The Big Restoration & Respray : The Big Reveal

Is it the same van? Babs finally comes home and is back on the drive and looks stunning. She's also running really well thanks to a tune up from Paul at Bugloft. 

It's only really part 1 of the resto however as there is an entire interior to install and build with absolutely zero in the contingency fund, so we are going to have to get creative and resourceful and ask lots of favors! 

The Big Restoration & Respray : Mango on!

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 9

All primed and ready for a splash of colour!

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 8

All ready for the first coats of Primer! Noted today that the nearside gutter is starting to go, willl start to search for a replacement section. Also got an engine lid delivered yestersday from FBI in wales that is in pretty good shape apart from a few dings and dents.

Rear valance all primed

Doors, valance, fuel flap, all primed

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 7

It was all filler, no thriller this week! A lot of flattening down of Bab's wonky curves. Also :

Carry out welding to side loading door 

Carry out welding to o/s chassis 

Bare metal rear valance, side loading door and side track covers 

Carry out fibreglass and filler work to all areas of the van 

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 6

Only the sliding door mend, and an engine lid to find before paint prep starts!

Full list of work below

Carry out welded to repairs to load floor 

Weld in outriggers and jacking points where necessary 

Fabricate and weld in repairs to front inner wheel tubs 

Clean up arch's and weld in to place 

Carry out welded repairs to lower front panel 

Finish welding to rear inner wheel tubs 

Weld in repairs to both rear arch's 

Clean up welds where necessary 

Push out dents around head light bowl 

Bare metal N/S of van 

Fit up doors and check alignment 

Hang side loading door and check for alignment 

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 5

Offside panels in and rear arch repair

This week Dave has been mostly...........

Clean up and weld in front chassis cross-member
Cut welds on o/s rear arch, re-clamp into position and re-weld
Cut out rusted area on inner o/s rear wheel tub
Fabricate and weld in repair to o/s rear inner wheel tub
Weld in o/s and n/s lower front arch repairs
Weld in n/s and o/s inner and outer b-post repairs cutting rusted post out where necessary
Weld o/s outer sill and panel repair together
Weld above into place
Weld in n/s outer sill into place
Clean up all welds where necessary

Post and sliding door sills repair

Cross member in place

Wheel arch repair

The Big Restoration & Respray : Week 3-4

Yup, that needed doing!

The posts are almost ready to be put in and serious surgery to her chassis has been completed, and she has been officially taken off life support. Just waiting for some outer sills you can see Dave Simpson sizing up in the pictures below. Really pleased with all the work Dave and his apprentice has done after what looks like decades of bodges and cover ups to rival the British Government. Half the original budget already gone and not a sniff of paint yet.........