I see in this blog’s “draft” section, the start of a post from Chris.  I know we have both been feeling the pressure to post about this project in roughly the same way we posted about the Rocket Mass Heater. 

Time has been….at a premium. If it wasn’t enough that we didn’t feel we had enough time to keep working on the earthship, we had to add the WVO conversion project to our list!  The kit states the conversion is a one day project, but when you have a tidy engineer involved, who wants to enjoy the process, it takes a bit longer.

Firs Chris went through all the documentation and the parts until he fully understood the process. Then he made a list of additional parts we needed. Then he spent several hours staring at the engine. Then he took the intercooler booster, battery and air filter out.  Then he puzzled over space to put the additional parts.  Next came the design of the brackets to mount the vales, in-line heater and other components.  He also puzzles out where to snake the additional fuel lines. 

I was part of some of this process, mostly in a sous-chef kind of way.  I have to tip my hat to the Japanese…almost all the bolts are metric 13, making the process of disassembling and reassembling much easier.  As long as Chris wasn’t far away in pondering his current problem, I was also able to ask questions about deisel engines, coolant systems and the like with mostly coherent and polite answers. 

The van JUST fits in the shop with the overhead door closed. We were able to run it on the blocks we have when we change oil.  We have a broken old chair for me to stand on to bring me to normal human height (technically I’m not petite at 5′-4 1/4″, but it’s a squeaker).  We have a heater for the shop that we only turn on when we are working so temps are tolerable.

In the middle of the conversion we decided to take the van to Vancouver to pick up the oil tank from Andrew, a fellow who fabricates them for these kinds of conversions. Insurance was a breeze. In fact, because it is 18 years old, we paid the lowest insurance rates ever, and have the highest limits.

It was my first time driving the Delica for any length of time. On the way to Vancouver we decided to take the Canyon, as snow was forecast for the Coqhuihalla (a mountain pas linking Kamloops to the Lower Mainland of BC).  It might have been the lesser of two evils, but it was nasty driving from Spences Bridge to Hope.  After about 30 minutes, though, it becomes comfortable being on the right hand side of the lane.  I only turned the wipers on 4 times when I meant to signal (on the return trip, onle once).

We took the Coqhuihalla on the way back and were stopped for several hours while a section of road was plowed. I popped the van into 4WD and I must say that was amazing!  The top part of this mountain pass was still unplowed from the previous day and the 4WD performed beautifully.

Now the van is back in the shop and Chris is continuing to make progress. Unfortunately I’m sitting in the house and the camera with all the pictures is in the shop with Chris.  Photos will have to wait until he adds more to his post.

I’m still looking for a solution to the roof rack. We desperately need the storage up top as the van, when full of Newtons, will have little cargo space. I’ve got an appointment lined up for winter tires, and I have suggestions to fix the broken dash, or a retailer who will sell me the broken piece for $280.  (When we swapped stereos it turned out a previous owner had broken the tabs holding the vinyl in place on the dashboard. Chris finished the job by pulling too hard and snapping it in a few places.)

I’ve also got a friend in Canmore who is game to pick up oil as soon as I can arrange it.  She will let it settle and when we pass through we will filter it right into the van, and hopefully stop for some of her famous food (she’s bit of a gourmet chef).  I’m still looking for others who would pick up oil at their local restaurant. I am more than prepared to make the arrangements and simply arrange for volunteers to go to the restaurant and complete the pick up.  Still looking for “fuel” between Calgary and Ottawa.

The kids are very excited.  We’ve already borrowed audio books from the library that Stephen is in charge of putting on a iPod. Helen has been accumulating receipt that she and I have to sort soon. I’ve put the CRV up for sale at $12,500 but just recently reduced that to $11,500.  (Lovely car, hate to sell it.)

I know many readers wait for Chris’ posts as he delves technically into all that we are doing.  Bear with him!  He’s working hard at it.