished the core electrical (mounting battery, all wiring complete). Did a massive cleaning inside. And mounted the swivel seat base.

[Rockridge]

Hey, nice work on your rig so far. I was looking at your battery box. If you built the box taller to cover the hole in the side panel would the jack fit above the battery. If the box was hinged to the floor it might work slick. I'm an idea guy, wishing I had time to do half the things I dream up. Anyhow. Keep up the good work

Walker

[sixsix]

Nice work ... real clean - thanks for the great pics.



Mike

[esc]

I like this setup. Especially the swivel seat. Can you give any more details about how you made that?

I'm going to update my build thread later today with a couple of new things I've done over the last year, including switching to the same battery that you are using. It turns out that if you remove the front map pocket from the interior, below the drivers side opening window, there is just enough room to stuff a 100AH battery behind the interior panel.

[JD_GM]

Electric system looks good. What inverter are you using? I have had good luck with Samlex like the PST-300 and PST-600

https://www.donrowe.com/samlex-pst-600- ... 600-12.htm

Also can you explain that charger, is that the solar charge controller?

[doogaloo]

esc - there is a thread on this sight about swivel seat base. Easiest way to do a search is "seatbase" and "million", since it is mentioned that there is over a million views. I copied a design in that post. I purchase a seat base from the JY and cut 1.75 inches from the middle. Purchased two steel plates and had them machined at work. Used a front wheel drive wheel bearing purchased from EBAY. Paid a guy to weld it together.

JD_GM - I have not considered an inverter yet. The module you see is by CTEK. It manages charging the battery from the alternator and solar panel.

[doogaloo]

Installed Maxx Deluxe fan.

[AstroWill]

Glad to see you got your vent/fan installed!

[doogaloo]

Worked on solar today. Using flexible solar panel. Holding it down with magnets. I added 4 additional mounting holes with metal grommets. The side profile, you can barely tell there is a solar panel.

[tonydobbs]

What are you using to space the solar panel off the roof?

[doogaloo]

McMaster-Carr, Aluminum 6061 spacers. 3/4" diam. by 1/4" tall. Had them counterbored at work so as to not interfere with metal bushing at holes.

[tonydobbs]

McMaster-Carr, Aluminum 6061 spacers. 3/4" diam. by 1/4" tall. Had them counterbored at work so as to not interfere with metal bushing at holes.

1/4" Seems a bit tight, I wonder if you could slip in a thin sheet of foam as insulation. I've seen a few panels burn out from the heat of a steel roof and would hate for that to happen here.

[doogaloo]

1/4" spacer plus the magnet equals about .450" space from roof.