Time for a repaint and new colour

[fairwynds]

Well, I can't put it off any longer! Over the last few years I've invested much time (and money!) in getting my van as sorted as I can before some planned long trips away into the 'wilds of Europe' and maybe beyond....
I've been planning to do the 'Paint yer Wagon' with Rustoleum thing and I think all my Christmases have just come at once, as a very good mate of mine (who's also an old school VW mechanic) has lent me his workshop for a few weeks, so I can get all the prep done out of this incessant rain
Not expecting it to be 100% but needs to be a totally practical paint job that doesnt hide too much (no point just painting over rust...)

So, for the next few weeks I will be posting up the highs and lows with a few pics and maybe get and give some inspiration too.

Just arrived at the workshop - great news as it takes in the hitop with no problems:


Straight into attacking the worst bit on the van (have been keeping this at bay for years, so nows a good time to tackle it with some gusto!)


So my first question is a really important one: what colour!!!???
Ive narrowed it down to (probably) that classic orange with maybe white over the top. I need to consider a colour that will compliment the existing interior (and the bus was brown originally).
Can anyone tell me the Rustoleum number/code for that lovely classic VW camper orange (and the 'off' white for above too please?)

Cheers all, happy days...
FW

[Plasticman]

good work, is that rear seam tacked in the seam itself, I ask cos it might make it harder to sort
mm

[fairwynds]

good work, is that rear seam tacked in the seam itself, I ask cos it might make it harder to sort
mm

Not sure yet mm, as that was just a quick blast to expose and see if there was any perforations. . . . am hoping that a sharp blade/tool will get in there and ream out any crud etc. Then going to use 'Tiger Seal' in the joints, and investigate inside the arch too..

[fairwynds]

Day two in the madhouse:
Spent an hour stripping off all the various fixtures and fittings to enable me to paint more thoroughly. Gladly everything came apart with no issues, no doubt due to the fact Ive owned this van years and everythings been apart before and reassembled with liberal dollops of copper grease!

Then started with the sander (using a cheap Draper 1/3 size orbital sander and starting with 180 grade wet/dry paper). Feeling blessed to have such a good facility to work in. No back ache bending down to do the low bits....just lift the bus! :


Just a little work to do around this fridge vent hole. Over the years Ive kept a close eye on these areas, and applied Waxoyl inside all the cavities. Seems to be doing the trick, or at least slowing things down. This was after removing vent and before sanding:


Need to crack on tomorrow, finish sanding the big flat bits and then start on the fiddly bits..

[fairwynds]

good work, is that rear seam tacked in the seam itself, I ask cos it might make it harder to sort
mm

Not sure yet mm, as that was just a quick blast to expose and see if there was any perforations. . . . am hoping that a sharp blade/tool will get in there and ream out any crud etc. Then going to use 'Tiger Seal' in the joints, and investigate inside the arch too..

...and the answer is: yes, they tack welded across the seam joint! Grrrrrr

[Plasticman]

,
there was a guy on here a while back with the doka that was going to be made pillarless, well they were a supposed top shop and all that and they actually welded the seams around the side hatch same, thern hope to fill with pod and recut it
how are you going to deal with this?
mm

[fairwynds]

,
there was a guy on here a while back with the doka that was going to be made pillarless, well they were a supposed top shop and all that and they actually welded the seams around the side hatch same, thern hope to fill with pod and recut it
how are you going to deal with this?
mm

It'll get done properly, when I evenually bring the van up your way....but that won't be this year!
Have only got the loan of this workshop for a limited time, so will just have to crack on with this. Overall, I'm quite pleased with how little rust there is. Ive been tackling the few bits every two years, and taking pictures of the same places once the sander has been used, a sort of mega time lapse thing!

[fairwynds]

Another day closer to finishing.... Two friends came by the workshop today and helped for a few hours too. really meant we could crackon with the sanding. Also got some Vactan on and some filler in a place where (unfortunately) it was needed.
Managed to find some rust I didnt know about, under the slider 'frame' and a bit around rear edge of nearside rear window (panel van conversion). Fortunately both were just surface bubble so hopefully have got there in time to slow it right down.
Ordered the paint just now, 'oyster white' over 'deep orange'....

[fairwynds]

Today spent of the few rusty patches, making sound as best as possible. Pleased to find very little rust on the petrol filler panel, up under the arch:


...but not so pleased to find that my 'little rust spot' I'd been nursing for a few years has (with a bit of vigorous investigation) developed into something that can only be left to the professionals. Going to get all this cut out properly, but I think that's part of the joy of the Rustoleum paint, being able to sort patches like this then paint in due course:


ps - I have now moved the jack/lift to a stronger point, just in case!

[fairwynds]

Day six of sanding. These things take far longer than you imagine! Having to remove various bits from various other bits so you can sand and paint properly, without just masking over some bits. All joys caused by going down a completly different colour route I guess
Anyhow, managed to remove the sliding door today, with the help of a mate. really pleased with the condition of the bottom edge. Just a tiny spot of rust, and once ground out, all shiny everywhere else. It's obviously been 'Zeibarted' or similar in the past. I did find about two dozen assorted screws inside the door though, just floating around. That'll be her panal van heritage showing through!


Found that my greasing the slider bearings has been missing the mark somewhat Bearings salvageable, but for a few quid probably worth changing them now...


Feet up in front of telly now....

[nobbyfox]

Good work!!
What are you treating the rust with? I need to rub down and tackle my cab steps soon.

Thanks

Steve

[fairwynds]

Good work!!
What are you treating the rust with? I need to rub down and tackle my cab steps soon.

Thanks

Steve

Where I'm painting over with the top coat, I'm using Vactan. Cavities like the bottoms of tailgate and side slider are pretty sound, so to keep them that way I will be flooding them with Dinitrol (thinned with white spirit).
When I did my own cab steps several years ago, I got rid of the rubber mat/dirt traps and sanded and painted them. I used some 'aircraft' aluminium sticky tape to make some circular covers for the holes left behind by the lugs of the mats, and theyve not been an issue since.
I don't use the steps when I get in/out..
FW

[fairwynds]

Day seven.....I think I'm going slightly mad now! So far a total of sixty hours of sanding/dismantling and prep!
Can't wait to put some paint on!
Onwards and upwards...

[MattBW]

Ouch that's quite a workout can't wait to see more

[nobbyfox]

Good work!!
What are you treating the rust with? I need to rub down and tackle my cab steps soon.

Thanks

Steve

Where I'm painting over with the top coat, I'm using Vactan. Cavities like the bottoms of tailgate and side slider are pretty sound, so to keep them that way I will be flooding them with Dinitrol (thinned with white spirit).
When I did my own cab steps several years ago, I got rid of the rubber mat/dirt traps and sanded and painted them. I used some 'aircraft' aluminium sticky tape to make some circular covers for the holes left behind by the lugs of the mats, and theyve not been an issue since.
I don't use the steps when I get in/out..
FW

Ok thanks for the info. Is Vactan in the form of a spray can or painted on?
I tend to jump into the van and not use the cab steps but the wife and kids do. Think i will remove rubber mats and start again. I have purchased (foolishly) a pair of rubbers from JK. Awful Like hard plastic, should of gone elsewhere.
Keep going, looking very good

Cheers
Steve