Time to tidy my van.

For documenting and technical details of T25 restorations and major repairs
This section is for major restorations only.where to buy a panel or where to buy window rubbers belong in the bodywork seats and glass section.
Also please note,we need pictures of the restorations,without them posts are pretty useless.[\b]
Picture heavy and detailed threads , not for general banter or advertising
Traders welcome to post but not to advertise blatently
Threads will be cleaned of chit chat.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

So, with spring well and truly with us at long last, it's time to work on my van. I thought I would share with you the work being done, we all like pictures and reports of projects!
I have had my van, 'primrose' for 18 months now, last year used as a day van on many trips, just to get to know her. Some body seams need sorting, rear windows have rust at the bottoms, heater blower does not work and the paintwork needs  sorting - roller paint DVD ordered.

So this is how she spent the wet winter,
Image
and yes I know many say not to cover but I was unhappy about the condition of the paint work and know there are possible leaks around some of the windows. I have checked the interior on a regular basis and started the engine almost every week, just to keep things sweet.
So first job, to remove the bumper irons, why you might ask, I am doing a swop for a tow bar! Fellow owner in Devon wants to swop for bumper irons, fair deal I think. So all cleaned up ready to go
Image
Now to turn my attention to the real work. Over the last year I have made a list of things to do. First job, heater blower motor. So dash out job, plenty of good advice on the wiki that I have read many times.

Image

So a short time later this is what I have

Image

Trying to split the case I situ was impossible so I removed it

Image

This now gave me the opportunity to clean the behind dash area and check for rust, very pleased with what I found. No rust around the lower windscreen, just good solid metal and paint. Am I lucky or what?

Image

Well, think I spoke too soon, passenger foot step rusted out!

Image

Drivers side is similar so first repair panels to be ordered!
I eventually managed to split the heater box and yes the motor is seized solid so that's on the order.
With the fine weather forecast to last the week I hope to do more! Whilst I wait for the heater motor on order I can turn my attention to the other bodywork required.
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

So, I managed a few hours on the van today. Firstly to examine the drivers foot step and as I thought will need replacing. Mr VW did get his design wrong here by having the holes for the rubber step mat. When I've replaced there will be no holes!
Image

Back to the passengers side and found on the top of the wheel arch an area of rust. Not reaching the seat belt mount so no real problem.
Image

Now for the windows, not something I was looking forward to but really not too bad. First the sliding door window, a small amount to rust could be seen and then with it out this became visible.

Image

ImageG

Image

Image

Rear window behind the sliding door a bit worse, need a bit of work here!

Image

Now round to the window behind the driver, pleasantly surprised, yes work to do but not as much as I was thinking.

Image

So all in all not bad at all! Some 1.0 mm steel to cut and fit, a bid of a fiddle in places I expect but hay ho!  I plan to prep all the areas needing work, treat with Vatcan, cut patches to fit, then do all the welding at once.
:D
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

So after two days off, time to work again. First remove door cards ready for recovering. One of the previous owners had glued fabric onto the original surface to resurface them. This had torn and stained so was removed, leaving a glue deposit impossible to remove. I will make new cards covering them with padded vinyl.

Image

For a long time I have been aware of a rust line around the high top joint and have now noticed the top parting from the roof! 

Image

Should I just clean, push glue in then repaint? No, metalmick8y would not approve! So I tentatively tap a softwood wedge into the gap and find that the glue parts quite easily! 

Image

So many wedges later I find the the top becomes separated all round.

Image

Image

I  have to remove the lining, carpet wrapped plywood but then the top is ready for lift off! With my wife and two daughters helping the top is lowered to the ground. This has only taken just three hours, I'm quite amazed.

Image

I rather like the low roof line that I now temporally have, should I keep it like this, go for a pop top or put the high top back on after sorting the rust line? I am so glad I decided to remove the top, the rust area due to condensation over the life of the van is all the way round but fortunately only has gone through in 4 small places!
So, what's next?
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Dazco
Registered user
Posts: 2299
Joined: 18 Dec 2011, 15:44
80-90 Mem No: 10544
Location: Sheffield. 1984 autosleeper trooper. 1.9 petrol called Jambo

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Dazco »

Looking forward to seeing the rest :ok
Auto sleeper fitted with EJ 20 subaru lump

b-f-c
Registered user
Posts: 134
Joined: 17 May 2012, 00:23
80-90 Mem No: 11113
Location: Rhosllanerchrugog

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by b-f-c »

Looks like you caught the roof in time. Looking forward to seeing more :D

spongebob1
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 17:06
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by spongebob1 »

Looks like we've both got a project to keep us busy theese cold spring days,you keeping the original colour or are you going radical.lol :D
If it makes you smile !! then do more of it !!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

Thanks for the comments guys. Not sure about the final colour, am thinking possibly going for the VW Bamboo Yellow, a richer deeper yellow but we will see, keep watching!
Not much time spent lately, domestic chores SWMBO!
However started to cut new door cards, padded vinyl ordered, rear bumper rubbed down and a coat of Hamerite Smooth black applied.
Also managed to look at the roof high top join; drivers side A pillar top corner

 Image
:(
And looking along drivers side towards the rear
:(
Image

Amazingly this cleans up quite well, does not seem too thin so should be OK!

More to follow!

Note to others with high tops: if you see any sign of a rust line between roof and top beware!
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

spongebob1
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 17:06
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by spongebob1 »

where did you order the padded vinyl from very interested in that !!! :wink:
If it makes you smile !! then do more of it !!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

A company called "Fantastic Fabrics"
 www.chcross.co.uk/index.php?route=produ ... duct_id=62
£9 a metre plus postage.
I asked for a sample first, very pleased with quality.
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
CovKid
Trader
Posts: 8409
Joined: 30 Apr 2006, 13:19
80-90 Mem No: 3529
Location: Ralph - Coventry (Retired)
Contact:

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by CovKid »

By the way, I didn't have a towbar on mine but someone gave me the towbar plate, socket and ball from a previous car they'd owned (Hackney taxi). I'd had it for ages and was faffing about trying to decide how it could be fitted when a neighbour (who welds up steel structures in factories for living), happened to come out.

He took one look, laughed, reappeared with his mig welder and before I knew it, he'd cut and welded some heavy guage tube (scaffold possibly) between the inner faces of those two brackets, from one side of the van to the other, then using equally heavy rectangular box section, he mounted the ball and plate to that from underneath. He was very careful to get the ball height exactly right. Took him 30 mins at most and nothing was left unwelded. I ought to photograph it sometime but man is it strong - and uses the original bumper mounts and bolts below whilst still allowing the bumper to bolt on:

Image
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.

Plasticman
Trader
Posts: 8047
Joined: 12 Oct 2005, 20:55
80-90 Mem No: 1948
Location: lincolnshire

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Plasticman »

hehe,exactly what i did on my last van, dead simple too
mm

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

This is how the gutter looked, above the drivers door
Image
I was worried when I saw this thinking the roof was completely shot! However when cleaned up with an abrasive disc it didn't look too bad.
Image
By the way, does anybody know what the row of holes could have been used for? Some still have the remains of a pop rivet in them but they are all around the roof, could the van have had a pop top on at some time?
Final stage was to give a coat of Vatcan to all exposed cleaned steel
Image
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

Well, thanks to "andy e" and "aj5string" I now have a chin spoiler and tow bar to fit during the current work.

Image

Image

Today, between snow and hail I managed to strip the front of the van. Again very pleased with what I didn't find!

Image
:D
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

What have I done! .......... So looking at the welding needing doing around the windows and saw that the lining carpet was very close to where I would be working. Initially thought about shielding carpet with heatproof mat but then noticed that the lining had badly faded around the windows and could really do with replacing. I could either add it to the list of jobs to do this year or leave it till next year! The thought of stripping the van all over again next year was a no starter! So given myself more work to do this year, but hey better to do it correctly than bodge it!
Image
Need to add lining carpet to the shopping list - should I think of remaking the furniture to complete the interior or put the old back? Decisions, decisions!
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

User avatar
Woodyyellow
Registered user
Posts: 360
Joined: 28 Oct 2012, 21:40
80-90 Mem No: 11769
Location: South Devon

Re: Time to tidy my van.

Post by Woodyyellow »

So, I have now stripped out as much as I can from the inside and I have removed the last of the high top bed base from the roof. Cleaned up all the gutters, removed the last of the high top glue and made good ready for the top to be replaced.
Image

Had a look at the fibre glass high top to remove the remains of the glue. The glue looks very much like a bathroom silicon but it can't be, can it! I turrned the top over to make it easier to work on the inside.
Image

Quite amazed at how little there was in places holding it on! I think I shall use a silicon  dissolving product to finally clean the surface, though a Stanley knife has done a good job.
Image

Image

Image
The blocks of wood were the places where the internal lining boards were fastened. I intend to fully insulate the top behind the trim.

Had a look at the n/s rear wheel arch, where a small repair was done many moons ago (not by me!).
Image

Looks like a scrape down the side of the van resulted in damage to the arch edge that then rusted. It had been filled and painted over. I intend to cut it out and fit a patch. Does anyone have this part of the wheel arch left over from their own work that I could buy. I hope to cut out just these two small holes and weld in for repair.
1987 1.9 WBX DG Hi-Top. Soon to be Subaru ej20

I'm an old guy but I still learn new stuff!

Post Reply