1964 Citroen HY Van (part 2)

[rjbell78]

Jul 2, 2014 12:39:11 GMT hanger18 said:

Thanks for ALL your comments folks

Jul 2, 2014 10:15:44 GMT rjbell78 said:

I've always loved these vans and enjoyed the last hour reading though the thread. It a shame only seeing these vans used for catering. Cool camper is definitely the way to go.

I think I would be more comfortable with RHD. Is that major work?

Chevy Kurbmaster looks very cool. Another very cool van from the US is the Ford Ecoline mk1.

Hows the 3 way fridge working? Don't you need vents?

I was going to convert to a RHD but drove the van in standard LHD for 2 month before I started the conversion. I got used to it and decided not to bother, plus it adds to its quirkiness.

Have built a few radical vans in my time and have got the urge to build another using the Chevy Kurbmaster or similar sized/shaped van as my base vehicle. Got to be slammed and chopped.

As for the fridge vent you can see it in the middle of the lower panel under the opening hatch.

Hope that helps.
Dave

The morris type j/ Austin 101 has got to be on the short list also. They have so much potential.
 
www.jtypevan.com/news-events/

[hanger18]

Jul 2, 2014 19:07:59 GMT rjbell78 said:

The morris type j/ Austin 101 has got to be on the short list also. They have so much potential.
 
www.jtypevan.com/news-events/
[/quote]

I have to agree with you the Morris J type van is stunning but unfortunately its not big enough for what I have in mind. I must be able to get a shower/toilet and comfortable bed in the next one, as I am planning on touring the Greek islands in 2 years time (I’ll be 60) I made this trip 20 years ago in my hotrod and want to repeat the adventure, but this time in a little more comfort.



Dave..

[johnnyizegem]

Jun 30, 2014 11:37:17 GMT johnnyizegem said:

i'll just leave this here (not mine or anything)

www.2dehands.be/bedrijfswagens/chevrolet/overige-modellen/chevrolet-stepvan-1947-195425116.html

great work on your H-van

and welcome to pass us on your way to france... greetz from gullegem belgium

seems to have disappeard, again.

www.2dehands.be/bedrijfswagens/chevrolet/overige-modellen/chevrolet-stepvan-1947-196056018.html

and nice story, want to be able to do that, travel my h-van in a few years and repeat it in 20 or 30so years...

[rjbell78]

I look forward to seeing the next project. I would love a camper and also a classic car so would make sense for me also to kill 2 birds with one stone.

[Em]

Been following this from the beginning and I'm rather ashamed that I've not commented before now...

So rather belatedly - fabulous work in a remarkably short time and a great finished product, hope it brings you many years of pleasure!

I was also a massive fan of your V8 V.W. when it was featured in Custom Car. Despite not really being a massive Vee-Dub fan it was one of the features I kept going back to; one day I plan to pinch some ideas from it for my as yet un-started (and indeed un-bought) dream Commer camper.

Look forward to following your next project!

[darrenh]

saw these and thought of you

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271538668161?clk_rvr_id=662552141104

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231273816372?clk_rvr_id=662612472671

[paulhvan]

Dave, You have done a fab job on the h van and you will get plenty of fans while travelling through France on your hold. I have just completed my 1954 H Van resto which you can see  on my website www.meandmyhvan.com
Cheers Paul 

[MiataMark]

Did I see this near Malvern this afternoon (Sunday, 13th) with bikes on the back? If so it looked great.

[Frankenhealey]

Jul 3, 2014 5:55:36 GMT hanger18 said:

I have to agree with you the Morris J type van is stunning but unfortunately its not big enough for what I have in mind. I must be able to get a shower/toilet and comfortable bed in the next one,

This is what you need



Full sized bed and bath in this one

[Deleted]

Or a shorter version, so it's not so difficult to lug about the place.


Fantastic work on the Citroen though, the end result was worth the repaint and the untold hours straightening all those pressed panels. So many really neat little solutions and the end result looks like a remarkably spacious vehicle, ideal for enjoying a weekend away in.

[hanger18]

Jul 12, 2014 18:12:11 GMT paulhvan said:

Dave, You have done a fab job on the h van and you will get plenty of fans while travelling through France on your hold. I have just completed my 1954 H Van resto which you can see  on my website www.meandmyhvan.com
Cheers Paul 

Hi Paul.
Just viewed your web site. Very impressive… Love your van.
Wish I was computer/I.T. literate so I could appear more professional than my, at times, illiterate ramblings on here. Ha ha
Dave.

[damps]

Dave,

Firstly as many, many people have said 'WOW' what a van!

I am setting out on the path of restoring an unloved HY van in to a camper and I am going to replace the engine / gearbox in a similar fashion as you did (hopefully). I was wondering what year engine you used and also if you have had any gearing issues with the change in tires etc? With a newer engine and it fitted out what sort of speed and mileage is possible please?

Thanks, Tom

[ollycarbs]

hanger18, i'm french, currently living in Brittany. just spotted you in Pont L'Abbé at E.Leclerc mall car park, i was lurking around, told you hello but did not dare to talk more about your van but i regret it! it is pure AWESOMENESS!!!!

cheers,
Nicolas

[citroehyonline]

Hello, May I suggest you stick with the Citroen HY van you have done such a fantastic job, you know them inside out and they 'grow' really easily. It is not difficult to make a HY van a lot bigger inside without being harder to drive on the road.
A few mm extra height makes a huge difference to the space inside. For example when doing a Camper it enables you to get 3 bunk beds one above the other that fold back up into the wall during the day. Also Pretty easy to add another metre to the wheel base. If you raise the roof as well it gives a nice balanced look on the outside.
As you have already discovered, although the overall length is similar to a VW Transporter of the same Vintage, it has 6 times more usable space inside. Imagine what another foot on the roof and 3 foot on the body length will give!!
In France during the 1950's there were hundreds of Coach Builders buying in Citroen HY van Pickups (no point buying a roof if you are going to chop it up) and rolling out a myriad of specialist vehicles from Long Market vans to Beast Carriers and Cherry Pickers to Campers.
I think you could easily do as good as the very best French companies did. Note that the Pickup has a much stronger platform so lengthens better?

Alternatively Horse Boxes, because they covered lower mileage, still survive in good numbers and make excellent Camper Vans because they were almost always raised and extended. See : www.citroenhyonline.co.uk/gallery.php
We would love to see the van, there is a big Citroen National Rally at Anglesey Race Circuit on the 28th - 31st August (timed to coincide with the annual Citroen 2CV 24 hour Race which should be quite something to watch) we are hoping to get a whole load of Citroen HY vans there as well. Can you make it on one of the days?

This is not the Bank Holiday weekend but the one after see www.citroenhyonline.co.uk/hy-history.php for more details. We, Atlantic HY, are hoping to be there Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August.
Anglesey is a fantastic place for a weekend Camper break. It's a really special place, probably the most unspoilt part of the UK, yet by contrast RAF Valley is one of the busiest in the UK with loads of RAF planes flying from there on a regular basis!!
See : www.visitanglesey.co.uk/en/

[paulhvan]

Hi,It would be good to see your van at Anglesey.I am hoping to be there in my h van over the 2cv weekend event,which I have now finished as a camper.

[hanger18]

Put my money where my mouth is and took the van to France for our holidays. 3 weeks touring the west coast. Wild camped every night, usually at a beach.

On the way to Mont st Michel.


Various Beach locations.





Lost in France… *loody Tomtom. Always loved there satnavs had 3. So bought a 4th and paid a lot for it What a pile of POOH ! ! don’t by a modern Tom Tom there *rap.


Met this lad selling ice cream from his H van at the beach… What a GREAT job…


Got invited to a classic car show. Made very welcome. Nice people the French……….


So that was it. Just over 2,ooo miles in 3 weeks. Van didn’t miss a beat. Although we did have 3 punctures. Fell in love with France and its people. There road system is heaven to drive on. I wanted to stop another week. Infact I want to live there.

Dave x x x

[hanger18]

Aug 8, 2014 11:05:33 GMT ollycarbs said:

hanger18, i'm french, currently living in Brittany. just spotted you in Pont L'Abbé at E.Leclerc mall car park, i was lurking around, told you hello but did not dare to talk more about your van but i regret it! it is pure AWESOMENESS!!!!

cheers,
Nicolas

Hi Nicolas.
Wish you had come over and spoken. Though my French is none existent (Lazy Englishman)Had such a great time in your wonderful country. Will be back next year for sure…
Dave.

Jul 24, 2014 14:57:08 GMT damps said:

Dave,

Firstly as many, many people have said 'WOW' what a van!

I am setting out on the path of restoring an unloved HY van in to a camper and I am going to replace the engine / gearbox in a similar fashion as you did (hopefully). I was wondering what year engine you used and also if you have had any gearing issues with the change in tires etc? With a newer engine and it fitted out what sort of speed and mileage is possible please?

Thanks, Tom

Hi Tom
Engine/box is the Audi A4 TDI lump (VW based)
Gearing is spot on. Will cruise at 65 70 all day. Had 105mph on sat nav but don’t tell any one. Haven’t worked out the MPG yet but think its around 38.

Aug 16, 2014 12:03:48 GMT citroehyonline said:

there is a big Citroen National Rally at Anglesey Race Circuit on the 28th - 31st August (timed to coincide with the annual Citroen 2CV 24 hour Race which should be quite something to watch) we are hoping to get a whole load of Citroen HY vans there as well. Can you make it on one of the days?

This is not the Bank Holiday weekend but the one after see www.citroenhyonline.co.uk/hy-history.php for more details. We, Atlantic HY, are hoping to be there Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August.
Anglesey is a fantastic place for a weekend Camper break. It's a really special place, probably the most unspoilt part of the UK, yet by contrast RAF Valley is one of the busiest in the UK with loads of RAF planes flying from there on a regular basis!!
See : www.visitanglesey.co.uk/en/

Aug 16, 2014 17:54:57 GMT paulhvan said:

Hi,It would be good to see your van at Anglesey.I am hoping to be there in my h van over the 2cv weekend event,which I have now finished as a camper.

Really really wanted to do the Anglesey meet. But due to prior engagement cant make it. Would love to see another (your) HY camper conversion, There are so many catering wagons out there.. ha ha. I'm in Borth every other weekend camping at the beach in my van if your ever round that way.
Dave.

[adrian7]

Dave, fantastic resto, an inspiration....i too am in the middle of an H van resto....the gearbox seems to be the weak link so its good to see that the Audi/VW box fits...i'm not so keen on a diesel: can you hazard a guess as to which petrol engines might go in? Also, do you think it possible to do an engine/box conversion without taking the subframe out (i'm working outside on a slight slope!).

[nick0303]

Hi mate, been seeing your van repeatedly mornings or evenings along the A441.

I commute in the other direction in this.


Nice van you got there.

Nick.

[hanger18]

Sept 2, 2014 18:38:08 GMT adrian7 said:

Dave, fantastic resto, an inspiration....i too am in the middle of an H van resto....the gearbox seems to be the weak link so its good to see that the Audi/VW box fits...i'm not so keen on a diesel: can you hazard a guess as to which petrol engines might go in? Also, do you think it possible to do an engine/box conversion without taking the subframe out (i'm working outside on a slight slope!).

Sorry don’t know what petrol engine would fit, only researched the diesel.
Chassis removal is so easy on the H just makes fitting an engine so simple.
All the best with you project, post some photo's

Dave