Wilson_ Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) Hello Everyone, I should be picking up our new Dolphin the second week of September. It need a bunch of clean up and some repair, broken roof vents and a very heavy ac unit causing the problems. The interior will be mostly gutted and panels replaced and demolded, new flooring and cab carpet. Remove the shower. The exterior is in need of a scrub down and a roof reseal, and most of the window screen need to be replaced. the windows all seen in good condition and don't seem to be leaking but will be tested. Some stats 1982 Toyota Dolphin 22R 4spd 112,xxx miles newer rear end, was part of the recall Pics Edited November 16, 2011 by Wilson_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shandamac Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Wilson, Welcome to the forum! You're in for the experience of a lifetime in remodeling your little toyhome. Trust me. It will thank you!!! Make sure you post updates. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiter Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Looks like you have a little work in front of you. That looks like a rear bedroom model (500 I think) I have the 900 model, the toilet is in the back and it has a dinette table John Mc 88 Dolphin 4 Auto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giant in a Shoebox Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 That looks familiar. I've got one gutted right now that had the same problem with the roof sagging under the weight of the AC. It took a lot of head scratching before I figured out how to take the dip out of the roof, and add some camber so as to prevent the same leaks from happening again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 Wilson, Welcome to the forum! You're in for the experience of a lifetime in remodeling your little toyhome. Trust me. It will thank you!!! Make sure you post updates. Peace. I hope it is.. Thanks! Looks like you have a little work in front of you. That looks like a rear bedroom model (500 I think) I have the 900 model, the toilet is in the back and it has a dinette table John Mc 88 Dolphin 4 Auto I do have a bunch of work but it will be worth it in the long run. I have been bookmarking a bunch of your posts to help me along the way, Great info and well detailed!! Thanks! That looks familiar. I've got one gutted right now that had the same problem with the roof sagging under the weight of the AC. It took a lot of head scratching before I figured out how to take the dip out of the roof, and add some camber so as to prevent the same leaks from happening again. I have a few Ideas, but would please post some pics or point me to them if you already have? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giant in a Shoebox Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 (edited) I have a few Ideas, but would please post some pics or point me to them if you already have? ThanksI've been meaning to document the re-build, but have just been too busy working on the RV to bother with it. I'll get some pics today and post a thread soon, maybe tonight. Edited September 10, 2011 by Giant in a Shoebox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Well I finally got this little guy home, It drove fine just needs a tune up, some fluid changes, a few exhaust gaskets and a clutch master. In its new parking spot. Tomorrow it gets bug bombed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincolnmania Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 looks like a nice project! cant wait to see progress...... was out assesing the rot on my truck camper this morning lotta fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 (edited) Thanks, I cant wait too! So first things first I pulled the oversized Ac unit off the top, Since it drizzled a small amount last night about about a half gallon of water collected around the unit that I did not see in-till I broke the seal loose and it all came rushing inside. Fun Fun After that I placed two Deep reach bug bombs inside, then tarped it up for a few days.Each bomb one will cover 1,500 sq feet. There was a lot of stuff moving around in there on the drive home that I wanted "taken care of" before I started the tear down. Edited September 26, 2011 by Wilson_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 so on Monday i started with the tear down. I only had about an hour and a half. I got the nasty carpet and curtains removed and the rear upper storage compartment removed. I also readjusted the tarp on the roof so water would not collect and soak thru and leak inside Pics yes that plywood is soaked with water..... Does anyone have a wiring diagram for these? also was the floor designed to have a slope?? i will get a pic tomorrow. more work tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 So i pulled the fridge, stove, most of the lower cabinets and all of the upper cabinets on that side out on weds, and I found out why the floor has a "slope". The floor is rotted and is not attached to the wall next to the door any more. This is also the cause of the door not being able to be locked with the deadbolt.... on with the pics My slope Looking from the inside to the door Where the fridge was. next will be removing the front seats to remove the fridge and the truck cab carpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giant in a Shoebox Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) Looks like fun. On the bright side, you've gotten the cabinets out and are working with a wood floor, ie: you can easily replace what's there with good wood. As for a wiring diagram, I don't have one, but if your dolphin is like my New Horizon, the 12 v. wiring was run in two circuits down the ceiling, with all of the lights wired in two separate series on each side of the rig. The water pump and tank gauge wires ran up from behind the breaker box , then parallel to the driver's side circuit in the roof, then back down to the water tank. The clearance lights ran off of the truck battery under the coach with the brake lights, then up the wall to the rear passenger side clearance light, and from there they were wired in a series from that back corner over to driver's side rear, then forward, again parallel to that side's 12v circuit up to the driver's side front clearance light, and in a series over to the passenger side front light. The 110 ran from the plug into the back of the circuit breaker, then up the wall, and across the ceiling to the AC, then down into the cabinet for a plug-in on one side, then the other side ran from the breaker back to another plug-in. Once you tear into the ceiling you'll know if you're working with a similar system. Good luck. Edited November 19, 2011 by Giant in a Shoebox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share Posted November 24, 2011 Yesterday was a good removal day, I got the pretty much the entire left side removed. What I started with. Electrical and propane lines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajadulce Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Guess there's no turning back now. Are those seatbelts fastened to a metal plate or something? Gluck bud. Look forward to seeing the finished space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 (edited) nope, no turning back now. Basically every piece of wood I am pulling out has water damage or mold, from being closed up with it leaking for so long. It could be worse lololol..... Yes there is a welded piece of angle iron for the seat belts. I would like a few belts back there but set something up a little better. I should get over there tomorrow for another update. Edited November 28, 2011 by Wilson_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 (edited) Alright another update. pulled out the sink and bathroom side. Got a idea on what these switches go to? Black mold everywhere..... next step is removing the last wall and paneling then getting the shop vac in there and cleaning everything. Then sorting out the wiring. Edited January 2, 2012 by Wilson_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 just a small update. i have spent hours in this thing pondring ideas. so stuff has been done and old things ripped out. on with the pics..... i removed the windows, panels and insulation on the passenger side. I removed the rotted wheel well. monday i should be able to remove the rear window and panels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90toydolphin Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 how are the upper cabinets fastened? screwed only? screwed and glued? glue only? eventually i will need to remove to do some water damage repair and wondering if they come down so they can be reused. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson_ Posted July 19, 2012 Author Share Posted July 19, 2012 how are the upper cabinets fastened? screwed only? screwed and glued? glue only? eventually i will need to remove to do some water damage repair and wondering if they come down so they can be reused. thanks. Yes they are screwed in but there is a catch.. They were installed before the outer siding was. So to get to the screw heads you need to take off the outer panels on the side and the roof to get them out cleanly. Because everything is 20+ years old the inner panels are very brittle and split and crack very easy. I will be posting a few more pics tonight of the work that got done today. Tomorrow I will snap a few pics of where the large screws holding the cabinets in are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90toydolphin Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 thanks, will be looking forward to your pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetundrawolf Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I have this *exact* same model. I rebuilt the engine and trans, put in a full floater in it (Mines a model 500, 1982) and gutted the inside out except for the wheel wells. I've been camping in it several times like this (Oh, and I left the toilet.) and it's great! But I have a sagging roof, a floor that is collapsing, and rot/ damage everywhere. Basically I will be doing what you are doing. Hey- are those 2x2's or 1x1's in the wall? I want to insulate mine with polystyrene foam sheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonia316 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Wow, lots of damage. Mind if I ask how much you paid for it to begin with? We just got one a couple of weeks ago and its basically ready except for the fridge didn't work. We need to bug bomb it since it has a black ant problem. We cleaned it thourughly and that hasn't worked. We are planning on redoing the inside ala our favorite artist Kid Rock....painting and curtains and redoing the cushions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_M Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 There hasn't been an update from the author in over a year. I see a lot of these rebuild threads dying a slow death. Be careful and don't bite off more than you can chew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesta Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Hey I'm still rebuilding one from 6 years ago (actually sold it to a guy that converted the truck to a small version of a cement mixer... but don't tell anyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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