My first van!!

[stevelane]

Such a lovely feeling getting an email from a parts supplier saying that the parts will arrive tomorrow......and I'm off work tomorrow!

[stevelane]

Had a rare day to myself yesterday so got a bit of time alone with the van!

Decided to get the gloves on and see how much dirt was in the van and it was mucky!









The previous owner had told me that the toilet had never been used but I'm suspicious as there was a lot of stuff sloshing around, Im thinking it may just have to go.

Got the cab cleaned up first and then tackled the rear, after emptying the hoover a number of times I finally got it looking smarter.



Then it was time to tackle the exterior - Wasn't sure whether I needed a soapy sponge or a garden hoe with the amount of moss that was stuck in every crevice! Ive never seen water so dirty after washing a vehicle but its done and was pleased with the result.



There is a large scuff down one side but this started to go with a bit of rubbing compound as well as starting to shine so I think I can salvage the paintwork and get it gleaming again.

Plus I have two wing mirrors now!!!!



In other news, I have found that my sister in law can salvage the front seats so that saves me a bucket load of money and time. all I need to do is source the material and she can use the existing leather backing.

The hubcaps have been painted before and flaking badly so I intend to just rub these down and respray silver just to make them look better for now. Im hoping the neighbours are realising that this is improving quickly

[Moonrakers]

I bet you felt good getting the worst out of the interior - don't understand how people can let their vehicles get like that, to be honest. Now prepare for many buckets of dark grey water as you scrub the carpets and remove the sticky stuff inside the cupboards...

The van looks great, cutting and polishing the paint and doing the wheels will make it look even better (Devons were fitted with painted caps from new rather than chrome anyway.) Flawed but original cared-for paint looks much nicer than a cheap respray in the wrong colour to me, every time - patina is not a bad thing.

Great news about the seats. I guess your sister in law will help you recover the cushions in the back, too?

[ChrisTriple]

She's looking good, nice work

[Smosh]

Good looking van, welcome to the forum!

[stevelane]

I bet you felt good getting the worst out of the interior - don't understand how people can let their vehicles get like that, to be honest. Now prepare for many buckets of dark grey water as you scrub the carpets and remove the sticky stuff inside the cupboards...

The van looks great, cutting and polishing the paint and doing the wheels will make it look even better (Devons were fitted with painted caps from new rather than chrome anyway.) Flawed but original cared-for paint looks much nicer than a cheap respray in the wrong colour to me, every time - patina is not a bad thing.

Great news about the seats. I guess your sister in law will help you recover the cushions in the back, too?

It was rather therapeutic to be fair, not sure about washing the carpet, there looks like they have left something like sweets to melt on one part or the carpet and I'm not sure it will go regardless of what I do. The majority of the cupboards are done. Think I will have to remove the bed to really get in there!

I'm really pleased with how much better it's looking already and seeing the paint start to shine with such little effort put a smile on my face, just getting impatient already to get it done but not easy with the little ones. Guess I will have to do one panel at a time lol.

Would the wheels be coloured? I was gonna paint them beige and then spray the hubcaps silver but be interested to know the original spec.

The cushions in the back need more than a recover, they get worse each time I move them. I plan to start again there and just keep the colour scheme sympathetic to the original design

[evilnoodle]

Looking good. Well done

[stevelane]

Good looking van, welcome to the forum!

Thanks, really appreciated

[stevelane]

Looking good. Well done

Thank you, pleased with the early results

[Moonrakers]

The wheels on your model came with standard silver wheels and painted silver-grey caps. Rather than spend on getting my wheels powder-coated I just took them off one at a time, deflated and masked the tyres, gave 'em a good clean, rubbed down to flatten any rusty spots with wet and dry paper, wiped with thinners and sprayed three coats of silver Hammerite (which is a pretty good match for the original colour and hardens fast). Needs no undercoat so super-easy. I did that 18 months ago and the finish is holding up fine in daily use and a fraction of the cost of sending off the wheels to be coated. The hubcaps would look fine sprayed at home the same way.

Lots of people colour code the rims as a bit of a custom touch but an aerosol of paint mixed to your bodywork colour code would need primer first then lacquer on top which is a bit more work and money. Either way, it's an easy enough project and you can do one wheel at a time when you can find an hour or two.

Check out the stuff on this site, old brochures and so on showing how our vans looked like when they were new (if you haven't already stumbled on it). A !980's timewarp.

http://www.devon.vwt25camper.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was off work today, spent a couple of hours doing a Spring service (I change the oil twice a year), coolant change plus new gearbox oil. So many of the basic servicing or replacement jobs are easy enough for any of us to do so be careful, these vehicles can take over your free time with more than just camping!

[stevelane]

The wheels on your model came with standard silver wheels and painted silver-grey caps. Rather than spend on getting my wheels powder-coated I just took them off one at a time, deflated and masked the tyres, gave 'em a good clean, rubbed down to flatten any rusty spots with wet and dry paper, wiped with thinners and sprayed three coats of silver Hammerite (which is a pretty good match for the original colour and hardens fast). Needs no undercoat so super-easy. I did that 18 months ago and the finish is holding up fine in daily use and a fraction of the cost of sending off the wheels to be coated. The hubcaps would look fine sprayed at home the same way.

Lots of people colour code the rims as a bit of a custom touch but an aerosol of paint mixed to your bodywork colour code would need primer first then lacquer on top which is a bit more work and money. Either way, it's an easy enough project and you can do one wheel at a time when you can find an hour or two.

Check out the stuff on this site, old brochures and so on showing how our vans looked like when they were new (if you haven't already stumbled on it). A !980's timewarp.

http://www.devon.vwt25camper.info" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was off work today, spent a couple of hours doing a Spring service (I change the oil twice a year), coolant change plus new gearbox oil. So many of the basic servicing or replacement jobs are easy enough for any of us to do so be careful, these vehicles can take over your free time with more than just camping!

Thanks for the info on the wheels, really helpful. I had stumbled across the link before but couldn't find it again so I appreciate you putting it on here, I'll have to have a good look through later.

I don't mind it taking over, I've spent the last six years tinkering with a 92 classic mini which needed a lot more work than this, I'm happiest when covered in grease lol

[stevelane]

Just looking at the prices to replace seals on the Windows either side of the cab and was a bit shocked at the prices. I suppose I've got a bit spoilt by how cheap everything is for classic minis. Oh well, it needs to be done, they are falling apart

[stevelane]

New struts fitted so now I can get to the engine bay without fear of being decapitated.

Have to say, I ordered these from Brickwerks at 3.30 on Thursday and they arrived at my door at 9.30am the next day - Amazing service!

Does anyone know whether these soften up after a while as they are pretty vicious? When you open it you risk taking your head off if you don't keep a firm hold on it and it also takes a lot to get it closed again. Not really a complaint, I would rather them me tight than worry that its coming down but Im not sure that my wife would be able to open and close this if she is on her own.

Next job?



Im going for the wheels in hammerite cream and will be spraypainting the hubs in a chrome effect paint, well, I will be as soon as the ebay supplier sends it to me! Not sure how the finish will be but doesn't have to be immaculate, just want it to be better than they are now - pics will follow

[Winchweight]

Looking great chap, well done. Keep the enthusiasm going.

The struts do come in different strengths from other sources. Or fit a bike rack and load the tailgate up a bit.
The seals and scrapers are expensive, but should last a long while if you buy quality.

[stevelane]

Have ordered the seals and scrapers from brickwerks so should be here to fit on Wednesday so hopefully the weather is good.

I'm not too worried about the tailgate as it will mainly be me opening it but. Just nervous in case I forget to tell mechanic or mot tester, not sure if they can fail you for knocking their teeth out!