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The van is finally back home (3 months late!) Work paid for my wheels refurbed at a place we use - they returned today and they've done a flipping amazing job. Can't wait to get the thing built back up now - going to see if it's quiet at work and steal a day off to get it a bit more together.
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Oooh, that's lush that is ;D
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I could fill this post with a whole raft of expletives and compliments, but instead I'm going to focus it all into two succinct words: FECKING ACE!
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This morning I got an early start on the van, bumpers fitted and suchlike then progress was halted by my mum turning up. She brought food bless 'er, but I had to be sociable and talk to her inside in the warmth rather than leave her stood outsode in the freezing cold watching me swear at an old VW. She left and then my dad came and did the same, for another hour. Then he left, and a mate turned up and I got roped into putting a new bumper on his vw caddy thing. By the time all that was done, it was pishing down and getting dark. Here's the van looking a bit more van like: I managed to get the dash back in. I was in too minds whether to paint it brown or not, but I'm glad I did now: SO as I mentioned, By now it was pouring with rain and I was wet and very very cold, so I cheated and just dragged an extension lead and a fan heater in and chipped at a few little jobs inside - stuck some insulation on the side panels, fitted the blower vents to the dash etc etc. It was actually very therapeutic, bumbling around in the warmth with the sound of rain hitting the roof. I got overcome by the moment and took a fancy picture of a wet window. And there we have it. Hopefully tomorrow it'll either not rain, or people will at least turn up for a chat when it's raining and dark so as not to chip into tinkering time.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,840
Club RR Member Number: 174
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That colour is stunning, looking forward to seeing this again.
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Nov 10, 2013 18:11:25 GMT
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Had a nice day faffing with the van today. First off my pal came round, we had a faff with the sliding door to get it to shut better, and I put the van on the road and swapped the wheels over - I needed someone to stand on the brake pedal while I tightened the adapters on the front. I didn't take many pictures as he was in a rush and I was also in a rush to get it off the road. With the wheels on I put it back on the drive (well only halfway up because that's as far as it would get with all the wet leaves all over the place) Anyway at this point the bloke over the road came round and asked if I'd bought a new project - He thought it was a different van entirely, which pleased me! I wanted to get the van waxoyled ASAP, but I've got shitloads of sticky back insulation to put in it so I put at least the first layer of that on, so that I'm not trying to stick insulation to grease. I've got enough to do 2 layers over most of the van, with three layers (total of about an inch) on the front wheel arches and round the engine area. Once it was all insulated I got cracking with the waxoyl and sprayer, predictably I ended up in a complete mess with waxoyl spunking all over the flipping place like some kind of robot bukkake scene, so I didn't take any photos at this stage. I think I'm gonna buy a couple of tins of that dinitrol stuff and use that because I couldn't get the lance thing to work right. After I got all cleaned up, I decided to get some electricity in the van and see if all the lights worked. They did, apart from one side light which is presumably the bulb. I'll replace that when I put the new headlights in (or hurriedly while apologizing profusely to the MOT tester) I fitted the clocks and speedo stuff too, and all the cowlings. The revcounter and temp guage have packed up, I'm sure I;ll sort them though. The seats (ex rover 400 IIRC) are both rough as arseholes and I should really get them retrimmed, but they are so comfy as they are I'm not all that motivated to. I might just sling a pair of snapon seatcovers on or something. So it was going dark and cold, I called it a day.
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Nov 10, 2013 18:16:16 GMT
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I'm jealous of your van as it's coming together, it really does look like a completely different machine. Where did your mate get his invisible Segway?
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,248
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Nov 10, 2013 18:22:31 GMT
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I have a pair of half leather Rover recaros that you could have for free to clear garage space, if anyone is passing Bristol headed your way with space let me know and they are yours! They ain't mint but they are tidier than the ones you have if you want them, maybe swap the covers to your bases or something. Love this van, looks so nice in that colour! Top work chap! Glad all the window frame welding paid off, was watching it all going in and waiting for the painted pics
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Last Edit: Nov 10, 2013 18:23:29 GMT by Rich
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Nov 10, 2013 18:38:30 GMT
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That would be fantastic Rich, I'll keep an eye on the logistics - I'd much rather have a pair of worn but original seats than some retrimmed ones with the usual crappy aftermarket leather on them.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,248
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Nov 10, 2013 23:15:42 GMT
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That would be fantastic Rich, I'll keep an eye on the logistics - I'd much rather have a pair of worn but original seats than some retrimmed ones with the usual crappy aftermarket leather on them. No worries bud, like I said, give me a shout if and when so I have time to dig them out and make sure they are clean and whatnot from storage.
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I got cracking with the waxoyl and sprayer, predictably I ended up in a complete mess with waxoyl spunking all over the flipping place like some kind of robot bukkake scene, so I didn't take any photos at this stage. I am, as we speak, taking a very sharp stick to my mind's eye. Lovely to see it coming together now though.
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Nov 12, 2013 21:13:52 GMT
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wow, what a transformation! love the colour and wheels, keep up the good work
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Nov 12, 2013 22:46:10 GMT
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Blooming lovely ;-)
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Nov 12, 2013 22:59:37 GMT
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Cheers dudes! Small update, apologies for how curse word it is. I'm trying to get Friday off work to do a few last bits before the MOT. If I can, it'll be going for a test this weekend - I mainly need to MOT it so I can use it to bring back some big sheets of wood to use on the interior. Some pictures, because everyone likes pictures: The bolts I had holding on the front bumper looked curse word. See: I've never been a fan of the OE 13mm hex heads with sliding door bearing covers over the top of them, they looked like something off a kit car. So I got some fancy ones (Countersunk jobbies with machined washers to match) but they were too shiny and blingy, so I put them in the vibratory tumbler at work for a bit with pyramid plastic media in to take them back to a bit more of a dull finish. I've got a bag full of the same gear, to hold the front doors on and the dashboard in and pretty much use wherever there's usually a visible 13mm bolt.
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Nov 13, 2013 15:52:01 GMT
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Looking good fella, love the attention to detail on the bolts.
I do mourn the loss of the van-ness though
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Last Edit: Nov 13, 2013 17:20:03 GMT by dubmonkey
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Nov 13, 2013 16:00:41 GMT
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That's looking great!
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77 Dolomite 1500hl
94 Mini Italian Job
06 Vw Caddy TDI, dropped on 19's
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Nov 17, 2013 18:47:35 GMT
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Well, it passed the MOT yesterday, which was nice. I picked up a massive roll of sound deadening / flashband stuff to put in the front end and everywhere I can't fit the thicker foam OK it's not dynamat or whatever, but every bit of weight added to the panel really helps, I've had really good results from just a few patches in the middle of panels,, but I dropped on a massive roll at the right price (free) so I might as well use it all: That's two or three or four layers all over the front floor and wheelarch tubs and two layers on the rear bulkhead . After that lot I put a few layers of the foam insulation on top where possible. I'm dead pleased with how much quieter it is already - It's just as if I've got all the bed and stuff fitted, loads better - It should be a joy to drive especially with another layer of foam all down the sides and roof, plus the doorcards and wooden floor etc etc. Next step I think is to convert the garage back into a garage, so I can get the van inside and out of the snow/rain/falling trees over winter, but cash is tight so progress might slow down for a month or so.
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Nov 17, 2013 19:05:48 GMT
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Congratulations on the MoT pass, not that I had any doubt you'd achieve it given the attention you've given the van of late.
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