Meet Flintstone, our 1992 1.9 Petrol Caravelle Syncro

[syncropaddy]

I like the look of that stuff. Do you have a picture of the tin?

[Mickyfin]

I don't but will get one for you tomorrow. Its industrial stuff, quite similar to garage/factory floor paint type stuff, but for metal

[Mickyfin]

Whoops, duplicate

[Mickyfin]

Bugger, I forgot to get a photo of the tin, and the wife has chucked it away as it was empty

Anyhow, today got to our summer house, and set about work to finish off the under sealing..






Then went for a swim, and wash in the lake, then had a lovely Sauna



Now the underside is completed, next week is the test similar to UK MOT, then its time to focus on the bodywork, and bumpers.

[Mickyfin]

Today I removed 20 years of window stickers in preparation for Flint window tinting. We are going Limo black on the rears, and light smoke on the front doors.

Handy tip, when removing any type of windows stickers, get yourself one of those flat type handled razor blades, and a spray can of Label Off! Works a treat.

[Mickyfin]

Sun has been making an appearance now and again, so in-between rain showers I have been removing a bit of trim etc from the front end in preparation for the start of my bodywork restoration work to begin when the summer arrives for longer than a few hours lol.

All photos below are mainly for my reference, but of course, may well serve a resource for members here too.

All photos are honest, and show Flints needs in the bodywork area. I shall be carrying out all the areas shown myself, so welcome any advice, tips, and tricks in carrying them out would be greatly appreciated.

Removed the bull bar, and front bumper..



I was pleasantly surprised just how solid, and rust free the bumper bar was, and that's including each end too:)




I will be flushing the channels out of the bumper iron, and wax oil the innards before reassembly.

Now for some photos highlighting the areas that need restoring.

First up is the rain platform to the rear top of the bumper iron..



Stone chips front right



Stone chips, front and center..



Close of of front center.



Close up of left hand side front where stone chips have caused holing..



This is the corrosion around the aerial. The reason I have put off fitting my new replacement as this one is snapped in half..



Working my way from front to rear driver side..

Removed front aftermarket front mud flaps to reveal rust thats on the list to do, including the seam which the sealant has swollen..



Panel below the middle window, small ston chips caused corrosion..



Middle driver side window surround corrosion..

1..


2..(PO Obviously thought it would go away by painting the rust blue lol)


Lower right corner of rear drivers side rear window..



For all the window surround repairs I shall be removing the windows. 3 in total need removing, but I will be removing all as I will be tinting all the rear windows around the same time I do the bodywork..

Drivers side lower middle panel seam corrosion..



Drivers side rear jacking point solid, and no attention required..



Rear lower panel to the right of rear wheel corrosion..



Rear window lower right corner bad corrosion..(Again, PO thought painting rust blue would be magic, and make the rust disappear)



Right lower area of rear screen..



Tailgate lock surround corrosion..



Slight corrosion showing on the passenger side sliding door rail cover left hand area..



Passenger side front mudflaps removed to reveal, and access corrosion..



Next up are just a couple of shots of my roof gutters, which Im happy to report are rock solid, with no corrosion at all

Drivers side



Passenger side..

[silverbullet]

Your front valance panel rust is so very typical of all T3's, it's not the stone chips that have caused it but the water traps behind the panel making it blister and rust out.

"They all do that, Sir..."

[Mickyfin]

I knew the water stays on the front bumper iron, but wasn't aware of water traps behind the valance. Interesting, may have to investigate the rear to see what can be done to prevent it happening again. Shame the didn't make the front valance out of Stainless steel.

[syncropaddy]

Shame the didn't make the front valance out of Stainless steel.

Hmmmm ...... now there is a challenge!

Your van is rusting in the same way they all do in exactly the same places.

[Mickyfin]

Well I guess that is kind of nice to know, but mine being a 1992, and one of the last made I would of thought Flint would of been not so bad, but ateotd, time takes it's toll. I will get the rust fixed, and do my upmost to prevent it happening again.

[syncropaddy]

I fitted new window rubbers after I resprayed mine and I took the advice of a bodyshop and didn't seal between the rubber and body and as a result I have rust around three windows, particularly the windscreen. Oh well!

Respray on the way!

[Mickyfin]

Ouch! I'm planning on reusing my window rubbers as they are in great shape, so hopefully, fingers crossed will seal ok. The windows have never been removed from what I can tell. Each and every window is vw marked too, which is nice.

Due to the unpredictable weather, I have been finding jobs that I can do indoors, and so far I have my bull bar, and front bumper sitting in our dining room ready for sanding down and painting.

I noticed that the upper bull bar support brackets were losing their power coating, it was actually peeling away, so decided to refurbish them. Sanded them down, then treated to vatcan, then a few coats of primer, then 3 coats of matt black. Came out quite well.

These little things all add to my OCD tick boxes



Next up today as the sun is shining, I will be removing the tow bar ball, and refurbing that, and the electric hook up bracket which is rusted. Hell, I may even remove the back bumper, and bring that indoors to redo due to the incoming black clouds. The wife is going to love me

[Mickyfin]

Well, that didn't go to plan. Managed to remove the rusty electric tow bar hook up bracket, but the tow bar is stuck fast, the unreachable bolts behind the bumper are turning when trying to unbolt the tow bar ball. Looks like I need to get the angle grinder out.!

Whilst fiddling about this mystery old vw label fell out from behind the bumper. Any clues to what it's for?

[Mickyfin]

Some new things acquired to finish off the underbody.

Also got a few things ready to start the bodywork, and window removal rope etc but this weather is doing me head in, raining again today.

[Mickyfin]

Had a chance to get some more work done, this time on the rear valance. It's actually holed in a few places. Would love to cut it out and replace, but funds being on the tight side, I will remove as much as I can, vatcan, then fill, primer, and spray.