vw t2 1974 restoration

The main danger with blasting the panels is warping them. I've a mate that does "dustless" blasting which uses water and glass beads as the medium that is supposed to be kinder to the panels.
Personally I've not ever bothered to get the panels blasted, and instead have used "Strip and Clean" discs to strip panels one-by-one. As I only have a limited time each week I can work on a car this works well as I can work on it a panel at a time without leaving panels in bare metal for too long.

 

if i was to get the whole body blasted as i see many others, what media would you recommend?

 

Speak to a local blasting firm and see what they recommend.


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I regret to say that....... I will get a professional in who he will be more skilled than me to line up the front.

 

You're doing a great job @Dean mitropoulos, what's up with the front panel?

 

Is it too late to ditch it and buy a better one? Good money after bad and all that...

 

The reason is, the new a pillar needs the hinge mounts and check mount removed and mounted to the new a pillar. The issue is The door is not lining up and the windscreen. I was only thinking but have not said to the guy yes or anything. He quoted me too much so I am steering away from him. He said about 100Hours so that would be $12,000! I may as well do in my self and take my time. He said I will not be able to do it my self in my garage and nor will he be interested helping me at home to do it. He said the whole kombi needs to be towed to him. buying a better one is pointless as I am determined to finish this one and will get it done one way or another. The average joe does not remove a pillars and sliding door tracks and thresholds in his garage but I have learned a lot and can fix it just need to come up with a way to do it. Would you guys say 100H is very excessive to do the front a pillar only?

 

Dean, if you could find one, you'd solve all those problems for 1/4 of that quote with something like this...
https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/chopping-up-shell-chassis.91838/
You could import it and still be cheaper!

 

Why do they chop up good cars?

Do you really think it will cost me $12,000. that seems expensive. @davidoft what do you think about importing it. I would pick it up from you now if i could. I live in Australia.

 

No, he doesn't want the job but if he gets it anyway because it turns out you are stupid and have more money than sense (a distinct possibility after all - look at the heap you're restoring and the lengths you're prepared to go to) he wants to take it away so you don't see how quickly he does it for your $12K! lol

 

I may as well do it my self and get it done. 100H $12K that is 3.5 weeks to do the front, rubbish.That guy will be ripping me off.

 

Any pictures of what’s wrong /rusted etc on your van , surely there’s plenty of rust free spares in the land down under ?

 

He's not ripping you off - if you agree to his price you're ripping yourself off.

 

I just need the front lines up with my new NOS a pillar. .

 

you are 100% right. Honestly, how long will you say it should take. 3-4 days maximum for the front only? The guy is dreaming

 

some experienced metal fabricator said he can give me a hand to line up and square off the front. Better then a shop and at least I can do it at home and it will still be done right the rest I have all under control any way. I will let you know what he says and it is a lot cheaper and still a good job

 

He will come over this weekend. He told me It is not an impossible job and he has done far worse from interstate and rolled over twisted ect. He said once mine is lined up and the sills and a pillar is in I am good and not to worry. He has sent me photos and he has done jobs that look like they had not chance but doable. A panel beater referred me to him so it should be fine as I have a reference.

 

some of the pictures he sent me.

 

going to get the car sent over to the guys workshop so he can put the sills in and the a pillar. better he does it so I know it is perfect. Additionally I can get the whole kombi blasted as he knows a blaster around the corner from him. He told me he can easily line it up and square it all off. what I did wrong was I did not brace it and take reference. he does kombis all the time so he has references to go off.

 

I looked at starting to rebuild the gear box today. I was able to take the side off where the cv goes, the input shaft and the diff. there is a around part inside and I think you need a special socket to un screw it. anybody knows if I could make a tool. I tried using a harmonic puller base with two bolts and a bolt in the middle as a place to put my socket in it but it slips. any suggestions?