Really? I thought some of it looks like a bloody shambles compared to some of the perfection on here ha ha. Ive also chosen to only show some pfotos after one ground bits down Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well to demonstrate that I’m very much still a learner, here is one of my ‘other’ welding attempts that usually wouldnt make it to the forum until I’ve tidied it up a bit. The original metal took a wire wheel so I assumed it was rust free until the weld wire hit it and I just chased a hole around and gave up. I’ll try and patch it with another bit next weekend! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My goodness - this thread is frightening and inspiring. I've just bought a late bay, found some holes, and come here to see if it's something I would want to tackle. Our bus looked worse than yours in the initial photo and I'm frightened to poke it any further, in case it turns into a thread like this! Very inspiring. Very brave. Quite off-putting, but somehow encouraging.
Ha ha ha. I was blissfully unaware of any issues when I bought it (buy in haste, repent at leisure!). As you can probably tell, I’ve never done anything like this before and have no idea what I’m doing, but if I can do it, anyone can! Yes it’s a daunting prospect (the reason the thread starts a bit late into the strip down is because I thought It would just need a lick of paint) but once you get into it you just focus on one small job at a time and achieve something each day. It also helps having a fiancé who is equally as inexperienced but enthusiastic as me! Yes it’s scary when you cuts big hole into your van but just think what it will be like camping in it afterwards and telling yourself that you built it! I’ve also realised I know nothing about engines or how cars work so roadside breakdowns are not fun. But if I rebuild the engine myself I should have a far better chance of fixing something on the roadside with a cup of tea in hand rather than worrying if a recovery van will get me home in time. That’s just my opinion but if I can do it, anyone can with time and patience! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So progress on the van may be delayed a little. I didn’t fancy working out in the snow last weekend but today I returned from work to find a dripping ceiling After a pipe had burst. I drilled about 30 holes (with an old manual drill) to let the water out. I collected about 300l and am amazed the ceiling didn’t come down. For the foreseeable future I’ll now be drying out the house and hoping the floor doesn’t warp or anything else breaks! I’ll be back on the van when I can! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah provided it dries out ok I should get away with just a bit of polyfilla and a lick of paint. May nip out this evening and hire in an industrial dehumidifier. To be honest I thought it was quite funny, if you don't laugh you'll cry!
Snow, a flooded house and general lazyness got in my way for most of this month but finally got to work again this weekend. Started working outside and am pleased with how the air box turned out Then cut the deformation panel (what's left of it) the original panel is the bit pulled out on the left, the rest is a 'repair' which was welded directly onto the rust! and yes, that's filler pushed through rust holes. More parts now ordered! Then test fitted the sliding door before welding up, a shim cut out of 2mm steel on the lower mounting point set it right Then rain got in the way so we moved into the shed again
Spent the whole day working on the lower section of the driver's door. With our basic tools and amateurish 'hit it with a hammer' technique, we couldn't make a fill lower repair section that wasn't a complete bodge. So we instead broke it down to manageable flat sections and slowly welded it all together, got through a lot of welding but it seemed the only way to do it. We spent so long getting all this together but we're chuffed with the results! I'm sure there are better/more efficient ways to do it but can't complain with the look. Edit, while typing it's just dawned on me that we spent all this time perfecting a bit that you'll only see if you lie under the van with the door open... maybe we could have done something easier? doh!
Is that what's going to happen to me as I get older and more pedantic, go lying underneith the door of every van I see tapping it with a screwdriver ha!
I have also been known to lie under my van on the pretext of checking some part or other just for a bit of peace, I might have even dropped off for a while although I would deny that