Since Retro Rides 2015 was the (unrealistic) target that provided the inspiration to keep this making progress as more and more rot was found I thought I'd put in on these pages. It did technically make it to the gathering, it's first real outing in eight years and my first real drive in a Lada, but was hardly a show stopper. With this years camping tickets already bought the 2016 Gathering is now the aim to actually have it finished. I was put off posting here after looking through so many amazing technical builds but looking back it's come a long way and having it on here should help keep it on track. I have a welder, grinder, some air tools and most importantly access to a ramp so pretty much anything should be saveable. :-) After reading through stuff on here I now want a bead roller, lathe, metal folder, shrinker, press............ but one step at a time!
I've copied this over from a Lada forum so hopefully it works. Fingers crossed!
A few pictures of the wreck at the start. There's a bit more work than planned. I didn't take any when it was all covered in green stuff. Gave it a good pressure wash to help with enthusiasm and wasted some time considering pointless wheels!
Some new bits:
Projet rotbox actually makes some progress: (March 25th 2015, 2 years after purchase)
Some more progress (after moving mole grips :lol: ):
Moving onto the passenger side now. I had thought it was the better side but apparently not. In an attempt to beat future rust any areas that even have a hint of surface rust that I can't get off are treated with a rust converter before getting a coat of construction primer (strong etch and really good salt spray resistance) Any areas that aren't directly next to welding get a coat of construction primer too and any completely clean or areas being welded are coated with a copper weld through primer. I don't think there's much else can be done. All cavities will be coated with dinitrol or kent cavity wax once all the welding's finished.
New sections from Lada Spares help speed up the process. The back of the panel had already been coated with weld through primer before being attached and inside the sill done with construction primer with weld through coating along the back edges.
hopefully another few hours on the inner wing area will see it ready to fit the wings and front panel. Then it'll actually look like progress!
I've copied this over from a Lada forum so hopefully it works. Fingers crossed!
A few pictures of the wreck at the start. There's a bit more work than planned. I didn't take any when it was all covered in green stuff. Gave it a good pressure wash to help with enthusiasm and wasted some time considering pointless wheels!
Some new bits:
Projet rotbox actually makes some progress: (March 25th 2015, 2 years after purchase)
Some more progress (after moving mole grips :lol: ):
Moving onto the passenger side now. I had thought it was the better side but apparently not. In an attempt to beat future rust any areas that even have a hint of surface rust that I can't get off are treated with a rust converter before getting a coat of construction primer (strong etch and really good salt spray resistance) Any areas that aren't directly next to welding get a coat of construction primer too and any completely clean or areas being welded are coated with a copper weld through primer. I don't think there's much else can be done. All cavities will be coated with dinitrol or kent cavity wax once all the welding's finished.
New sections from Lada Spares help speed up the process. The back of the panel had already been coated with weld through primer before being attached and inside the sill done with construction primer with weld through coating along the back edges.
hopefully another few hours on the inner wing area will see it ready to fit the wings and front panel. Then it'll actually look like progress!
not sure on the rear lights though. 
