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Jun 20, 2013 21:36:39 GMT
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Hi my name is Duncan I have recently purchased a new project for 2013 summer season . A very tatty and much abused VW T25 Camper. Me and my GF have been after buying one for ages so after looking at the shocking prices people are asking for ready to go campers , We bit the bullet and decided to take a punt on one in need of restoration. I have a fair bit of previous experience in updating a few cars such as a MK2 Astra van which had a redtop motor fitted into , A Vw Jetta Mk2 that I updated and restored to as new as possible condition and Also a Suzuki supercarry I restored and resprayed myself to use for work last year , However I had never taken on a project where i had done all of the work including welding in new panels where needed . I suppose there is no time like the present so after searching for a while we stumbled across this Vw advertised online and set off at 4AM a couple of weeks ago with a trailer and some cash and headed to Bournemouth to buy a non runner in a very sorry state, What where we thinking? We paid cash and loaded it on the trailer and set off . Heres what we bought ! A few more pics of what work is to follow . Leaking roof Rotten front steps Manky interior Leaking roof light However after a days solid work i removed the worst of the dirt grease and grime and ripped out the old roof light and hideous TV aerial and pressure washed the van down. I ended up with this as a result Not bad for a days work but this was just the start.
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Jun 20, 2013 21:47:18 GMT
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That looks a hell of a lot better with a wash! T25s are great vans, I'd love to kip in a hightop, but probably not drive one!
Those front steps are pretty much par for the course, Schofields repair panels are good enough if you want to replace the lot.
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Jun 20, 2013 21:47:54 GMT
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Ok so onto the start of the work . Luckily we have a VW parts supplier in Bristol so i gave them a call and asked if they coul dsource me some replacement panels. I needed 2X front step repair panels, a new filler cap repair panel , loads of bodyshop fillers and seamsealers and general other bits. They came up trumps and after parting with the best part of £150 i started the massive haul that is restoration. First job is to cut out and reweld in new steps , I have never used a MIG welder before to do this type of work although i have used a stick welder and a mig before but never for welding thin sheet , Please feel free to comment on my work and any tips you have to improve my work is greatfully recieved . Ok Start of the repairs ended in me welding in a new step like this !! I then removed as much seamsealer grease rust flakes and general poop from underneath , Scrubbed it with a stiff brush and some industrial degreaser and ended up with this I had re sealed the new metal i welded into the rear of the Arch lips and tarted to recover with a new chasis paint in black So after about 20 hours work i reckon ifinally ended up with quite a good finish that even surprised myself . New wing step and chasis painted ready for filling
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Jun 20, 2013 22:08:28 GMT
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Ok more paint and finishing I ended up with this ! What you think ?
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Jun 20, 2013 22:16:25 GMT
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That looks a hell of a lot better with a wash! T25s are great vans, I'd love to kip in a hightop, but probably not drive one! Those front steps are pretty much par for the course, Schofields repair panels are good enough if you want to replace the lot. Hi cobblers Thanks for your reply Yeah we have a place called KGC in Bristol apparently they do loads of VW parts. The step repair panels were a bit of a pig to get right. I'm looking forward to going camping in the van once done , I had Motogp tickets for my birthday this year so hopefully its first outing will be then! Any feedback is always well received Cheers
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Jun 20, 2013 22:19:55 GMT
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Just found a couple pics of my last project
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Jun 21, 2013 10:29:48 GMT
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me like very much!!!!
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omega
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,060
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Jun 21, 2013 10:43:47 GMT
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hi I like your work but I hate the black underseal look,it looks so much better painted and it dosnt hide anything. just my 2 pennyworth.
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Jun 21, 2013 15:57:12 GMT
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I agree with hating underseal. This is a steel coating we use in boat building. It can be applied underwater and over coatted if n I may paint it in the future well. See what the end finish of the van is
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Jun 21, 2013 16:05:57 GMT
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I agree with hating underseal. This is a steel coating we use in boat building. It can be applied underwater and over coatted if n I may paint it in the future well. See what the end finish of the van is
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Jun 21, 2013 20:24:58 GMT
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i'd remove the screwed on plate under your throttle pedal and weld some steel in there next, could be hiding more curse word. dunno what you paid but i've seen a lot worse come through our workshop and on the road too, good luck with it and enjoy
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Jun 21, 2013 21:51:04 GMT
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I'd remove the screwed on plate under your throttle pedal and weld some steel in there next, could be hiding more curse word. dunno what you paid but I've seen a lot worse come through our workshop and on the road too, good luck with it and enjoy Hey guz The pedal is fine underneath ive already checked. The van has an Audi 1.9 TDI engine fitted so the plate has been fitted to the van to take a throttle position sensor for the engine. Yeah i also think ive struck a good deal what i paid and hopefully it will be sound when done. I removed the side cover below where the rear window is today to inspect the top of the rear arch as it is in need replacement. I'm ordering a new full height arch skin tomorrow any idea which panels are the best to get ??
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Jun 22, 2013 21:10:44 GMT
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Managed to do a little more today , I attacked the rusty lower door above my nice new shiny step. I began by cutting out both sides of the lower part of the door as it was rusted completely through but before i started i made a skin about 4 inches high that fitted the shape of the door pretty well. On the reverse of the door there is a channel that accepts the door seal but i had to scratch my head how to re-make this with a repair panel. So i cut the door as far back as i could and then measured the height of the seal and measured this onto the good metal of the door . i then scribed the door and bent the lower part of the door back in to the step and welded the replacement lower part onto the part i had just bent back into the step. Result i now have a channel to refit the seal inside the step. More luck than anything else but good old measure twice and cut once is definately the right way to do things. i also had the first success with a butt weld that did not blow holes through the repair. I have a little re welding to do fill in a few pin holes but I'm really happy with how it turned out. After the door has bee adjusted on the hinges it shoul dsit perfect. Next week hopefully get the other side done as it is just as bad .
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Schofields panels are what my mate usually uses, mine are all gonna be small patches so i'm making them up as i go along, already done the biggest which were the 2 slider bottoms, they were a pig to do.
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Jun 24, 2013 20:54:01 GMT
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Another interesting day today i removed the rear rotten wheel arch today and discovered more than i was expecting! Looks like its been repaired before on the outside but whoever did it forgot o mend where the chassis connects to the rear arms of the van After cutting grinding , and more cutting and grinding i ended up with this patch on the inside , Its not the pretiest but i ran multiple beads on to a 3mm plate all round and reinforced front and back . hopefully this will be good enough for MOT. I also used some chassis paint on the inside of the repair to stop any rust reapearing again inside hopefully.
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Feb 18, 2014 21:28:25 GMT
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Soo its been a while the camper has been to sleep for a few months But i have finally braved it and grrabbed the VW out from the winter and started to get on with it again. We managed to get 90% ofthe structural work done last year and got MOT and tax and drove the van up to Silverstone for the Moto GP last September
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Feb 18, 2014 21:34:05 GMT
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Ill try my best to keep this updated from now on , I'm starting the last of the body work bits amd pieces this week and hopefully removing the Hi top ready to put it in the workshop to be completed . I have purchased a few bits over the winter such as wheels and tyres and hub kits . A new battery , and removed the sump and cleaned all th nasty oil out and cleaned the engine and fitted an new Oil filter with oil. Looks as if we may be going to Italy in the later part of 2014 so it has to be ready for then !!! anybody have any ideas on what size wheel stud lengths to fit Mercedes wheels onto the Van ?? I purchased a set of these in 14 inch brand new in boxes from the 80s
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Feb 25, 2014 22:30:31 GMT
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Ok so after a few days and evenings on the camper I have managed to repair the lower rear corners of the van. They are all cleaned filled smoothed and have a dusting of primer on ready for final prep for the paint, We decided to do a proper paint job and to make sure all was well to remove the complete interior and trim and to take the high roof off. Before- After - So now the interior is out also I can start to do all of the last body work repairs and the dreaded rotten windscreen mounting I am also looking for a used tailgate if anybody has one for sale ?? More to follow soon !!!
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