Edmondo arriva a casa nostra! Edmondo the doka comes to our house!

I wouldn't bother plastering mate -

I am probably going to get the welder next month as I am just assessing the job for now ( flogging stuff on ebay to get a better one using money that she can't moan ask about me spending ) . In the meantime if I see the right one at the right price I will go along with you guys advice and get it- hoping to get one as Davidoft say's in the £250 range s/h.

I have just put the grinder on it for the first time and was quite pleased to find there is good metal to weld to - hoping to do it in patches where I can as Paul did with para's front cab area, just trying to save buying crap panels where I can.





The sills are going to take some working out and re building the B C D AND E posts.. It doe have an inner I can see the bits left..











Nice and solid under the surface rust too



I have a new door but the A post needs some attention..



I think the step is just about salvageable - but I will have to get good before I attempt that repair.

 

That was just a sample grind off today. The front end will get cleaned up when Neil and Cam come over. the cab step has given me a guide to what to expect elsewhere on the van. I think there will be some serious building up in places.

 

I may rebuild them. If not I will buy genuine steps. Will have to see how the welding goes.

 

I have this idea of keeping as much original steel as possible on the doka. I think the kids like that idea too. But. It all depends on how I/we get on with the welder. I can fabricate, cut fit. as you know. I even have a good understanding of the standard I want to achieve. It is crucial we crack the welding. That is why I am going for the best I can afford!

 

Did a bit yesterday..

Ground off surface rust from cab top and rustprooofed it..





Had a chop out of cab floor..



To find the chassis is as good as I thought below the rotten floor..



And that is all for now. I was just testing the water re confirming my suspicions that the chassis is indeed sound, Nothing like taking the floor up and inspecting it from above I am after a welder to start putting some good steel back in before I go any further. The kids are back from Italy in a week and they can take over the bodywork. prepping, then we can all set about removing more rust and replacing it.

 

Probably not, even the conversion will depend on price and is subject to change, that is why we are hanging on to the 1600.
Re brakes..It isn't the engine speed it is just bringing it all up to modern standards. We may never go down that route. it will all depend on finances eventually anyway

 

Yes I understand the braking system quite well Glyn. Our intention is to hopefully make it better than factory re handling and performance without being obvious about it. As I say, it all depends on money mate.

 

Cheers for the offer Dave. It isn't all down to me or my choice any longer mate. it is down to Neil and Cam and they are starving students. I have already told them about you and the bits you may have. Again, it is down to finances and we are not tied to a finish date, so that is helpful. I will mention you offer to them mate.

 

This crew cab is going to be Neil and Cams daily when it is done. We all know how much work is required to make it sound. I can as you know see a project like this through. I have some experience of rot and have taken on a far worse bay than this and done it 'alright', re - Rhubarb, she isn't concours, but given the starting point and the lack of original steel to start with I think me and Bryan did a a okay salvage job of a very rotten 72 Westy ( for now). This one is a p. o . p compared, even though I understand a lot of people would have nightmares if they had to take this on. In reality not many people on here would be silly enough or are capable of doing it. I have been here long enough to know who could and who can't. There is also the added complication of doka's being different and lates being different again. Then there is gleaming the information from the likes of knowledgeable people such as davidoft,Steve, Paul, busman, Diddy. Para and a few others. Who are for our sins the type of idiots that love this sort of thing, and the challenge of a doka resto just hits the spot.

The kids want to do as much of the resto s they can themselves, They want to finance it, manage it and do a good amount of the work ( with my advice and yours ) There is the small matter of the sills, loading bed and a couple of other unique bits we have to work out, but apart from that it is a standard resto that hopefully will plod along nicely. I will work out the sills and structural post rebuild as this is crucial to the finished article. The cab area will be made sound first and then the sills, finally the rear end will get sorted and then we can move on to engine and finish. No rush just a snails pace and hopefully we will get it right.

It is worth remembering the kids don't have mega money to do this. I admire their resolve and will help as much as I can ( I love it) anything we can blag or swap for the resto we will and will probably have to and any knowledge passed on will be gratefully received. It is a nice positive rebuild that is just right for them and me to enjoy doing. We will have our ups and downs as in any resto, but at least this time the burden is shared and I can walk away for a break, where has before I was on my own and sometimes I just couldn't face another day on Rhubarb. positive support will be a nice help