A familiar story Hectors refurb

[Doogs]

Id say from what i had on the 2nd arch that the bottom 2 sections were the hardest for me as it's hard to get a good angle on the welding torch because of the inner frame had there been any less of a lip left on the original metal i would say the way you're tackling it is probably the best way to go.
The tyres are still on because i broke my wheel spanner on the first side on the last nut. day 1, it'll need flogged off having said that it's easy enough to cover the tyres during grinding etc but better if they re off.

[Doogs]

A few more hours spent on Hector over the last week and the wing finally on the sliding door side after lots of tacking......taking off.......re tacking........taking off and finally fitting, door back on to check alignment and done, will need to remove the runner to tackle the rust behind it later but the next job is the inner sill and side panel which im hoping is the last of the "big stuff" then onto window surrounds and smaller bits and pieces

[Doogs]

Spent the day seam sealing, and pottering , im awaiting an inner sill and side panel from Schofields so decided to make a tentative start on that side



Found inside the sill




given the corrosion here i expected the worst at the bottom of the b pillar but it feels to be intact and reasonably clean, so fingers crossed

[bmouthboyo]

Can I ask how you spot welded the right seem?


It is inaccessible on mine as seems to be behind the pillar and the next panel is in the way.

Cheers and good work

[Doogs]

You can tack it from the front of the panel on that edge, i did anyhow, and good plug welds at the bottom and easily accessible back edge, then after rust treatment sealed the back of the seams with a good bead of tigerseal to stop moisture ingress in future

[Dave307]

I wish I had your skills. I would have died if I had looked behind the unit in my van and found those holes. I would have a clue were to start.
However these threads make reLly interesting reading.
Good luck with the rest of the build. I'll be watching with intrest.

[boatbuilder]

Whats the sill like under your sliding door?
Mine is bit sorry looking. Amazingly I can find loads of posts on the forum about the right side sill, but nothing at all about the sliding door side. Surely mine can't be the only one that needs some work there?

[Doogs]

Sill on the sliding door side looks and feels solid enough, the kaput one only had a small 50p sized hole from underneath as did the floor until i removed the interior and from the top with light pressure had a big hole made in no time i'm hoping when the new sill is on that i ll get a guide to put in the new floor sections more easily

[Doogs]

More progress on the van this week, the inner sill removed and the new one on and started the floor repairs to tie the whole thing in,



wish i could weld to metalmickey s standards and a couple of holes blown need to be done again the crusty stuff is getting a bit less

[bmouthboyo]

Well done mate

The way I see it Micky is the top end of the spectrum, and leaving it covered in paint is the other. You are saving money, learning something new and in a few months time look back with satisfaction and a bit more wedge left to spend on the fun stuff

Keep up the good work

[pmoc_2001]

Agree with bmouthboyo, what you Doogs are doing is what this place is all about. People with little knowledge getting stuck in.

I am a noob too and I am mostly doing it to prove the nay sayers wrong and that I can save a van. When I do a sh*t weld and grind back a do a slightly less sh*t weld I just think that its better than rust.

I will never be mm standard and I am happy with that,

[Doogs]

Had a good couple of days to prep up ready for the wrap round sill panel to prep up for welding






lots still to do to finish this bit but starting to see a glimmer of light in't tunnel now, still got window surrounds, sliding door track, front arch, steps, etc etc

[orangebooboobearcrew]

Well impressed - keep it up; it'll be worth it in the end.

Think I am gonna need to learn to weld pdq as the prep for rollering has turned up a few little horrors but gonna fill for now until I learn. Threads like yours give the rest of us inspiration to have a go

Keep the pics coming...

[Doogs]

Had more time on the van this weeked,rear and side windows out and apart from some pitting the frames seem to be relatively sound looks like a previous repair has been carried out on both rear side windows to so maybe thats why, all wire brushed and vactanned both sides

Then onto the drivers side below the rear window



These appeared after using the rotary brush but the back internal stiffener was badly corroded must have been water lying in the joint causing this at the front



Was trying to cut out as little as i could get away with but the corrosion was more extensive at the back hence the bigger hole

Then cleaning up and getting new metal in





Vactanned and bit of filler to go over the over top to level and finish

[bmouthboyo]

Looking good mate be out in her in no time!