rusty nail to sow's ear

Tues 14th February 2012

Half day today, so guess what....



after a bit of adjustment with some clamps, a couple of bits of 3" x 2" and a mallet they fit.







Too cold to fit the rubbers though.

Sat 18th February 2012


Bumper trim rubbers fitted, thanks to Nick and his workshop heater.






Available in a wide range of colours



and that's just my bus.

Sat 25th February 2012

Sun 26th February 2012

After almost being seduced by an imported filly, I've decided to stay faithful to my old heap of shit.
Stripped interior out of bus ready to replace previous dodgy repairs. Not altogether convinced about the benefits of the insulation though, quieter yes, but loads of condensation pooling on the panels. :?







Another batch of transplant panels.




Rear hatch almost finished after stripping back dodgy paint and repainting yet again. Just need to get a VOLKSWAGEN badge and latch.
Quick cut and polish after fitting "new" glass and jail bars.




On a roll now, started the engine lid.

Tues 28th February 2012






What a difference 4 years makes......






























.....and still not finished.

Wed 29th February 2012









Decided after a bit of consultation, that because TH drop spindles are going on the beam, to fit the adjusters so that the stock height position is central. The last thing I want after fitting a king and linkpin beam is to have the tyres rammed up inside the arches and no adjustment.
I've got that already....

Thurs 1st March 2012

It may be "rust free", but it's certainly not dent free.



And the paint came out in splodges, good job it's just a etch guide coat to let me see the blemishes.

Fri 2nd March 2012

As the weather was pleasant today I decided to take the sliding door track cover off and reveal the horrors beneath.
Easier said than done though, track cover decided it liked being fixed to the bus so out came the grinder.





OK inside though.







Overall not as bad as I was expecting.
Be nice to be at this stage though.

Sat 3rd March 2012

Part deux...

Repair panels went in very nicely, but a bit of a fiddle at the back end.









Bit draughty coming home up the motorway, but it was a nice day and the heat exchangers are wired fully open.
Then spent the rest of the day trying to get the many coats of paint around the window ready for some colour, quick swipe of filler and cover on ready for the bad weather forecast for tomorrow.





Time for a cider or three now.

Sun 4th March 2012

Weather conspiring against me today, so only got a rub down and a coat of hi-build primer on. Not too keen on this new stuff that I've been supplied, needs another rub back before top coat.

Mon 5th March 2012

Got home from work and decided to get some paint round the window. Don't it ever get dark and cold quick?





Hopefully the paint will be hard enough to get the cover back on in an hour or so.

Wed 7th March 2012

As the window is still out, I thought I'd better get on with the inside.
Spent all afternoon scraping and rubbing back white gloss.
All masked up and etch primed.





A coat of hi-build primer and then top coat.
Had a bit of a reaction above the window opening, but I can sort that out after the window's back in.





Glass in Friday hopefully, depending on the weather.

Fri 9th March 2012



Managed to split the rubber re-fitting the glass, so gave up and decided to rub down the temporary trim panels and make them permanent.



Time for a cider or two now while I wait for the varnish to dry.

Sun 11th March 2012

Tonight Matthew I've mostly not bothered with the unfinished jobs and started another one.....











Spot the deliberate mistake.
What a cock......




2nd coat on the engine hatch.

Mon 12th March 2012

Managed to get the n/s rear window back in tonight, with assistance from a neighbour.





Right then, what's next? Where's that list?

Thurs 15th March 2012



Spare 20 minutes and another job done.




Started to sort out the mains and 12V stuff, but discovered the 12V fusebox doesn't have a common terminal.

Anyway, I bodged it with a bit of copper and a soldering iron.

Only "temporary" until I get the Westy bed off Ozzie, ARE YOU LISTENING OUT THERE OZZIEDOG? and fit the Zig unit.

Fri 16th March 2012

This evening's efforts.



No, the pic is not the wrong way up. Due to lack of clearance under bench seat the enclosure is mounted horizontally.

Sat 17th March 2012

Bottled cutting the o/s sill off today, decided to leave the list of bodywork for a couple of months
With the aid of a 4 poster ramp managed to get the hook-up socket wired and fitted, earth connection to the chassis done,



and final connections to leisure battery/12V set-up.
Got home to start refitting interior and then the rain came down.

Tues 20th March 2012

Don't you just hate it, when this happens.

Wed 21st March 2012

That's better,



all I need to do now is remember where I put the track cover trim and fit it.
I think it may be time for a wash and polish over the weekend. Some of the older painted repairs are looking a bit faded now.

Sat 24th March 2012

Not the easiest of jobs this morning. Eventually involved the use of a rubber mallet, and then some judicious use of full body weight pulling the bottom lip out so the that U hinge didn't rub all the way along.......





Still need to drop the sliding door off again and open out the hinge mounting holes to get some upwards adjustment.

Still, this afternoon was much better.

























Just a few pics from the Bespoked show at temple Meads today.

Fri 30th March 2012

Gave the old bus a wash this afternoon.
Whoever said you can't polish a turd was only partly right.

Sat 31st March 2012

Spent today re-fitting the interior ready for the Easter trip, the camping season has begun properly now.
Had an hour or so with my friend T-Cut, and the end result was slightly better than what was there originally. Can't get high primer primer to polish up though.....

Sun 1st April 2012

Looks better in the sun after another rub over.

Mon 9th April 2012

Just back from the JK Easter camp at Lacock.









Those red wheels look ace in the sun.







Roast lamb and potatoes a la Cobb





Oh, go on then...







The Easter curry cook-out







Nice quiet site, but more suited for mature caravanners as I think VW's are unwelcome, and the awning's are definitely too big.