My 75' Panel Restoration (my first bus!!!)

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Kenzie, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. Hey guys and girls! Its been a while and progress has stopped. Not having the van at home has been the main reason as going up after work doesn't give me much time and most weekends we are busy. So I am at a crossroads. Do I keep it or sell it? I have had it four and a half years and made some but not much progress. Thoughts?
     
  2. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Don't know if it's just me but lots of your recent pictures won't open so it's hard to see where you're at?
    Only you know if you've got the will to finish it, try to be realistic though, not counting time spent how much does it owe you? you might get more selling it in bits!
     
    Johnnyunderpants likes this.
  3. redoxide

    redoxide Guest

    I was looking at my camper file the other day, filing yet more parts receipts for stuff in advance of completion.. Looking at the dates on the receipts I was surprised to see I bought the van in 2011 ..... so I am 4 years into my restoration too. My van was a panel conversion just like yours but no where near as rusty in the roof area or main chassis. It looks like I had a break from the van in 2012 when there are no receipts ... I think I realised about then that this van restoration malarky was :-

    A. not cheep
    B. very time consuming
    C. Extremely frustrating
    D. more complicated than it looked

    I also realised that if I was going to be taking the van down to its basics and investing any cash at all into it that it would have to be done right and be beyond any criticism by all but the most prestigious and talented restorers... and since I wasnt going to be showing it, I was safe there ..lol...

    It was at that junction I made the decision to keep the van and make it something that was as good as I could possibly make it and something that would stand up to scrutiny.. and being as I am my worst critic It had to be tidy ... So the challenge wasnt to get the bus on the road as quick as I could or as cheap as I could, but to get the bus on the road when it was finished, whenever that might be, still have some cash left for petrol and a bacon roll, and yet be able to stand back and be chuffed of how the van turned out, and confidently tell myself that it was as good, if not better than a whole lot of similar vans that had been "professionally" restored. That was / is my aim and motivation.. That and the fact that once the van is done that it will be worth every penny and the investment in it can be returned if I decide to sell it ..

    I couldnt bust my nuts and drain my finances knowing that the work I was doing was just enough to make things "look right", everything should "be right".. The challenge is pushing yourself to make the very best of the job in front of you and not be satisfied with anything sub standard.. If its not right, STOP... take a step back, reassess, plan and do it again because if you start making compromises the next part you try to fit wont fit and as you will find out the repair panels you buy are often a bit of a compromise themselves and need work before you can fit them... properly...

    Getting the van welded is just the start of the project ahead of you.. once you have done all the welding you now have the BASE for the rest of the restoration.. you can now start building the van... which is another spendy stage..

    If your looking at the van now, part welded looking sad and standing there with empty pockets and no time to work on it the honest response is, its only going to get worse before it gets better... If you ask yourself can I really afford to pour cash and time into this over the next 3 to 4 years because realistically its going to take you that length of time and at least 6k minimum to get it on the road without a full restoration, then the sensible desision is to cut your losses and either break it or shift it on.. To be honest there doesnt look like there would be a lot of it that anyone would need since every one is rotten in the same place ... and the mechanicals are pretty robust or worn out the engine is the only thing of any value if it runs, if not the engine tins are the next most valuable and sought after part. !!!!!

    Its your choice at the end of the day, I dont think there is any shame in admitting it when you realise you might have bitten off more than you can chew, the sensible thing to do is bail... but the fact is you bought a VW camper in the first place so your in the same boat as the rest of us, viz, your not sensible in the traditional sense but have a vivid imagination and desire to achive a goal... It might be better to get a bank loan and buy into the dream, but be very very careful if you take that route, you have seen first hand how rusty these heaps can be, now if you look at anything for sale you should know where the weak spots are.... ( everywhere) make sure you check those areas and any snot or camouflage runaway as fast as you can... :)
     
    Coco, smeato, Miss Rosie and 3 others like this.
  4. I think I moved something and they have disappeared.
     
  5. Very well said redoxide. I was in the same situation up until about a month ago. I've had my van for about 4 years , not made a great deal of progress due to time mainly and funds.
    What got me motivated again was getting a restorer down to give me a price to get it back on the road, verious scenarios where discussed and the odd associated cost talked about, which scared the living he'll out me. So I decided to continue on my own doing the best I can when I can and I'm enjoying it again, it'll still be another couple of years at least though.
     
    art b likes this.
  6. redoxide

    redoxide Guest

    Its a massive undertaking to do a complete restoration off your own back... the best thing to do is take your time, do loads of planning, take a logical approach, if you do something to one side, do the same to the other, what I mean there is if your doing jacking points and inner sills on the right side, dont then start on the outer panels and rear corners and work your way around to the left jacking points and inner sills..... do the right side jacking points, then do the left side jacking points, do the right side sill then the left side. I believe that way you get a job completed ie youve got a sound base on the under side and a reference point for the next stage... and so on...

    when you get the rear corners chop off the left or right and get stuck into the mess behind, replace the battery tray, since its easy to get in at that stage, weld on the outer and do the other side.... whollop another big chunk behind you...

    Now if you decide to bail out at that stage, any potential buyer can come along and see that there has been some method to the work and they can easy see whats been done...

    If you jump in and chop out everything first, every time you open the garage door all you see is loads of work still to be done... and loads of parts still to be bought..

    If you chop all your reference stuff out at the start its then difficult to see how and where the new parts fit... chop and go... keep it simple ...

    Take your time, its not a race....
     
  7. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    I welded mine up six years ago, then it just sat there until about 2 months ago. Now it's nearly finished but it's been full time pottering 7 days a week with sporadic mad long days here and there. If someone quotes you less than £20K to restore and fit out a van, they're silly.
     
  8. redoxide

    redoxide Guest

    £20k at least.... but that probably wont get you paint :)
     
    Coco and Miss Rosie like this.
  9. You also have to remember why you bought the van in the first place. Was it to go camping and do road trips or was it as a show van that you do to such a high standard that you are then to worried to park it anywhere. Im a camping man and I bought mine to do just that with my family and friends, I have a nice van but not a show van. If you want a show van then great and get ready to spend 20k, but Im lucky I work in the motortrade and have done all my life so know loads of people with the right skills local to help me. My T25 Devon I rebuilt it over one Winter, knowing that I wanted back on the road for the camping season. I did the welding and a mate put the paint on. Im doing the same with the Westy this Winter, but like I say Im lucky.
    You can do things on the cheap (like me) but like others have said it takes time, but its more satisfying in the long run. But if you haven't got the support of friends with skills and a workshop where you can do it, its going to be a long road ahead.
    Good luck and use the good advise above^^^ small steps and all that. Like redoxide said..I go to the workshop having planned and knowing exactly what job Im doing that day/night. Saves so much time in the long run.
     
  10. Kruger

    Kruger Sponsor

    There's some very good points made above, but this could be a case of Paradoxitis, and the feeling will probably pass in a few days ;)

    Only you know if it's feasible, financially, and emotionally etc.
     
  11. Hello again guys and girls. I need some help. I have a list of jobs to get the shell done. I need help prioritizing the list as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
    • Engine Bay-consisting of tidying up previous jobs
    • Battery trays
    • Rear left corner complete and inside strengtheners
    • OSR/NSR side panels including sorting inner wheel arches and small section of floor
    • Rear valance (inner is in place)
    • Wheel arch infill panels OS and NS
    • Outriggers-all
    • Front cross member
    • Floor section above front crossmember
    • Replacement tailgate and engine lid
    • Cab doors
    • Front lower valance-holed on inside
    • Cab floor and steps
    • Gutter and roof line-sort small holes
    • Internal roof panel NS
    • Possibly replace passenger bulkhead which was removed by PO to fit swivel base (or keep and brace door pillar)
    So that would get me a pretty much completed shell.

    HELP!!!!
     
    Coco likes this.
  12. smeato

    smeato Supporter

    Hey bud. I've been restoring my bus for almost 8 years now & I've got a very similar (but longer) list than that. Pick one thing on the list at random & do it till its done, then pick something else. It's amazing how much of a psychological boost you get from seeing a single tick on the list. Never look at the whole list at once-use it only as a reminder of what needs doing & do one thing at a time. You'll soon see the ticks appearing & the list getting smaller. I've considered throwing in the towel a few times & am happy I didn't even though I often ask myself why am I doing this?? Get out there when you can- whether it's a whole day or a spare ten minutes here & there-it all adds up-as long as you're moving forward....:thumbsup:
     
    Miss Rosie likes this.
  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

  14. Thanks for the tip JamesLey, I have a copy of something similar.
     
    JamesLey and Coco like this.
  15. Anyone???
     
  16. Don't get over whelmed, read through the resto threads on here.

    The orange book is good the blue book above is great and he is on this forum and offers plenty more advice.

    Pick a job finish it..feel the satisfaction, pick another finish it..repeat Looking back helps to maintain heart as you can see your progress.

    My restoration was looking set to take a fair few years..it was too easy to procrastinate so I bought a campervan ticket for Glastonbury this year. Its all guns blazing now!
    It might not be perfect in June as it will need lots of finishing touches but it needs to be on the road and usable!
     
    womball and Syd78 like this.
  17. This looks very similar to what I've had to do! It's easy to lose heart at times, whether it's the expense or the level of difficulty involved. I started at the offside front arch and have gradually worked my way round the rear; I have just completed repairs to the nearside inner and centre sills. Now I can get the nearside outside arch on then the corner. Having said all that, I've jumped about a bit to avoid getting bored, which perhaps isn't the best approach. :D
     
  18. Long time no see. I still have the van but it remains untouched. I am in two minds as to what to do with it. I can't keep it at home which means I can't work on it easily. But at the same time I don't want to sell it but can't think of anything else to do as it is sat rotting away again. AHHH!!!!
     
    Coco likes this.
  19. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Have you got any Farms/Farmers close by who might be willing to let you rent somewhere with a bit of space
     
  20. Not really. Where it is kept is not a problem, I have power but its out in the open. Just don't seem to have the time!
     

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