Project: Make it a good subject as you'll be using it for years...

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by MarkUKbay, Dec 10, 2021.

  1. The fun has begun on my 1972, built in '71 but registered in '72, so I suppose that makes it a '72?

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    Decided to start at the bottom and make my my up, so ignored the very bottom (underneath) and started with the floor.
    upload_2021-12-10_17-38-8.png

    I think it may have been previously repaired.
    upload_2021-12-10_17-39-15.png

    I knew I'd need this bit but think the wheels arches have been fixed at some point as the new metal is too wide to fit :-(
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    I'm not even sure what it should connect to as the top and bottom profiles don't seem to match anything that is existing.
    upload_2021-12-10_17-46-3.png

    This definitely doesn't look original.
    upload_2021-12-10_17-46-43.png

    Just trying to work out how late you're legally allowed to use an angle grinder...

    Cheers.
     
    Kevinthedog, Day, mcswiggs and 4 others like this.
  2. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Common courtesy would dictate this :thumbsup:
     
    MarkUKbay likes this.
  3. I’d see what needs doing underneath the floor first
    Most of it is a lot easier with the floor removed

    That section that’s cut out at the moment will make it easier to fit the heater ducting y piece as it’s impossible when that’s all complete.
     
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  4. Slowly picking away at 50 years of "fixes" found some 70's Unistrut where a top hat should be and that rear cross member doesn't look original. Trying to workout at what point replacing the whole floor is the better option...
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    Dubs likes this.
  5. Coda

    Coda Supporter

    What makes it a '72 is that is was made after August or later '71, so yeah its a '72, often written as 72MY (model year). It should have square (late bay) lights at the back and low front lights i.e. crossover.
    Good luck with the restoration, what are your plans? Full restore back to original spec or highly modified slammed chick-magnet cruiser? :D
     
  6. Thanks. I think the front has been "adjusted" at some point. Has big rear lights, but high front indicators. Not sure on the plans. Think stage one is to get it solid and mechanically sound.

    upload_2021-12-11_11-32-10.png upload_2021-12-11_11-32-32.png
     
    martinvention likes this.
  7. All the best with the resto!!

    All these pictures are making me have flashbacks :eek:
     
  8. Yup someone has put a Brazilian late front panel on
     
  9. So a slight change of plan :) Going to ignore the cargo floor for now and start on the chassis, rear to front.

    Taken out the "wrong" section of floor along the side, this uncovered some actual metal underneath but also confirmed some top class "fixing" previously.
    • Unistrut instead of a top hat.
    • Rear cross member probably taken from a tractor and in the wrong place.
    • Rear jacking points not where they should be and at a weird angle.
    • Whole missing rear top hat. I think this was replaced by the tractor cross member.
    • Jury's still out on the front top hat, but looks a little funky as well.
    upload_2021-12-19_14-38-31.png

    upload_2021-12-19_14-39-31.png

    So as all top restorers do, I ran away from this issue and decided to start on the chassis instead. Engine is out and I have a couple of sunroofs in the hatch, (engine cover, boot floor?) so happy days.

    Chassis rails and rear look remarkable solid so far.

    upload_2021-12-19_14-54-6.png

    upload_2021-12-19_14-54-39.png

    Battery pan as expected is shot.

    upload_2021-12-19_14-55-30.png

    What is "interesting" is what is original and what has been fixed or attempted to be fixed previously.

    upload_2021-12-19_14-57-50.png

    What the hell is this?

    upload_2021-12-19_14-59-35.png

    Big gaps in blue that I don't think should be there.

    upload_2021-12-19_15-1-19.png

    Then again, strange gaps on the other side as well. Look at the shiny metal though!

    upload_2021-12-19_15-3-12.png

    Plan is to take as much as possible back to bare metal to see exactly where we are and start welding in new. I've also worked out that grease has been used as rust prevention, I don't mean a thin layer of oil like grease now and again, I mean grease, like CV grease, like gets everywhere sticks to everything, cant be wiped, has to be scraped grease, and I think they had a good deal on it, as they have used loads!

    Cheers.
     
    zv6883, art b and tburton100 like this.
  10. So, have been mostly dicking about here and there, Christmas, Alcohol and cold weather have got in the way as well. SO after coming up with a plan a promptly forgetting about it. I've started to take all the suspension off to leave just a shell.

    Not sure this can be saved.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-21-52.png

    Even after removing all 8 bolts, it didn't want to budge.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-23-30.png

    Brought out the big guns and it did eventually move!
    upload_2022-2-1_22-24-24.png

    Noticed this in the screen, doesn't look like the club is still about though.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-25-8.png

    Started cleaning up the beam. Not sure if it's too far gone, looks pretty similar the other side. Present from father Christmas in the background.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-26-45.png

    Rear suspension is off. Things still look a little weird in the back, not sure what is original and what's been "fixed".
    upload_2022-2-1_22-29-40.png

    On to the fun bit, decided to make one of these up, so i can work on the bottom without willing my eyes up with rust, grit and everything else hidden under the bus.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-31-25.png

    Slight adjustment to plan A, still to be used in anger but will hopefully work.
    upload_2022-2-1_22-32-44.png
     

    Attached Files:

    F_Pantos, art b and Zed like this.
  11. While doing that and to mix it up a little started to investigate the roof. I don't know exactly what this roof did to upset the previous owner but it must have been something bad. This is after removing the pieces of metal that were just randomly stuffed into gaps, not being held at all with very bad welding.
    View attachment 115518
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    She's out! What ever she is!
    upload_2022-2-1_22-39-56.png

    I'm not normally one to name vehicles, but this one is quickly becoming known as "Funky", as every time you start investigating something, you seem to find a pretty Funky fix. "WTF " is currently coming in a close second.
     
    tburton100 and F_Pantos like this.
  12. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Yikes!
     
  13. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Wow that looks funky :eek:

    I'd wager someone (PO) got exited in cutting a rotten microbus roof off, removing any cross braces and hacking one big hole for an opening roof
     
  14. Uni strut and tractor parts - has all the hallmarks of a typical South African jobby?
     
  15. Everything points to it being UK bus. It has got a pop top, not sure what type, long bugger that hinged at the side.
    upload_2022-2-3_21-58-41.png
     
  16. arryhancock

    arryhancock Supporter

    This is going to be project and a half, roof could be similar to mine (moonraker), saw the LCFC carrier bag are you in Leicester?
     
  17. I think it might be a Viking? In Leicestershire, just near Hinckley.
    Screenshot_20220204-085204.png
     
    arryhancock likes this.
  18. arryhancock

    arryhancock Supporter

    Ok im at the other side of the a47 at Houghton, good luck with the resto.
     
    MarkUKbay likes this.
  19. The rollover frame works! I would say it was designed to fit that snugly, but that would be a lie. It was blind luck.
    upload_2022-2-19_10-21-7.png

    I suppose the fun bit now begins... I think I've come to the conclusion that any previous repairs were carried out by using the closest piece of metal to hand, I think sometimes they did go looking for the correct part, but had their eyes closed and went by smell and feel alone.
    upload_2022-2-19_10-22-10.png

    Both chassis members seem to have been replaced with miniature railway sleepers, and why not! As this is the first bit I should probably fix, plan is to find original metal at each end.

    Not sure how someone managed to do a poo upside down and get it to stick to the chassis
    upload_2022-2-19_10-26-58.png

    There was some real metal under all that.
    upload_2022-2-19_10-28-53.png

    First bit treated and painted. I'm calling this a milestone!
    upload_2022-2-19_10-29-55.png
     
    F_Pantos, art b, Fruitcake and 8 others like this.
  20. Lots of "gloss" brown paint, might not be, but that what' it looks like, luckily flakes off easily with my new weapon of choice.
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    upload_2022-2-27_13-10-28.png

    upload_2022-2-27_13-10-58.png

    There is actually metal underneath. Still has the weirdest front cross member known to man.
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