Andy Tats Hinklevagon

[Plasticman]

Its my day job on the days Im doing it Used to do resto's for a living, now I do them for fun
M

[Plasticman]

Well a short but amusing day, o/side now, started of by doing the small bit on the rear panal

allways worth letting a bit in, even if the area is much much worse and a whole end has to be fabricated, still easier and cheaper than a donor panal (within reason)

prior to migging/spotting in place, I have left a small gap about 1mm as I will fill this with weld and it should be flush as opposed to butting up and sticking a weld on top so to speak

old habits die hard, guy that taught me eons ago always said ,bend the rod over, 2 reasons (a) you wont poke you or your helpers eye out(used to usually have two when gassing, the welder and t'other to scrape, supply rod, hold the seams together etc)
(b) you know which end is Hot and joining is like why waste the short bit! and if youve seen the price of a pack of brazing rods at £70++ and tig/gas mild steel at £20++

light grind and done
Next is the rear bit of floor, this starts as a flatpack bit of steel(1.2mm) and gets a groove added

then a bit more tweaking

trial fit


Found another little area, usual really

cut the nasty out

small bit welded in and now quite happy in here

I have left the closing plate immediately behinnd th e wheel on both sides as this allows me to get grips in th hold the lower rear 1/4's and the bottom of the arches, just helps is all.
The lower part of the winng I cut out as its perished at the bottom and this is of course what was found

bit more delving with the small blunty hammer

So will hack this out properly tommorow and remake the lot , definnate dejavue.
mike

[T'Onion]

might book mesen with you Mick could do with some lessons

[Plasticman]

I dont do that sort of instruction and I doubt being the sheltered person I am that I could teach you Anything, that you would want to know
M

[AdrianC]

I dont do that sort of instruction and I doubt being the sheltered person I am that I could teach you Anything, that you would want to know
M

[T'Onion]

^^^^^^None taken !!!! ^^^^^^

Mick , would love to just pop across for a couple of days and watch you work your magic and try and pick up some tips to improve my welding/metal working skills

[Plasticman]

Well rear jp didnt on the face of it seem toooooooooooooooo bad but we know otherwise

and

Cut the plate out to the top where it is spotted to the next piece, loads of thick weld maybe stick it was that horrid,anyhow cut it off, most of tyhe horrible stuff is the remains of the inner sill, this I removed back to what was solid, the part that is remaining is the top of the suspension mount.

as you can see I have welded the remains of the sill to the mount, there is no reason to have this metal there, it serves no purpose now,
The factory fit the sill and other reinforcing plates and then sit the suspension mount up to this and then weld to the sill, this leaves a void between the top of sus' mount and bottom of sill, I have checked and the original external welds from mount to sill are intact and good so it is now stronger done this way, I then made a small strip out of 2mm and welded this to the mount as in picky above, this will carry the next closing plate, if I had not done it this way then I would have been faced with welding up into a very tight angle, messy and not practical.

closing plate ready to fit (2mm)

welded in and given a coat, also did a small repair to the bottom of 'C' post, ok nobody will see it but if / when it comes of again in year to come or accident I dont want some one to say lokk at this bodge up

Made a new piece for the bottom of the wing


Mike

[Plasticman]

Had to do it in 2 bits as wouldnt upload?

Ran weld along edge so it will grind off on the fold


Ground off

Trial fits


got to 6pm so enough for this afternoons efforts.
been asked what snips I use.
these do most things
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=4510" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=4509" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
both do 20g one handed but need two hands for 18g,
if your mainly doing ally then the first pair are all you would need , cranked arent much use on it.
Also get an offcut of RSJ say 10 or 12inch section and 14-18 inch long make a good base for forming and shaping on the bench also bloody heavy which is good.
mike

[Plasticman]

Ive noticed that the bolt securing the trailing arm has been modified
Adrian did you find the picky of the container or did you photoshop it yourself?
mike

[Plasticman]

Finnished the rear wing btm and JP,

will run the grinder over it and lead up,
There was a raised bit inside the van and above the JP

Looked for all the world as if a jack had been stuck under it cept that its above known good metal, anyhow unpicked the welds and lifted it up to find part of the floor that is sandwiched beween the sill and the upper reinforcing plate had 'swollen' with rust, hacked it out quick weld and then closed the piece over it

So will either tackle the rear tailgate seal area or the missing bit of the drivers door bottom then it will be a mass gritblast and vactan then weld the rear wings on etc etc.
mike

[fidget]

Now this is strarting to freak me out mike.

everything youre doing to andys bus is more or less what Im doing to mine (only quicker and better). I know these bus's all rot the same but this is un canny the corner of mine is also lifting , now I know what to do .

james

[Plasticman]

Told you it was easy, just pickies easier than me typing it to you yesterday!!
mike

[toolsntat]

Think your due an extra beer Mike

That suspension bolt you mention, has it been welded in Twern't me guv honest it has always been like it

Weird about that bit of floor and with fidget getting the same.....
Probably a factory fitted option to keep inquisitive tin-bashers happy

The way you knocked up them "drip n drain" trays was great
Could be a market for them

So has the rejuvenated grinder taken vengeance on the Hinklevagon yet

Did the engine bay tinware seal survive the onslaught Mike?

Thanks
Andy

[fidget]

There's definatly a market for them I just replaced mine with a flat sheet of steel .

In hindsight I feel I may have just made myself a job for the future .

come on mike go into production

James

[Plasticman]

Ah well the bolt is deffinately welded to the mounting,, no problem will just need grinding off, why though? maybe the hole was oval or something?
Oh yes grinder is working well, especially with a .5mm cutting disc and well used on yours
The engine bay seal has been removed intact, so no probs there, the cost as well dont they,

Yes James I did think about making up a template for the floor panals after someone on here wanted one to make up and not lie under the van in the snow (lazy his own words)

Yes I might make a few up if demand is there, good thick steel but need a new pair of wheels making up with the correct profile James, hear me james

Well got my new camera today supposed to be point and click, supposed anyhow heres the drivers door bottom well we can pretend as its gone

be a nice sitting down welding job.
this is next on the list,should be fun


mike