Gday from Sydney AUS

[dean_petley]

G day im dean i like building things from cars to boats electric powered yacks fire places ect ect

i am looking to build a tear for my 1962 panel van to pull around when i feel like getting away from it all in style

this is the car it is powerd by a 6 cyl red motor just like a blue flame motor just smaller so a tear is perfect





i an going to do it as a tafe project so i can wright off most of the materials costs

i am looking at building something based off an Australian sports man design its about as old a the van is
my mechanics are trying to fine me some old plans out of popular mechanics mags for me to go off

my skills are mig welding tig welding AC and DC i can auto cad and plasma cut i am also handy with timbers from lathe work to joinery 12V wiring just about any thing i can get my hands on i try to learn as much as possible

my biggest consern with the whole project it getting it registered

[TPMcGinty]

Welcome Dean! The Vintage Teardrop Plans in the Design Resource section at the top of the page have the Popular Mechanics information. Take a look there. They might have the plans you are looking for. Good luck with your build!

[Roo Dog]

Dean,
Nice Hoey.
Our Tear built in WA two years ago. The design is ours, got a few clues from some pictures and off we went. Ply, clad with sign grade steel colourbond.
Towed behind an XG PV to begin with.
My wifes Getz will tow the Tear as well. We tend to use the Getz as it is far cheaper to run.
No probs with rego.
With your skills you should have no problems.

RD

[dean_petley]

cool thanks for the warm welcome

considering im working in aloy at the moment i was thinking of making a steel box frame
with two lengths of 30 x 30 x 2-3mm box aloy and rolling them into a tear drop profile welding on brackets and riveting them to the steel frame then cladding it in 1.2 aloy sheet for the body welding up the seam

i was also thinking of fitting a rolllock or trundle tray under the floor for storage

buy i will make some notes on what other people have done then formulate a plan from there

i realy wont some thing that when i do my van meet ups all my camping is contained because the PV is staring to get to pritty for filling camping gear tents fire wood ect ect in the back

[Roo Dog]

Dean,

We looked at a box section frame first up then went for the plywood option.
The boot or galley lid is a lamination of aluminum sheet with steel colourbond as the outer layer. The side doors are ply, aluminium, the steel colourbond as the outer layer. The ply acts as a plug as it is the section cut out for the door in the side ply sheet.
You will see heaps of options on this forum as to how to go about it.
In hindsight there are a few things we would do differently. Especially after seeing some of the builds on this Forum. We made ours with little knowledge of Teardrop design and method.
They are fun to build.
Take it easy.

RD

[dean_petley]

when i get back to tafe ill see what tools are at my desposial but im the mean time ill keep reading thanks

[bc toys]

welcome Dean you have the ability to build a tear with those skills nice car

[dean_petley]

welcome Dean you have the ability to build a tear with those skills nice car

thanks for that she keeps me busy on the weekends

i think i am going to have to start a build thread even if i just start with sketch ups and cads to sort out the bones