new owner , restoration begun :-)

[mid england retrims]

Brilliant, the vans are rare and this one looks like a great base for a rebuild. Another one saved - good luck and enjoy the project.

Thanks. Looking forward to it.

[mid england retrims]

Bit of an update , rusty panels have been identified , so far it needs new rear panels where bumper goes , both quarter panels in front of rear arches , off side lower sill and front steps on both sides. All else is solid. Engine turns over by hand , v5c forms come back today and im its fourth owner .
First job to start will be localised sand blasting of all seams and etch primering the blasted areas. Then start the replacment of the panels.
I will be taking pictures as i complete the work if you guys are interested. ade

[Wedgiebaby]

Hi Ade, I'm new here too. It's a great club and everyone is friendly and helpful. Your van looks better already with just a good wash! Be great to see her all poshed up

[mid england retrims]

Hiya , yeah the forum here seems really good, nice people helping each other out. Cant wait to get mine on the road

[danmetallic]

Welcome aboard! Make sure you keep the updates coming. Dan.

[mid england retrims]

Cheers , had the panels turn up today to my brothers bodyshop , , hopefully get them tomorrow then make a start sunday , cheers ade

[kevtherev]

I see the obligatory 2nd prototype in the bodyshop is in the picture.

[mid england retrims]

I see the obligatory 2nd prototype in the bodyshop is in the picture.

Yeah , unfortunatly thats a customers not mine . I own a 96 t4 and a 71 bedford cf 5ltr chevy v8 for the bedford

[SamsBus2012]

Aah the CF... had one as a works van (though that was a CF2) back in the late 80s when I started out. Is that a small block chevy?

E D I T --- didnt see your note, question answered.

[voodoopenguin]

Aah the CF... had one as a works van

Back in the early 70s I was a driver for a chain of boutiques and one of the vans we had was a CF. We called it The Bullet as it went like the clappers for a van of those days. It had the 2.3L engine but most importantly it was serviced by the Vauxhall agent in the Edgeware Road. They were the ones who looked after Gerry Marshall's racing Vauxhall when he was with Dealer Team Vauxhall and many times we would see his damaged car on a Monday after a race weekend due to his rather flamboyant but very entertaining driving style. The mechanics did a little breathing on The Bullet which meant it was a little zippier than usual. We would often have the speedo needle pressing against the stop on our motorway runs. One of my colleages did find out what the possible top speed was once when he got chatting to a couple of guys in a service station on the M1 who had a Lotus Cortina. They came up with the idea of the Lotus gradually speeding up and The Bullet trying to keep up. When the CF topped out the passenger in the Lotus wrote down on a piece of paper what they were indicating and held it up to my colleague, it was just over 110 mph.

Oh happy days

Paul

[mid england retrims]

Day off from stitching today , worked on my t25 instead. Removed smashed fuel tank which looks like somebodys jacked the van up by it and crushed it. Then started the work on replacing the panels . Started with the passenger side step . Replacment panels from vw heritage , klokenham made , quality is teririble. Lot of work dressing them,
Then had the grinder bite me I:



More work next sunday. Cheers ade T:

[mid england retrims]

Bit of an update , finished the grinding and puddle welding of the silly holes in tne step
Cleaned surface rust off the arch and checked seat belt mount , ok and solid.

Started the driverside , removed step arch sill and rear arch lower,

Welded in rear arch lower section, tacked sill into place whilst i fettle its fit.

Coat of primer , will be sanded back to show high spots in the weld where i need to smooth and shape ,
Inside of arch edge still needs to be shaped as its a poor repro panel.

Stitched up a new leather sand bag so i can form the metal for these on both sides

Ive more pics on my camera to move over. More to come.
Thanks for looking , ade

[Smosh]

Bit of an update , finished the grinding and puddle welding of the silly holes in tne step

why fill the holes? (i dont mean this as a criticism btw!)

[mid england retrims]

Bit of an update , finished the grinding and puddle welding of the silly holes in tne step

why fill the holes? (i dont mean this as a criticism btw!)[/quote

No offence taken bud im not going to fit the rubber matts , im proberbly wrong but they look like a sure way for water to ingress and rot out the step. Im doing a fully tailored carpet once shes on the road. Carpet will extend down to the step.

[Smosh]

oh okay! Makes sense. I was thinking wet boots/shoes and water from a bad door seal would mean it gets damp and would need holes to drain! I suppose it would be prone to spray coming up from the road!