The transformation begins!

[martin83]

So after the resounding response from you all about fitting the poptop. Work has begun.
Over the last couple of weekends the interior has been stripped out, i found all the cavities stuffed with damp loft insulation, so that went in the bin. I have started sound deadening and insulating with proper closed cell foam and dodo mat.
And today this happened

[irishkeet]

looking good Martin

[martin83]

Managed to get the old sunroof hole filled today (photo pre welding). 1980s universal aftermarket sunroof free to good home if anyone wants it, condition is by my standards poor.

[Ant-t]

Looking good, hope that it comes together ok and I'm sure it will

[martin83]

Cheers guys, more progress today.
Noticed a few rust bubbles above the gutters so thought I'd clean up and rust proof before fitting the roof then i found this...

So after a little crying and a lot of cutting grinding welding and painting i finally got to this stage

And once happy with fit and positioning a few tubes of stick o flex and rivets later. And my van now looks like this... Yay!

[Da dan]

I had to put on my super Viking roof on with hands. Are you not cheating a little doing it like that?!?!?
Looking good.


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[what2do]

Merlo - finest teleporter known to man.

[Jawin89]

Unless you have one that was made by the Italians on a Friday afternoon and bits keep falling off

[martin83]

I think all merlos were made by Italians on a Friday afternoon. It's a handy machine but i think the previous owner had the best out of it. I don't consider it cheating though just being resourceful.

[martin83]

Progress this week has been slow but steady me and the wife have trimmed out some of the van. I don't think it'll win any awards but looks ok to us.

[martin83]

More progress over the last 2 weeks repairing the fibreglass on the roof followed by filling and sanding and filling and sanding!
Here she is ready for primer

The first coat of primer showed up all the imperfections and pin holes in the filler so out came the stopper (fine filler) followed by more sanding

Then another coat of primer final sand and top coat.

[martin83]

The interior refit had kept me so busy for the last month that I hadn't had time to do any updates. But I managed to get it finished (more or less) in time for our first trip away!
Here's some before pictures of the b&q special interior.


And this is what she looks like now!



And here we are all set up at the isle of Wight festival for our first trip away.