Hi all- I'm currently in the process of trying to sort the welding on my 72 Late bay, I bought it about a year ago and stripped it and it's sat since, it needed more welding than we thought it needed at first so it took a back seat! I'm considering returning it back to it's panel van status- It's got windows cut out that will need the edges repairing if I keep the glass- Is it worth doing the repairs or should I put it back to being a panel van? I won't be doing the welding myself (or at least I hope I can find someone who can do it at a price I can afford) but if I do, which is going to be easier to do? Cheers all, George
If it needs repairs to the window surrounds then these will need sort even if you put the metal back so it souldn't make much difference. You'll also need the vents for the back panels. Something to think about would be the resale price. Campers (even converted panel vans) will generally sell more than a panel van. Commercials have a limited market compared to campers.
you need to find someone really good and patient to weld the windows back up or it will be distored and ruined
Hi, I'd be very interested in your final decission and seeing the results as I also have a converted panel van and was considering welding the rear most windows up, I say one like this at the VW Festival last year and thought it looked cool (this was factory though).
it might be easier and less damaging to either spotweld or bond in a new panel from the inside then skim with a very fine layer of filler if you fully welded a panel back into the hole you would end up with more distortion and more filler in the end
Cheers everyone, sounds like I'll be doing the repairs, I may try to rustle up a panel to fit inside, the same shape as the window cutout but with a joggled lip so I can spotweld it in and use minimal filler to get it straight...
i did it, do it man panel vans rock. i made the sliding door panels (twin slider) with 3 return edges and slid them over the doors from the top which helps retain the shape crimped over the returns so i only had to weld the bottom by the swage. rears were a bit trickier but basically made 2 complete panels slightly oversize and spotwelded over the existing panel.
I'm getting tempted to do it- I know it'd affect the resale price but that's not too much of a concern for me, the windows that were in when I bought it are ugly as hell! The van is still currently buried under a years worth of dust and parts from other cars in a bodyshop where it will remain for the the rest of eternity if I don't go drag it out and get cracking with it!
yeah mate mine looked fook ugley but i bourght the chrome trim versions and cut the appartures proply and the windows seem to fit better so went from this windows looking really gash to not so gash mind you i like but others may not
gve you an idea what the panel van covertion can look like could be better if you have loads of wonga lol! mind you panels are super cool too
