Hi all, hope you had a great xmas.
Back on the bus now and a lot of progress made,going to leave it to Rob now as we're heading for Switzerland,hopefully be ready for the paintshop when we get back.



Finished off the short sill











And made a start on the rear corner repairs















fabrication of a replacment section











Folded and swaged lip formed







Fits like a glove







Welded in position







New closing panel made







Welded in







Cleaned up the engine bay ready for some repair work



















made a new bit for the missing section







That's it for a couple of weeks folks, big update when I get back.

Nice to see it all being done properly, and a good guide for what I've got coming up. Will be great when it's done.

Looking really good. Nice to see the fabrication skills in use.
Interesting to get a good look at the narrow hatch bottle tray and battery box construction and relationship to the chassis.
I want to modify and increase the depth on the battery side to take both main and leisure battery stacked.
The early narrow hatch body had the retaining plate between the edge of the rear wheel tub and the triangular support on the bottle side and on the later wide hatch body it was removed...Wonder why...
Good pictures...Has helped me to be able to study and see the art of the possible..

Looking good! Nice fab skills - how did you form the curve on the rear corner repair?

Steve

Hi

New to this thread. I just read what you've been up to. some great work being done.

keep it and and well done for doing it right.

Jason

Thanks for the comments guys, (Jayvanman,Clymoj,Type21f and Rusty1962) Rob the welder is the man with the skills and I'll pass on your praise, he'll be made up.

Rusty1962, the arch corner repair isn't what it seems, although Rob has the skills I've no doubt we did cheat a bit.
We purchased a part short side repair panel from Autocraft which as some will know comes with the short sill to the seam where the repair piece is and is about a third of the height of a complete side.

We just used the smallest sill and that corner peice so we could get away with saving as much of the og
Side as possible.

Type21f, that's why this forum is great, it's taught me a lot over the years and is always a mind of info,
Glad it's helping you out, we had to replace that section of partition because it had been cut and butchered over the years and looked a mess, be nice to see it as it should look.

If your wondering why I'm posting when I'm on hols it's because I'm in the hotel knackered after a hectic day travelling and have just found out , FREE WIFI

Sorry no pics for a couple of weeks, Rob should have the battery trays all done by then so more piccy
porn then.

Six inch of snow here and we haven't got to the Alps yet

Looking good
And getting there fast

Nice workmanship


Soon be done mate


Ready for the good times sun shine


Mark

Bus looks good mate and really envious of the snow sports trip too..

Nice work and looking good!!

Damn you though going away to the snow, its the second year in 10 we haven't been away and its KILLING me!! Plus you get to come home to progress on the van, this world is so unfair enjoy!!

Hi all, thanks for the comments guys, yep back from a rail trip around Switzerland, a great adventure and really enjoyed it.
The renovation has moved on a lot while we were away and i've picked the bus up and it's all loaded on the trailer ready for a local trip Monday to the paint shop.

Missed a few detail pics of the final stages but have a few to show the completed repairs. Enjoy



Completed the repair to the battery trays and replaced the missing section











Engine bay cleaned,prep and primed







Got some stonechip on ready for paint shop























Thanks for the panel work Rob, top job from a top man

steve

Hear hear top job



Looks fab Steve


Mark

Cheers mark,



Ok, been slacking a bit with the updates , anyway bus is finished at the welders and has made its way to the paintshop.
Should have her back near the end of Feb then we can innerseal/waxoil the box sections and put her back together.



Before







And after a bit of blocking love



















Sent the drivers door top hinge away for drilling and bushing as there was too much play stopping us getting the door gap right, pics to follow.

That's all for now.

:



Looking good Steve


The problem with a filler work photo is it shows nothing of what's gone into getting it to look good ....


Photo of filler work = 10 hrs of skilled filler work .... It's an art and not luck when filler work is done well .


Hats off to your paint shop ..... Looking good guys



Cheers


Mark

Absolutely top work, I'd be over the moon with it

Nice work Steve, I'm doing (well, Simon the welder is, and I'm helping) some similar steel replacement on my bus just now and your thread has been a great help. I've learnt that there is a particular order in which everything needs to be done!
One question if I may? Are those adaptors from 112 pcd to 205 on your rear hubs? I'm looking at fitting Irs and will need to do the same I think- I was just a bit concerned about the wheel clearing the edge of the wheel arch on the early body. Is it any kind of a problem?

Cheers, Jon