1983 Austin Minivan Resto begins.
Discussion
uksurvivor said:
I got saved by a very friendly AA bike patrol man about 3 weeks ago who let slip that he forms part of the AA team who maintain one of each of the old patrol vehicles for the company. I've pinged him a text to see if he can help.... will keep you posted.
Great stuff Andy, looking forward to any info you can.
Update
The vans booked into the shop on the 16th for the welding on the main body to be done.....YIPPEEE....just dropped 120 sheets on new panels...FARK...should mean less fabrication to be done by the garage so hopefully cost abit less in labour.
Excitied is an understatement at the moment.
(might not be quite so when the bill comes through though)
The vans booked into the shop on the 16th for the welding on the main body to be done.....YIPPEEE....just dropped 120 sheets on new panels...FARK...should mean less fabrication to be done by the garage so hopefully cost abit less in labour.
Excitied is an understatement at the moment.
(might not be quite so when the bill comes through though)
Popped down to see how the garage are getting on with SAL and she has less holes in her now
Drivers side rear arch.
Made a start on the driver side inner and outer A-panel.
New lower passenger side from arch to door shut.
I had to order some new external door hinges as I lost the others, so not much has happened so far this week, plus they are fitting it in around other jobs.
Drivers side rear arch.
Made a start on the driver side inner and outer A-panel.
New lower passenger side from arch to door shut.
I had to order some new external door hinges as I lost the others, so not much has happened so far this week, plus they are fitting it in around other jobs.
Monster26 said:
Looking good. keep up the good work. Here is my Van project...
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&...
Thanks mark.http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&...
WOWZERs......! I thought mine needed some welding, scanning that threads just made me feel alot better...
I'm thinking of having a black roof, does it really show the imperfections up alot as you say?
Although I want it to look like new I also think the odd dink gives it some character.
Just popped into the garage to see the Van and the guys are going great guns.
They've done most of the work on the drivers side:
Repaired the rear arch inside and out.
Rebuilt and strengthened the rear subframe mounting point.
New outer sill.
Round the front:
New plate for the suspension top mount bracket.
plated and tidied up the scuttle area.
Patched and strengthened the bulkhead subframe mount as it was abit rusty.
Tidied up the floor pans underneath from a bad repair before I had it.
Left to do mostly the passenger side:
Small patch on the rear arch.
Fabricate and weld up the front arch.
Drivers inner and outer A panels.
Fabricate a small part of the drivers doorstep and weld in.
Will try getting some pictures next week.
They've done most of the work on the drivers side:
Repaired the rear arch inside and out.
Rebuilt and strengthened the rear subframe mounting point.
New outer sill.
Round the front:
New plate for the suspension top mount bracket.
plated and tidied up the scuttle area.
Patched and strengthened the bulkhead subframe mount as it was abit rusty.
Tidied up the floor pans underneath from a bad repair before I had it.
Left to do mostly the passenger side:
Small patch on the rear arch.
Fabricate and weld up the front arch.
Drivers inner and outer A panels.
Fabricate a small part of the drivers doorstep and weld in.
Will try getting some pictures next week.
No filler work has been done to the shell at this stage, what you can see at the moment is past filler I've uncovered from previous work on it... The garage is only doing the metal fabrication and welding.
The filler will be removed and re applyed where needed, then a thick coat of high build primer will be added and flatted back.
The filler will be removed and re applyed where needed, then a thick coat of high build primer will be added and flatted back.
Well another months gone by since my last post...! Almost there 
I know absolutely naff all about fabricating and welding but I have to say, I'm really impressed with the work the lads are putting in at Blue Peter Garages. They have now hung the drivers door and strengthened inside the A-panel post / door hinge mounting, welded up the massive gaps between the floor pans underneath from a previous bodge and undersealed the hole floorpan front to back.
Couple of small patches to go and she should be ready for me to get down to the prep.
One small snag is their really busy at the moment
and as its being done on the side, wont get onto it until at least next week.
I know absolutely naff all about fabricating and welding but I have to say, I'm really impressed with the work the lads are putting in at Blue Peter Garages. They have now hung the drivers door and strengthened inside the A-panel post / door hinge mounting, welded up the massive gaps between the floor pans underneath from a previous bodge and undersealed the hole floorpan front to back.
Couple of small patches to go and she should be ready for me to get down to the prep.
One small snag is their really busy at the moment
and as its being done on the side, wont get onto it until at least next week.Picked the shell up from the welders last week. 
The guys did a great job I feel and price to boot.
Hopefully my paint guy is ordering all the materials and paint sometime next week, I've got a few busy weekends ahead so hopefully getting back on the van early part of June.
So back out with the sander and looking like a smurf to get ride of the last of the blue paint.
The guys did a great job I feel and price to boot.
Hopefully my paint guy is ordering all the materials and paint sometime next week, I've got a few busy weekends ahead so hopefully getting back on the van early part of June.
So back out with the sander and looking like a smurf to get ride of the last of the blue paint.
Update time I guess
So I have abit of a more upto date thread running on TMF, so I thought it might be time to bump this one abit.
Not much have happened with the bodywork recently, I found out that the welding was not as well done as I first thought so will need to tend to that first. Been collecting some more parts to get the subframes rebuilt, I now have all the parts to get the van back on its wheels again, all that remains is to get some top coat on the arches and bulkhead.
Couple of picture so far.
Couple of bits of grinding down to do but mostly there now.
I was stood on the footwell the other weekend and heard this cracking/flexing sound.
Which revealed this.
So out came the D/S cross member and the inner sill.
Still with abit of the inner sill attached as I gave up for the day as my knee was giving me some jip.
Painted some bits of the bell housing, also did the gearbox but no picture.
Got the wiring loom out which was a pain in the ass.
Fitted the adjustable tie-bars and solid rear mounts.
Popped the cam and the head on.
So thats the last few months... Doesn't look alot really when you look at it like that.
Got some time off over christmas and back at my mums so hoping to get some paint on the bulkhead and arches with luck.
So I have abit of a more upto date thread running on TMF, so I thought it might be time to bump this one abit.
Not much have happened with the bodywork recently, I found out that the welding was not as well done as I first thought so will need to tend to that first. Been collecting some more parts to get the subframes rebuilt, I now have all the parts to get the van back on its wheels again, all that remains is to get some top coat on the arches and bulkhead.
Couple of picture so far.
Couple of bits of grinding down to do but mostly there now.
I was stood on the footwell the other weekend and heard this cracking/flexing sound.
Which revealed this.
So out came the D/S cross member and the inner sill.
Still with abit of the inner sill attached as I gave up for the day as my knee was giving me some jip.
Painted some bits of the bell housing, also did the gearbox but no picture.
Got the wiring loom out which was a pain in the ass.
Fitted the adjustable tie-bars and solid rear mounts.
Popped the cam and the head on.
So thats the last few months... Doesn't look alot really when you look at it like that.
Got some time off over christmas and back at my mums so hoping to get some paint on the bulkhead and arches with luck.
Edited by Pixel-Snapper on Tuesday 22 November 14:47
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