I've been after one of these for a while and have finally taken the plunge. Have now readied the bank account for a complete emptying.

The plan is that its going to be media blasted so I can see exactly whats what and then full resto. My family are in the trade so I won't be doing the welding myself (less booing from the back!). I'm tasked with sourcing the bits - as can been seen, it really is just a rolling shell and is missing many quite important items.... such as seats and a steering wheel. I'm also planning a camping interior in keeping with the age of the bus so may be after tips and hints on that as I will be doing that myself. Enough of the chat, here's the pics.

Looks like you got your work cut out, but a great project

Andy

Right then, it's back from the blasters:

Overall not too bad I think (I hope!) but the van does seem to have had a hard life as there is not a straight panel on it -apart from the fuel filler flap. The blaster said that it had had a lot of work done on it over the years and he dug out a lot of filler. The chassis seems pretty good and the wheel arches are still intact, gutters are OK too.

One question if I may - where to begin?! It needs a new cargo floor and sills + long and short panels so I was going to lift the floor first, clean repair any rot to chassis that needs sorting, new inner sills and then the floor back down before moving to remove the long and short panels? I’m not sure of the best order of service!

The long and short panels have been attacked with an angle grinder around the arches so this along the state of the sills has led me to believe it’s better to replace the lot.

Id get it on a rollover and get the underneath blasted and welded first

Thanks Pokey - the underside has been blasted too and looks........... not too bad ?! Usual outriggers, sills and that, I'm sure there will be a few things popping out of the woodwork when we start digging about though......

Looks in quite good nick, especially underneath.

Generally start With the floor up, main chassis rail repairs, then outriggers, crossmembers, , top hats and I beams and finally inner cills. That gives to points to fix all your lower post repairs to which you will need to do before you can replace side panels and front arches etc.

Happy hunting for all the missing bits!


All the best

Jon

Thanks Jon, exactly what I was after.

Bit of an update........ a few chasis repairs needed and the first new steel goes into the van. Started with main beam repairs, then the top hats, outriggers and jacking points at the back which are all tacked in. Also the rear lower tub repairs are done, one load door repaired and the long side has been stripped off. Also located a used bulkhead so have trimmed (took most of a day drilling out spot welds) and had a dry fit. Very pleased with the results. Bad news is that the body work chap reckons the nose is beyond salvage.......thats an expensive panel! If anyone spots any howlers please let me know - myself and my chief welder are learning to put it together as we go!

I do have one question that someone may be able to help with - whats the best option for the 2nd heater pipe that runs into the back of the cab? Not sure I want to have a large pipe under there as a rock and roll will be going over the top. Can I just close it off?

We decided to keep the rear heater pipe in situ as it will still work, most rock n roll beds will still fit over it with no problems, just a piece of flexy pipe in the end of it to feed through a slot or vent, keeps the rear passengers feet warm.

Nice bus mate looks forward to the progress

Thanks chaps - cheers for the tip on the pipe

wow

Cool ride

nice buy dude

and well done for getting stuck in..... keep those updates coming



Mark

Bit of an update, sills with B and C posts on to the load door side and the rear wheel arch has been bonded on (beneath the battery, fire extinguisher and cardboard!). The other loading door has also had the bottom of it rebuilt (hats of to Simon at MGD in Cornwall for his welding skills.....) and a new skin bonded on (forgot to take a pictuire of that).
Awaiting a large delivery from C+C including a long side, front panel (beaten beyond salvage and the bottoms of the windscreens have gone too) and rear quarter to swage. Also beyond saving unfortunately.