rusty nail to sow's ear

Sat 10th April 2010

Had a bit of a slow day today, partly due to the after effects of several pints of Thatcher's Original.
I wanted to repair a couple of holes in the rear window aperture. But took the dummy slider cover off to discover this.








The cover looks like it's slightly perforated as well.

Sun 11th April 2010

With part of me thinking about forthcoming roof/gutters and window repairs, I got on with the bumper (again).

Impressive in a couple of coats of zinc rich and high build primer, I thought...







...until a neighbour came round for a chat and stuck his finger in the wet paint (just above left mounting bracket), and then pointed out a "couple" of dings in the sunlight.

So, back out with the filler and wet and dry.









I will get some black on it this week....

Tues 13th April 2010

Not that I've become obsessive about this bumper or anything.

Wed 14th April 2010

See, I'm not bumper obsessive.





Money shots.

Fri 16th April 2010

Deep breath....





Be able to bin that bloody perspex soon.

Not much solid metal left on the old bits though.

Sat 17th April 2010











A skim of filler tomorrow, and then finish under the window next weekend.


Not much metal in this lot.



Got the gash perspex off at last, might have a go with the sunroof tomorrow.

Sun 18th April 2010

This went on today. Removed from a scrapped split bus.



Anybody got any pics of the front and rear rails fitted, and how the roof is secured at the rear please?

Thurs 22nd April 2010

Sunroof fits fine, so that's come back in the garage now.
Thanks thru_a_lupe for the pics.
Took the roof braces off the donor roof and got them on at the front and back of the opening today.
Think I may have been a bit enthusiastic with the plasma cutter though....





Roof's now ready to repair all the perspex coachbolts, even found some original paint under the many layers of later colours.

Fri 23rd April 2010






Rear window repair more involved than first thought.





Should be finished tomorrow though.

Sat 24th April 2010

Had a game of "chase the solid metal" today...





Found some in the end though.





Nice three piece window repair panel from JK, decent metal, and slightly oversize, just needed trimming around cover mounts. One of their new range produced next door.
Got the holes in the roof welded up and the braces secured as well.

Bit more grinding and filling, a coat of paint and then the window man, he come.

Stop me if you're getting bored yet.

Mon 26th April 2010

After recovering from an extremely painful dose of arc eye yesterday, the countdown to VanWest begins.

Spent most of the day grinding, filling and sanding.
Ran out of daylight and primer.

Wed 28th April 2010

Well the best laid plans never come to fruition do they?

Planned to take tomorrow off work to get the bus ready for VanWest next weekend.
Get the window openings painted up and the glass and new rubbers installed, get a coat of paint on the roof and the sunroof fitted and watertight.
Well, the primer that was on order hasn't turned up, so no painting done.
Rang Paris Sunroofs to see where the few bits I ordered for the roof last Thursday were.
"Oh, I'll put them in the post this afternoon."


Postponed the window man until next week, and attacked the cab roof with frustration and some 80 grit,



God, I hate red oxide primer.



Just waiting for the paint to turn up now.

Thurs 29th April 2010

Well the primer turned up today, and so did the rain.



Only one thing for it, out comes the gazebo with 4 missing poles. Hmmm, a bit smaller than I thought.




Not quite the ideal weather conditions for painting, but needs must if the bus is to be ready for VanWest.





A couple of coats of paint round the roof hole and on with the aluminium trims and the sunroof.
Needs the rest of the poppers fitting, but doesn't look too bad for being fitted under a floppy gazebo.







Just need to finish the paint around the window apertures next week, get the window man in, and off to VanWest.

Fri 30th April 2010

A break in the weather, so off came the cover and out came the paint.



Ready for windows now.
Also got the velcro strip on the rear of the sunroof and a couple of the press studs along the front.



Roll on VanWest.
Been told to come in now and pack ready to go to Bude to open the caravan for another year.

Tues 4th May 2010

Window man, he come...



Black one-piece bumper on.





I like this pic.



All the press studs fitted now, and went for a quick drive (about an hour according to Helen ) to make sure it was secure.
Gave it a good clean inside and put the bench seat back in.
Roll on VanWest.



Really must get round to replacing that front valance.

Wed 5th May 2010

I received a few texts last night, asking why I was leaving the front valance.



So for all of you that kept on....



...and the sliding door.



...and the birthday mirrors are on as well.

Tues 11th May 2010

While we were parked on the beach at VanWest on Sunday, Chloe asked why we had the only bus with differing colour doors to body colour.

So, start of another job.

Stripped n/s cab door and removed. Then prepped and masked n/s door opening, front and B pillar and gutter.
A nice coat of primer and top coat. Should've really done this months ago.





Painted the door edges and window reveal, and refitted door with new hinge bolts that I bought about 7 years ago.



Then ran out of top coat.

Fri 14th May 2010

Good day today.















If you're doing this job, fit quarterlight glass to frame before fitting as you'll have to take it out again to do the clamp up.
And if you have removed the door handle and lock as well, please remember to refit aforementioned handle and lock before trying to fit the window channel felt.
I didn't....

Fiddly job with a lot of swearing and sore fingertips, but I'm rather pleased with myself.

Fri 14th May 2010

Interior lights wired and connected.
Had a go at the glovebox liner, didn't take a before pic, but it was carpet lined for some reason and not by a professional.
Managed to get the carpet out, but with some of the liner as well.



It's currently sat in the airing cupboard drying after a good clean and a coat of pva to strengthen it. I'll see what it's like in the morning with a coat of paint.
I've got a replacement liner out of a later van, but it doesn't fit quite right, which is why I'm farting about with the original one.

Tues 18th May 2010

Bugpack breather on at last.



Found a sheet of 9mm ply at the back of the garage, and a customer donated a roll of 2mm laminate underlay, so had a go at the floor.
Z hinges back in and adjusted, all I need now for my bedroom is a bit of foam over the engine compartment.
Oh, and another piece of ply.

Sat 22nd May 2010

Shortage of cash, so just farting about today.

It may not have a complete floor or interior cards yet, but at least I've got some sounds.



Amazing what you can do with some offcuts of ply.

Sat 5th June 2010

Got some 25mm celotex and assorted ply from site this week.

floor in



insulation in, what a pain cutting and trimming around the sliding door mech and fitting 25mm insulation into a 20mm recess....





ply on





speakers in the front as well, although I think the satin black may be coming out again...



Got dragged away shopping, so not much else accomplished today.

Mon 7th June 2010

Weighed some scrap copper in this morning, and then had some foam cut for the bed.





Looking forward to this weekend.

Fri 25th June 2010

Finished the trim panels now.











Makes a big difference to the noise levels while driving.
Just need to get some of the headlining trim strips and I can fit the headlining boards.
Oh, and another roll of gaffer tape for the rear hatch....

Sat 26th June 2010



Too hot for much to be done today.

Rear seat belt mounted welded into wheel tub, oil change and some more soundproofing over the engine.