LilMamaBoneCrusher

Hey all! Getting ready to install our Weber 32-36 carburetor kit in our 1982 Sunrader. Before we begin just want to know if I need to buy any other parts that don't come with the kit, like an ERG block off kit or anything else? Thanks!

Thanks @Totem! I also found this thread https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/body-mount-bolt-sizes-1-bl-200932/ that says M10 x 80 x 1.25 are the way to go so we'll start there and likely grab some fender washers. THANK YOU!

Yeah - We'll figure it out - was just curious if anyone knew off the top of their head. Thanks!

Just looking for size metric hardware and grade.

@Totem - it's the front vehicular seats. Any ideas? trying to get this done soon. Thanks!

Cool! I was looking for sizes I guess but could you send a photo of what you have and the price? Thanks!

The hardware we removed when we took out our seats is now missing. Just thought I'd check here to see if anyone knows off the top of their head what size bolts/hardware is needed for the seat reinstall on a 1982 Sunrader? I could put in the search time but just thought I'd tap the hive mind as I'm elbow deep in fiberglassing and taking advantage of the perfect weather we're having for that work right now, instead of spending a lot of time on the computer. Thanks!

Hi Wandering Warren! I'm finally done with school so I will be able to add more over the coming weeks!

Thanks @linda s!!! I forgot to tell you that your comment about the give in the floor made put my boyfriend at so much ease! It's a reality we hadn't fully considered and helps us feel better about the slight give in ours! thank you, again! another question - does anybody know the mounting depth for the windows? 1"? 1.25"? having trouble finding that as well. Thanks!

I know! That guy's work is so impressive! So is yours, though! Thank you so much for the feedback. We'll keep considering. In the meantime, we're having trouble figuring out what size butyl tape to use for the windows. Any ideas out there?

@ToyoGuy - that's exactly what we were thinking of doing. this is awesome to see, thank you! We were hoping to find thicker sheets of the fiberglass somewhere.... maybe we have to deconstruct old showers made for houses? hmmm.... so many options. Thank you!

Sweet! I had suggested support brackets and we've done a TON of research on the raders, so we're familiar with how they are supposed to be built... ours is just missing a lot of the bolts, or the way they were bolted was shoddy, or blah blah blah... just a ton of minor headaches, which is all part of the fun of the DIY build! I wish we could've jacked the floor, but impossible for us, so we just sandwiched them together and are hoping for the best. good to know about the rigidity issue, though! We definitely want flex, maybe just not as much as we have? Only time will tell. Good call on replacing the screws, too! We plan to paint the whole thing an entirely different color so, other than the tediousness of the process, matching the colors and gel coat should be no big deal. One thing we can't figure out is where to buy large sheets of fiberglass that are the same style and width of the sunrader. We're still toying with the idea of raising the roof a bit, but can't find large sheets anywhere! Any thoughts? As always, thank you so so so so much!

@WME ...yeah, we've noticed that the original/factory build was bull! Everything under there is sub par - definitely not up to our standards. What kind of help are you talking about, exactly? Bracing or...?

...and now to the project that has been plaguing the process.... the floor! As you'll see, we had the common experience of the popping back seam... but we also had a lot of damaged wood, center seam popping, sagginess, etc... My beau is amazing and is doing all of this work with limited hand tools - I'm very impressed! (again, photos will be reposted soon)

(repost of work coming soon)

Here is where I had some updates, but I'm taking the photos down because they are out of order, unlabeled and, as such, annoying the boyfriend! He's going to do it better when he gets a break from the actual Rader work.

@WME YOU ARE SO HELPFUL! Thank you so much!

@WME Super awesome ideas! We might play with that some!

Hi all! After asking a few questions and poking around on the forum I've decided to start a build thread for our Sunrader (as of yet, not nicknamed, because "Funrader" is taken, so we're back to the drawing board). We got her (or him, again we don't know yet) in March here in the Pacific Northwest - paid a pretty penny due to her proximity and what we thought was her good condition. Gutted her immediately and have been finding problem areas, rust, rot, etc... ever since. Luckily, my boyfriend is skilled and knowledgeable in all things build-y and has been taking on the lion's share of the work while I finish my thesis. He's also built out another van and lived in it before (photo below), so he knows all about the systems involved. Most of my background comes from owning a house for a few years and doing all my repairs and installs, so I'm not too bad with the tools either, but definitely not as knowledgeable as him! I graduate in June and our goal is to have her up to our specs before August so that we can hit the road then for a year of exploring. With your help, expertise and insight, I think we'll make it! I posted pictures but took them down because they were out of order and sort of sloppy so I'll redo them and post as soon as possible so you can see the before and after of things. We didn't think we'd be doing a build page at first so we haven't documented everything he's done thus far, but will try to be better about it from here on out. Here's an inventory of what we've done so far: (1) Deleted all stock sunrader systems including all accompanying wiring and tanks (2) Gutted and cleaned everything; epoxied any rotting wood (3) Plugged and epoxied any accompanying holes in the floor from stock systems (4) Removed side-awning and after-market roof rack (5) Impregnated all wood with epoxy Here's our To-Do List: (1) Do it better. ... I'll add additional posts for our progress as it unfolds. Hope you tune in! For now, we've got some specific questions... but I'm sure there will be many more! Thanks in advance for your help! (1) Is the external trim where the two halves of the fiberglass shell meet structural in any way? How have people most successfully deleted it? We've seen a few different examples but would like to know what you think is best! (2) New front windows vs. no front windows - thoughts? We love the front windows but they have some leaks, are warped and need replacing, but most of our favorite builds have them deleted soooo just looking for your opinions and resources. If you replaced your windows - where'd you get them? (3) One of our inner-fenders is rusted through. Is this the correct part to replace it? https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~liner~front~fender~lh~53876-95110.html?Make=Toyota&Model=Pickup&Year=1982&Submodel=&Filter=()&Location=hood-front-fender,,53879 Thanks all! We're so stoked to be a part of this community and, if it makes sense, would love to meet y'all in person and show you the finished product as we set out across the U.S. this summer!

Wow! Thank you so much guys! @WME@linda s@Derek up North Y'all are so helpful! My boyfriend followed the super camper build some time ago - that rig is amazing. Also the link to the Nidacore opened up a whole new world for us through that marine supply site! Thanks for that! And that build with the brad nailer... so gorgeous! These resources are giving us some awesome ideas, confirming some we already had, too, which is so helpful. Thanks again! We've got some other particular build questions so I think I'm just going to start a general build thread.

I love idle coffee thoughts - keep 'em coming! My BF had thought about that before. Those things are SO expensive. ...but we've got our eye on junkyards to see how we might best get creative.

Thanks, Derek! I had been looking for that complete post for a bit, super appreciate you tagging it. My BF has some experience with fiberglass - enough to feel confident in experimenting and finding the right technique for this project. He's already learned some good lessons and confirmed some ideas with plugging side holes and deleting some parts. I think we were hoping to add 4-6 inches but any more height would be good. Are you talking about grafting on the top of a Westfalia?

You guys are too amazing. Thank you for all of the advice and resources!!! A few questions: @WME If we had the time and weather to swing for our fences we absolutely would! ...with 3 months and minimal shops space, we're doing what we can. Is that your build? We came across it when initially researching raders and were SUPER impressed. So awesome! Question: where did you get that giant sheet of fiberglass? Was it from big-house shower or did you find a place that sells sheets that size or....? That could help a lot with the vision we have. Also, our goal from the get go has been to one day transfer to a flat bed we DIY, so we're grateful for all of your posts! @linda s That is so thorough - thank you so much! I'm curious how much height/clearance your friends gained from that repair. If we don't raise (hell, even if we do) that's going to be a great tutorial to have as a reference!

Hey all! Let me just start by saying that I'm SO glad that this community exists. It is a huge resource and I super appreciate y'all's help! I'll likely start a separate thread (and social media page) to track the progress of our transition/build out, but let's just say we took on a bear of a project, with a pretty tight timeline, a limited assortment of tools, only outdoor work space and we're negotiating the Pacific Northwest weather... so we're not in above our heads in terms of our ability, but maybe up to our necks! We're also super into it (we're great swimmers!). We need to finish this thing by mid-end of July and so you'll likely see me on here a lot! Luckily, my boyfriend is technically adept, and can handle anything this project throws at us. We're just hoping to tap into the seasoned experts here! Hopefully we can give back to the community as we learn more, and with fun posts from our year on the road. Anyway, we got this 18ft 1982 Sunrader in March and started gutting it immediately. Turns out it's in way worse shape than we ever would've known had we not removed all the cabinetry, seats, bathroom, etc... Of the hundred or so projects facing us right now, the biggest is our roof. It's sagging from age and the vent placement and, even if it weren't it'll be just a hair too short for my boyfriend to stand comfortably in, so we're considering ways to raise it. I'm attaching some pictures to show the condition, some of the attempts to brace it into place (we left it with the bracing beams for a month just to see if it could pop back at all... it didn't), etc... We thought maybe glassing on an extended truck camper/topper would work, giving us more height, rigidity and maybe even a built-in track for a rack system, but have tested out a few and it just doesn't seem like the best way. We've also considered fabricating a beam, similar to the style included on the later models; framing out from top and bottom to turn the concave into convex, etc... Curious what y'all have tried, what's worked, what you would avoid now that you know better. Stay tuned for more questions, like: "Cab-over windows are leaking! Time for a waterbed?" and "Glassing fumes will make me stronger, right?" Thanks so much!

Will do, Linda! Thank you!