1983 Austin Minivan Resto begins.

[Pixel-Snapper]

More pictures, more holes, more rust, more bodges, less finger tip, new welder!

Nearside floor and sill.






Started welding the floor in.




Before taking the over sill off need to sort the door step so that came off.








That's as far as I got.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Look who's ugly mug made it to mini mag this month.

[Pixel-Snapper]

If anyone's still interested I spend about 15 hours on the van last week while I was off workies.

Picture dump from start to finish.

[Pixel-Snapper]

haha. Do wonder sometimes if people are still watching.

Finished welding up the floor this week.



No need to roll it over to do the passenger side and fit the heel board.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Thanks guys I now you love it really!

6 months to go till D-Day and my 30th so need all the encouragement I can get at the moment.

Really need a big push this winter and get the damn thing ship shape.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Fantastic story GW that sounds all so familiar!

However i can only just about wire a plug so will be buying a brand new loom.

Bit more cutting the crap out last night.





Hopefully I'll get it rolled over at the weekend to start the near side out.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Massively disappointing 5 or 6 hours trying to get the heel board in today.













Cannot get the poly bush to compress enough as I don't have a long enought socket or spanner.



Till another day.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Picture dump over the last few weeks

Subby went in at last. Checked the subby mount was in the right place then had to take it out again to weld it in.


Hopefully it wont crab!


Tacked in drivers side.


Tacked in load bed.


Plug welding inside load bed.


Then seam welded the subby mount on. No waters getting in behind there now!


full view.




Then made some yorkshire with bangers and mash.


Next up the over sill.


Eye eye crusty pie.


Starting to look interesting around the toe board / inner sill.


Almost surgical with the grinder now.


This patch needs investigating.


Well well what do you know it's a sill sandwich.


And where I got to last night.


Tonight I'm going to start cutting the rot out from the back.

My rear quarter floor arrived yesterday so going to do that the inner sill and new cross member by Saturday afternoon hopefully.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Bit more chopping last night. Not as much as I'd hoped though as the rear of the sill was a right mare to get off.







that's as far as I got. I'll have to finish chopping it out on Saturday morning before the football.

I'd like to aim to get the floor finished and painted by the end of the month, which would then mean I can get the subframes back in and the shell rolling by Christmas.


Hopefully then some paint in the new year!!!!

[Pixel-Snapper]

Thanks guys.

I cook a lot quicker than I restore cars though.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Made the hole bigger this morning.


Then filled it in a bit.


Also got a return on my investment today. A penny fell out from between the layers of sill.

[Pixel-Snapper]

90% solid floor now.























Did a few other bits yesterday as I don't like using the grinder on a Sunday.









Looking on course for the van to be on it's wheels by Christmas.

[Pixel-Snapper]

It's all grey-vy baby....



Next step colour!

[Pixel-Snapper]

Massive step forward tonight in that the passenger side is now complete bar a lick of paint.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Well time for an update..... And well I've not really got a lot to say for myself Life, daily drivers and moving house have all got in the way.


BUT!!!! We have paint!!!!! Not much but some at the moment.

Finished off the stonechip on the near side.



Painted a couple of parts.





Heads nearly back together but I've lost a stud and need new bolts so waiting for that.


And BOOM a bit of colour!!!




Sure does get a bit hazy in a single garage with an up and over door trying not to let the dust out all over the neighbours cars!!!



Plan is to get the floor painted and back on all fours by the end of April.

Trying to push on and get it ready for IMM at the end of July....

Whether or not I make it remains to be seen though!

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Blocks on upside down the heads the right way round

Yes I had a respirator on don't worry.

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Paint fumes due seep threw breeze blocks though I have found out.

Went in the downstairs loo attached to the garage after coming out to get cleaned up and it stank of paint in there!

Me mam wasn't best pleased lets put it that way.

Of well she'll just have to get used to it.

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Now with added yellow!

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Massive leap in progress over the weekend. The floor is now completely finished and painted!!!! Got the rear subby in and the brake/fuel lines so far.

I'll let the pictures do the taking.





















Also got a couple of other bits done.







Hopefully my front end should arrive from M-Machine tomorrow. Need to get it upright again so I can put the front subby in then make a start on lining up the front panels.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Front ends just arrived at the office! £370 quids worth of metal.