Crystal Adsero and her mother Diana, have been scrubbing LAYERS of scudge off.
  Although we can now see the paint, the work has not even yet begun! .
The black you see on the car is Algae and scrum that has grown into the paint itself.  Yuck.  I've been asked, " how could you let your van get like this? Were you in a coma or something?" 
  "YES FOLKS,  I was!"  I woke up and there is this wonderful internet thing - In addition to ham radio of course! And the van got very sad sitting undernearh spruce trees at the beach!  
EVEN AFTER WASHING, THE BUS IS REALLY SAD LOOKING
HERE IS THE VERY SIMPLE ANTENNA MOUNT.  A GOOD QUALITY MIRROR MOUNT WAS ASSISTED WITH A STRIP OF METAL FOR A BRACE.  THE ANTENNA MOUNT IS BRUSHED ALUMINUM, THE INSULATORS TEFLON, AND THE SO-239 AND ANTENNA ADAPTOR SCREW ARE STAINLESS STEEL.  THEY WEATHERED THE VISCIOUS COAST WET AND SALTY ENVIRONMENT VERY VERY WELL!!!!  I LEARNED A LESSON THAT WELL BUILT QUALITY EQUIPMENT GOES THE DISTANCE.  ALL I HAD TO DO FOR THE MOUNT WAS CLEAN IT WITH "SCRUBBING BUBBLES AND A BRUSH.  IT CLEANED UP WELL!! The radio shack mount was destroyed by the same conditions!  It is Toast!
I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE 10M AND 6M BANDS WHILE WORKING ON THE VAN.  THE MOBILE ANTENNA LOADS UP ON BOTH BANDS WITH A REASONABLE 1.5-1 VSWR ON 10 AND A 2.1-1 ON 6.  THIS IS VERY ACCEPTABLE.  THE ANTENNA WORKS VERY WELL ON 10./  I HAVE WORKED SEVERAL STATIONS QRP AND LOW POWER. 
I have worked one band opening with this homebrew dual antenna.  I have worked close-cn87, and a distance dm grid.  All with 50 watts on the 'tenna. THE RADIO INTERFERRS WITH TELEVISION  VERY WELL SO THERE IS AN EMISSION FROM THE 'TENNA.   6 HAS NOT BEEN OPEN very much HERE, SO I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT IF THE MOBILE WORKS WELL FOR A DUAL BAND AFFAIR. There is hope since I have made a few contacts during a very brief opening.   
Wow there is paint under the scrudge, but the van is still calling out for help.   The plan calls for cleaning the outside and inside thoroughly before the engine and transaxle work begins!
  Anyone know how to pepp up a 1800 type IV engine --cheap?
PLEASE HELP ME!
THE ENGINE COMES OUT, BUT FIRST...
PURPLE PEOPLE EATER