Gertie the 72 crossdresser. Full resto....and it needs it!

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by exuptoy, Jul 5, 2012.

  1. Kruger

    Kruger Sponsor

    Sounds familiar - Everytime I've got some of the mastic primer I've mixed up leftover I pour it into some cavity/sill/door channel etc etc cant do it any harm!
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  2. Great tip Kruger. I'm sure Dale said he did this all the way through the Diddymen project. He even poured it into the bottoms of the doors. lol
     
  3. Got a few new bits today. 20mm and 25mm Hole swagers. Basically it you have to drill a hole and want it to look a little less plain and boring as well as putting a little strength back in, you insert the appropriate sized swager and wind up the high tensile bolt until the tool has closed up and the centre of the hole has an extrusion along it's edge. I tried it with a piece of 1.0mm zintec and even before folding the edges the difference in strength of the flat panel was considerably stiffer. Cost me £17 each plus post from this guy but it looks like his price has been increased by £3. It will do 1.2mm steel and 2mm aluminium. Used by the rally boys for footrests etc.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111048952402?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

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    Is it worth sticking these details in the tools review section?
     
    paradox likes this.
  4. Spent around 4 hours in the garage today.

    I finished off the crossmember with a few more repairs and I reckon with a coat of epoxy mastic it'll last a few years. I did the large hole in the middle and put a new pair of wings on where it joins the chassis (no pic of that though)

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    Got the door runner vertical middle skin finished. Just need to repair the lower runner where you can see it has been chopped out in the pic and she'll be ready for the outer sill (gonna fit the door and maybe repair the B and C pillar lowers first though).

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    Turned my attention to the jacking point box section in the chassis rail which I couldn't do when the bus was tipped over the other side as I would have been welding overhead and I didn't want to.
    I cleaned up the backs of the previous repairs and run a few welds around them (these were done with my hobby welding sets and I at least know the penetration of the portamig is good so felt it was worthwhile.

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    I also managed to burn my finger by wiping down the top of the sill just after just welding it, so I am now sporting a lovely blister on my pinky finger pad!!!! and then a grinding disc shattered in my face when I had no glasses on!!! I feel a trip to A&E coming on as I reckon there is debris in my left eye! Time to call it a day!!!
     
    paradox likes this.
  5. Welding, and getting stupid burns go hand in hand :(

    Getting there tho dude!! It's all progress even if it doesn't look like it sometimes!! :)
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  6. Im liking the hole swager:thumbsup:
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  7. Stupid burns......don't I know it!

    Swager is a cool bit of kit Para, such a simple idea. My m8 is looking to knock me a couple up out of steel so they'd do thicker stuff.
     
  8. Really those swagers should be case hardened steel... makes for a better tool :thumbsup:
     
  9. Yeah, I know. Not bad for £17 though.
     
    Paul Weeding likes this.
  10. 2.5 Hours in A&E last night and just scratches to the eye, so a few drops and ready to go again today.

    Got 3 hours in.

    Cleaned inside the chassis and cut a repair section from 2mm. Total PITA to fold the returns though even with the jaw bender it was tough going. My daughter called in to see what I was doing so I was showing her the use of the plasma, welder, grinder etc then I cut out the slot in the wrong end of the panel!!! At least it gave me a chance to let me daughter have a play with the MIG. lol

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    This is what it should look like with the heating tube and jacking points in place. Hopefully thats the next work I'll be doing. Not going to get any more done for 2 weeks as I am back offshore on Tuesday. Garage tidied up and tools put away for now.

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  11. Hang on a sec.... explanation needed!! What have you done to your eye?? :eek:
     


  12. I had been chopping out some rust and there was a stray bit after I had taken my glasses off , I passed the grinder through the chassis sectin so it was facing me then when I went to turn it on I happened to touch one of the floor top hats and the 1mm disc shattered. I got sprayed in the face and some went in my eye. I had got the bits out butyou know how it is. So easy and you just get a little complacent. "Ah it's only a little bit I won't bother with the glasses"! It wont happen again I can assure you!
     
  13. dude... I've been to the hospital twice for metal in the eye... had to see the eye specialist both times to pick out metal with a syringe needle :eek:

    Believe it or not, both times I was wearing safety specs, so fook knows how it made it in there o_O
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  14. Been there too many times to mention Paul, but this time made me think twice due to the ferocity of the disc shattering!

    On a lighter note, I just found my M-Plate details and put them into the site and it appears that my bay was originally destined to be sent to the UK shores, built on Thursday 08/06/72 in Pastel white with Dark Beige leatherette interior and under side belly pans and centre pans.
    Really cool to find out personal details. I may order a birth certificate next.
     
  15. yay tax free:thumbsup:
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  16. Yeah, I knew that anyway as the previous owner told me but it's earlier than I thought! I assumed as it was L Reg that it was 73 going into 74.
     
  17. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    same here - swarf from a stray chip from a lathe, it welded my eyelid together - I have a scar still from where it landed but luckily it didn't go into my eye
     
  18. I haven't been on here in a while & am impressed with your progress. Your welding looks superb:thumbsup: Great chassis repairs!
    Keep up the good work.
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  19. dog

    dog Tea Boy

    great work buddy, your welding is looking really good!
     
    exuptoy likes this.
  20. Cheers VWBusman and Dog.:thumbsup:
     

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