Club 80-90 Forums

So never having owned a vdub, I decided it was about time I got one. I needed something to keep me busy this winter.

After a 400 mile round trip, I picked up a 83' 1.6 D converted panel van.



An altogether tidy wedge, but in need of rear arches and a bit of TLC here and there.

And yes it does look like someone's stuck a bath tub on the roof.

So here my journey starts...

Luckily one of my best mates already has a t25 and I have helped him with a lot on his bus, so I have a good idea of what I need to do and where I want to go with it.

So off it goes into my mates unit so we can make a start on the bodywork.

Sorry, but I just can't help looking at that roof again and again. What is that all about???

Hello and welcome. Good luck with getting the jobs done on the van

So I made an order with JK for the panels I needed.





And then prepped the areas for cutting and welding.

evilnoodle wrote: Sorry, but I just can't help looking at that roof again and again. What is that all about???

Hello and welcome. Good luck with getting the jobs done on the van

Lol yeah it's a talking point for sure.. It's a high top off something but can't work out what..

So I am painting the van using rustoleum as I don't want to pay for a re spray and I want to say I've done it all.

I know there are varied views on roller painting, but if done right and the effort is put in during prep, it can look as good as a spray. And it's protection for years to come.



The colour choice.

More prep work

PaulDavies84 wrote:

evilnoodle wrote: Sorry, but I just can't help looking at that roof again and again. What is that all about???

Hello and welcome. Good luck with getting the jobs done on the van

Lol yeah it's a talking point for sure.. It's a high top off something but can't work out what..

There is a van over in Widnes....I keep meaning to go back and gets some pics of it. It is a Trans!t, I think, but it has the same hi-top as my camper. The top is too narrow for the van, and too long. It overhangs the front like a peaked cap

So after lots of flat ting and a few boxes of scotch pads, I have put the first coat of paint on as much of the fan as possible.

Looking good

So now 95% of the van is base coated, the filling has been done on the rear arches.

Just waiting for it to go off so it can be feathered in .





Scotching has begun ready for second coat.

So whilst my mate was chopping his roof out to fit a pop top, I decided today was the day my interior was coming out.

Roll on Tuesday, filler will be feathered and second coat will be going on.

What repair was needed to the rusty area under the lower grill and front door pilar?

the corner had few holes on the door pillar, which was glassed and filled, and the same to the lower front panel under the grille. All was structurally sound, just purely cosmetic.

Treated with rust proofing agent from behind too.