Prrdys Thread, Restoration of a slightly rusty '81 A/C

[Plasticman]

ah so i see, its only the first few inches of it ,your in luck as discussed

done you a jp support aswell
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[benlawlor85]

Looks great mate. Thanks. Just had schofields order arrived sill is ok but wing is not good. Hopefully can use some of it. Sent you an email too.
Cheers
Ben

[benlawlor85]

Some good news and some not so good news,

Good news is i cut the rusty floor from the drivers side cab and welded in nice new metal yesterday.
Bad news is looks like i need two upper ball joints(well covers at the least). And also inspecting the brake calipers they are very corroded. Dont think there is a hope of the bleed nipples working so maybe two new callipers aswell!? Might aswell just overhaul and repaint the whole area while at it. Is a damaged ball joint boot MOT faliure or just and and advisory?

pics below, plus a couple of pics of the C post and rear JP repair

JP repair

Quality arch from Schofields!...??

Floor cur out


The piece i removed

Lip next to the step/arch

New piece ready to be welded in

Shiny new metal

Painted up! and no i didnt forget ot paint underneath!


Ball Joints



Callipers



Not worring about the ball joints etc yet just want to get the sill etc all repaired and tank back in and fuel tank back on and carbs on and throttle cable fixed, and heating system sorted... uhmmmm lots to do.

Cheers
Ben

[benlawlor85]

Front of rear arch, was very happy with this i made the panel myself, profile looks good.

B Post, Found this really difficult. but got there. dont think it will look perfect tho!


Inner sill

Plate attached ready for plug welding

All attached and some primer on it

B Post

Side view of sill etc



Really not very happy with how this lines up, ill see if i can get it into shape but dont wanna hjust hit it as will probs make it worse.


Today im going to try and do the closure plates, and then paint all that up. very little welding gas left so not going to attempt wheel arch of the small piece of rear arch that needs to be fixed. Ill do that tomorrow. After gas has ran out today ill refit fuel tank (empty) and fuel lines, throttle cable compete with new sheath. and put carbs and engine bits back on.
Will update soon.

Big thanks to the one and only Mickey too!!

Ben

[Plasticman]

thats finne. you should have cut the lower fridgepanel down as it was taller than you needed, that or should have put a bit more curve into it, same with the rear repair bit, but its metal and not rot so will do fine,
how tall is that argon cyl'
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[benlawlor85]

yeah i cut the old metal thinking the new is better... haha Ahwell.
The argon is one of the Hobby Weld cylinders £36 for a fill. I seem to go though loads tho probs coz i need loads of pressure being outside and all.

[benlawlor85]

Fitted the closure plates today, welding was not very good im asuming its coz i had painted the underneath of the plate with etchweld.
Removed both cables for the heat control valves. Think im gonna need two new ones, also need one new control box as i have two for the same side!! haha
Also looked at refitting the tank. Its been off for ages now. and i cant work out where the two black pipes from the top of the expansion tanks go... any ideas?

Then generally gave the van a tidy up as i have been storing all the tools etc in it too.
Will update more when i do anything!

Ben

[Plasticman]

bit picky shy tonight are we... the 2 pipes out of the top of the exp tanks go through into the chassis and they have a trumpet shape rubber end, i never bother with that just shove the p[ipe back in.
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[benlawlor85]

Haha, didnt take any pics today Mike, Will do some tomorrow. just for you!
Back to work tomorrow so will try and do some in the evenings then more on Thursday. might even get it back on the road.... shock horror!

[benlawlor85]

Ok I lied, No photo update today, as i just had enough time to tiger seal the seams on the outside and seam seal the closure plates etc on the inside now its pissing it down! and is ment to be like it all day tomorrow.
Thursday should be dry tho.

[benlawlor85]

Very little progress here. The seam sealer i used on the internal seams has cracked... i put more over the top and even some of that has cracked. The window above the repaired panel also leaks so as bad weather is due i have gaffer taped it up!
I thought i should start looking at other MOT failures, so The two top ball joints need to come out. Lots of heat and loads of plus-gas means fire!! But on the plus point i have all the cap head allen bolts out one i did have to hammer a star bit into it as it rounded off real easy. The Big 24mm bolts look like they will be harder. Especially as i socket doesnt fit. and for some reason i dont have a 24mm spanner so i will be off to get one in a bit. also going to get some U-pol seam sealer and maybe a ball joint splittler. which type do i need??

Ben

[Dazco]

Looks like you are cracking on with the resto dude, I'm down your way on sat for the week so ill keep my eyes open when we are out with the dogs, milk one sugar mate .

[benlawlor85]

Im slowly getting there some days it seems like i achieve nothing tho.
Just now thinking about ordering heat control cables and a control box £100!!! eek
if your in the St Ives area let me know!
Ben

[Dazco]

Oh I will be , don't worry, love it round there, we are stopping top side of Kennegy cove , but will be round Ives a few time, plus having the two beasts we will be exploring the coast from your place down to lands end.

[Plasticman]

what seam sealer you using
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