The Van Gets a New Floor

The floor in the cargo area of the van was by far the roughest part of the vehicle. The through rust was threatening to tip the seat over and really we didn't need that much ventilation. We removed the original floor and the replacement flooring, because it just didn't seem to fit the project. So, we replaced it with a sheet of diamond plate aluminum (much nicer, and it won't rust).

The VW finds a new home!

The wood shop was an ok location, but I was always worried about possible fires and the van took up the space that we use to build our larger wooden structures. Well, the van has found a new home in the metal shop, where it belongs. We now have full access to the tools and equipment that we need to complete the project!

Making Some Progress!!

It's been 1 year since the van was first rolled into the shop. We've made some progress, but not as much as I would have liked to over this year. With the van originally being just a restoration project we had limited time and limited budget. The students and I decided that the van could be a whole lot more then just a restoration project. With fuel prices going threw the roof and global climate change, becoming a real concern it only makes sense to make it into an alternative fuel vehicle. The students chose to use a diesel engine because it's so flexible and so much can be done to increase the efficiency. The student recently put a lot of work into making a presentation of there plans. They put together a DVD that outlines there plans for completing the van and a trip around the United States to teach people about conservation. We presented it to our School Board, and were given a full blessing to continue full steam. We are in the process of finding sponsorship for this huge undertaking project. The fact is things are starting to cruise, so expect more postings in the near future.