I buy some sh*te

[Bluebeard]

Said no one, ever.

Wash yo math out ya feelthy peeeg.

They’re Bloody brilliant cars.

 

[Krarl]

Wash yo math out ya feelthy peeeg.

They’re Bloody brilliant cars if you're an up and coming drug dealer from Dewsbury.

EFA

 

[David Stuart]

Wash yo math out ya feelthy peeeg.

They’re Bloody brilliant cars.

It’s rotten along the sills and the interior is shagged. But it does go well hence using its engine for something cool.


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[David Stuart]

I also got the seats returned and my bed made.

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[_Tom]

Those covers look a terrible fit?

 

[David Stuart]

Those covers look a terrible fit?

Aw thanks. [emoji23]

I’m assuming you mean the front seats. My first impression wasn’t great either with the photos. But when I went to see them in person it made sense.

The passenger double seat has a stitched seam half way up the back rest and it looks better in person.

The drivers seat does looks a bit baggy. So I might get it removed and some new foam added.

A long way to go with Paint before worrying about that anyway.


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[David Stuart]

I’ve been cracking on with the welding and had a few quotes for doing the paint properly. I figured I’m that deep in now I might as well do it right and have a great end product. Plus I’ve never aimed to build an average car yet so why start now.

But before that I had some real trouble starting the van. Ended up changing the starter in the freezing cold snow outside my unit. But now it’s mobile again and I’m getting on with it.

Front arch welding finished. I’ve ground it back a bit more and it will have a little skim of filler before paint.

I then started on the sliding door. First I’ve cut off the bottom section that was looking a bit rusty.

That but is looking pretty straight forward. I’ll make a repair panel up and welding it in soon.

But I then started digging in where there was a crack in the paint (filler alert!!!)

So it’s had a bit of a hit. I don’t thing any attempt has been made to pull it out. Then just loaded on 2” of filler. It had a big mess but there is only one way to see what you have and that’s to wire wheel the lot out.

I’ve stopped there with the sliding door. Just seeing it it’s worthwhile continuing with this one. But a bit of a look around and I would be paying £350 ish for one that might be just as bad. So I think this will get repaired.

While I make that decision. I’ve moved on to the tailgate.

It has a hole for a rear wiper. But I have no desire to find or pay for a rear wiper. So I’ve welded a plate behind.

Same goes for the rear badge. Sure I could get one. But the little fixings brake all the time so they are quite expensive and are not available new.

So I’ve cut out the badge hole and stitched in a bit of 1mm steel.

Very happy with the end result there. A little bit of panel warping above the mod. But i think it will work out fine.

So just the sliding door and then the windscreen surround to finish. Fit the side windows. Then it will be stripped down for paint.


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[Ben]

Love these.

 

[David Stuart]

Love these.

Cheers. Getting it painted will be the turning point. Clean jobs from there.


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[Krarl]

Jesus I thought it was an aerial picture of a snow drift not a door with filler in😂😂😂

 

[Robbie Corbett]

You know your in trouble if you've done 3 passes with the flap wheel and its still filler haha.

I don't know which series of mouse clicks brought me here, or why I've read pages 1 and 2 bloody hate 'The Scene' but think this is interesting all the same.

Question, I've often though a day van would be a great thing.... but I have utterly no idea why - what do people in the UK do with them?

If your not into surfing or comfortable dogging what else is there?

 

[Starlet_gt]

You know your in trouble if you've done 3 passes with the flap wheel and its still filler haha.

I don't know which series of mouse clicks brought me here, or why I've read pages 1 and 2 bloody hate 'The Scene' but think this is interesting all the same.

Question, I've often though a day van would be a great thing.... but I have utterly no idea why - what do people in the UK do with them?

If your not into surfing or comfortable dogging what else is there?

I guess I've got what you would call a day van. It's got a rock and roll bed but no units etc. Ive used it for camping.

When trackday season starts it gets used for towing my bike, carrying the generator etc and I can easily get changed in it.

If you're a fairly active person they're perfect. Without units etc you still have the room to use it as a van.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

I guess I've got what you would call a day van. It's got a rock and roll bed but no units etc. Ive used it for camping.

When trackday season starts it gets used for towing my bike, carrying the generator etc and I can easily get changed in it.

If you're a fairly active person they're perfect. Without units etc you still have the room to use it as a van.

Yea was going to say for track days they are probably decent, although I would want the bike in the van. I guess if your into cycling hols too and can spend a night in a forest etc.

 

[Djw Dave]

Looking good fella.

 

[David Stuart]

You know your in trouble if you've done 3 passes with the flap wheel and its still filler haha.

I don't know which series of mouse clicks brought me here, or why I've read pages 1 and 2 bloody hate 'The Scene' but think this is interesting all the same.

Question, I've often though a day van would be a great thing.... but I have utterly no idea why - what do people in the UK do with them?

If your not into surfing or comfortable dogging what else is there?

That’s it mate. Appreciate that it’s somethigg by different to the usual project threads on here and glad there is some interest.

I started out thinking why would you buy a VW t5/6 for the obscene money they go for. Vivaro / bongo etc all the do the same job.

As I said in the first thread. This was a way into the VW thing without the stupid amounts of money involved. I paid £1300 for the Van. I’ll prob end up with around £5-6k in it when it’s done. And the good thing with VW stuff is it will be worth at least that when I come to sell. If I put a load of money into a vivaro it would still be worth a lot less than what I paid.

As for the practical uses. I’m a family man. My kids are just old enough to be going bikes and actually enjoy the outdoors. So the aim to to take them away regularly in it. Maybe some camping with the Van as the misses accommodation and me in the tent. As well as take it to car shows / hillclimb events for me to camp over.

Most other folk are track day / camping / surfing types by the look of it.


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[Robbie Corbett]

That’s it mate. Appreciate that it’s somethigg by different to the usual project threads on here and glad there is some interest.

I started out thinking why would you buy a VW t5/6 for the obscene money they go for. Vivaro / bongo etc all the do the same job.

As I said in the first thread. This was a way into the VW thing without the stupid amounts of money involved. I paid £1300 for the Van. I’ll prob end up with around £5-6k in it when it’s done. And the good thing with VW stuff is it will be worth at least that when I come to sell. If I put a load of money into a vivaro it would still be worth a lot less than what I paid.

As for the practical uses. I’m a family man. My kids are just old enough to be going bikes and actually enjoy the outdoors. So the aim to to take them away regularly in it. Maybe some camping with the Van as the misses accommodation and me in the tent. As well as take it to car shows / hillclimb events for me to camp over.

Most other folk are track day / camping / surfing types by the look of it.


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No its all good stuff - actually wish there was a marques project section rather than lumping it with media. Looking forward to more updates!

 

[David Stuart]

So a good amount of time in the garage today.

The van is booked in to the paint shop for the 17th Feb so I’ve got to get it ready to go over the next 2 weeks. The deal was to have the van fully prepped. All repairs done. All sanding done. Pretty much ready for panel wipe and primer.

So there are a few jobs to do before the sanding starts.

One. The windscreen on these tends to let water in past the rubber trim and they rust the screen surround. I removed the windscreen with a bit of difficulty and did end up cracking it. Not the end of the world and I’m going to see about maybe replacing with a heated screen.

All removed.

Sealant removed and rust ground back this was the worst bit.

One little hole welded up and ground back. Just need to get some rust remedy in there now and an etch prime.

Second. I moved back to the sliding door. I was going to push out and repair the dent but got another door locally for £40. It has some rust in the same place as my door but no dent.

Lip repair section made up abs tacked in.

Fully welded and ground back with a flap wheel.

I then cut out this section from the middle of my other door a will weld that in tomorrow to finish it off.

And finally. I had two little holes in the front panel from the previous owner fitting two eyelets.

Ground back. Welded then flap disc to make it smooth.


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[David Stuart]

Jobs left to do.

Weld a small whole in the rear roof section near the tailgate hinge.

Cut the side windows out and spotweld the inner and outer skins.

Sand the hole van with 240 then 400 grit. Filler anywhere that needs it.

Should keep me busy for a few weeks.


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[David Stuart]

That’s the sliding door bottom finished.

Started with trimming back and then “joggled” a step in the panel.

Then in clamped the repair and tacked it in place.

Then the return lip was folded over.

Fully welded and dressed back.

And a couple on small welds one the back.

Next are the side windows.


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[Djw Dave]

Fairly getting on with the job.

Looks like there will only be Staycations this year so a worthwhile investment.

 

[David Stuart]

Fairly getting on with the job.

Looks like there will only be Staycations this year so a worthwhile investment.

Got a deadline so no choice. Aim to get it all on the road for a holiday in Easter. Second week in April.


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[Djw Dave]

Got a deadline so no choice. Aim to get it all on the road for a holiday in Easter. Second week in April.


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April will be here before we know it.

 

[David Stuart]

Sliding door almost finished. Just the window to fit. I bought 2nd hand VW caravelle windows. Which are a bit more complicated to fit that aftermarket windows.

First I cut the skin out. But as you can see there is a gap between the inner and outer skins. If you just try to fit the window. It will sit proud.

So first you have to hammer and dolly the out skin flat. Then you can grind the paint back and spot weld it together.

The bottom edge wouldn’t spot together. So I drilled a load of holes and got the MIG out the plug welded it.

Then I quick template and some red paint to mark through for the drill marks.

And finally 10 holes like this welded up and ground back (they were for an insulated panel I removed.

And it’s in. Fit is pretty good. It needs to come in a tiny bit at the bottom. Will be a combination of dressing the welds back and more hammer and dolly to get it perfect.

All in was 3-4 hours work I think.

Now I have to repeat the process on the body.


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[Starlet_gt]

I remember refitting my T4 sliding door... spent ages trying to get it lined up, got so angry I threw a socket into the garage. Enjoy!

 

[David Stuart]

I remember refitting my T4 sliding door... spent ages trying to get it lined up, got so angry I threw a socket into the garage. Enjoy!

Looking forward to that job then. [emoji23]


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[David Stuart]

So two hours start to finish that’s the off side window aperture done.

Started like this.

Pilot holes first.

Then a straight edge using the masking tape.

Roughly cut out.

I then dressed back the sharp edges and picked this sealer out between the inner and outer panels. Cut myself in the progress.

Paint all stripped off and ready for spot welding.

Some decent spot welds. This is so much quicker than plug welding. Also less messy and noisy. But it’s a heavy bugger so a bit of a workout.

All done.

And some etch primer to finish. I’m very happy with it. A lot quicker that the other side and the end result looks factory. Just 10 holes to drill in the right places for the window to bolt in. That’s for another night.

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[Rob]

Nice work!

 

[David Stuart]

Starting to ha s second thoughts about the colour of this. Any thoughts welcome.

Progress tonight.

Last bits of rust in the rear of the roof seam.

Tailgate removed. Cut, make a panel. Weld it in. But I then ran out of wire. So I’ll need to buy more and finish the job tomorrow.

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[David Stuart]

So I’ve started posting options on facebooked but interested to hear what people here think.

Colour the Van is now. I think it’s close to VW pistachio green.

My chosen colour so far. French racing blue. Here is a van in a pretty close colour.

VW Friesian Green.

Or a sort of dark metalic grey.

Other colours that have been ruled out.

White, red, orange and battle ship grey.

Happy to take other suggestions. Get your votes in now.


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[Ben]

Grey would be my choice, but that’s only because the other colours really date the van.

 

[Philip.]

Grey would be my choice too.

 

[Krarl]

Yup grey for me too. RB looks a bit meh for something that big and the green gives the impression that you're 75 years old and bother dogs

 

[Typhoon]

Grey would be my choice, but that’s only because the other colours really date the van.

+1

 

[Jack!]

White with Free Candy on the side.

 

[RustyMojo]

Silver, nice clean and understated. Suits the age of the van as well. Racing blue or any flat colour just makes it look like it’s been destickered from the water board or British Gas. Like all the old yellow ones are obviously all ex AA

 

[David Stuart]

Silver, nice clean and understated. Suits the age of the van as well. Racing blue or any flat colour just makes it look like it’s been destickered from the water board or British Gas. Like all the old yellow ones are obviously all ex AA

Interesting. A lot of those yellow van owners are very proud of them being ex AA but I’m not keen personally.

I would do the bumpers colour as well and some other touches so it def shouldn’t look like an ex British Gas Van.

So I’ve priced the grey. It’s a bit more expensive. I do like it but the van I posted it pretty well known and I wouldn’t want t copy. Also if I was using it daily I think the grey would be my choice. I’m very tempted. But in all likelihood I’ll only use the van a few times a month. Also I get that a more modern colour brings the van up to date. But then it goes out of date very quickly as well and maybe doesn’t suite an older van. Maybe not as bad as nardo grey but not far off.

Silver would be timeless but a bit bland.

I love the green. I’m torn with that. Also looks nice with the orange indicators which not many of the other colours do.

I still love the idea of RB. I think breaking it up with tinted windows and black details helps a lot.


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[David Stuart]

A few hours tonight just sanding the body. Both sides of the van done in 240 grit in the DA.

And some rust converter round the windscreen surround.

I’ll let that cure and etch prime tomorrow. Hopefully my welding wire gets delivered tomorrow and I can finish a few bits of welding.


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[David Stuart]

So it’s been a week since I’ve updated this but not because I’ve not been working away on it.

I had two little rust spots at the back of the roof.

Etch prime around the windscreen.

A little weld repair and reshape for the wiring grommet in the tailgate.

Side window fully fitted.

I had a tyre fitted to the wheels I’m changing to. Just the check clearance. Looks good with a bit more tuck than the banded steels which is what I was after.

Loads of room at the front. No need to roll the arches.

Inner wheel arch repair seam sealed and gravitex stone chip.

And a final fit of filling and sanding done. Now off to the paint shop for the next few weeks.

We will see soon how it looks in a nice fresh goat of paint. I’m looking forward to seeing bit come back. I’ve got a few jobs to do while it’s away so I’ll take a few days rest then crack on with the jobs I can.


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[Djw Dave]

What colour did you go with in the end Dave?

 

[David Stuart]

What colour did you go with in the end Dave?

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