‘86 westy restoration

[MarcoT3]

Hi All!

Thought I would show a few photos of my project progress over the past year. 

Bought a ‘86 westy joker with a 2.1 DJ the was missing half a conrod and engine casing!..and had what I initially thought was a small bit of rust  upon further inspection my restoration job list grew significantly!

See below my starting point:

First job was to raise the roof!


Then removed interior and windows for the big reveal!

[MarcoT3]

Time to buy a welder and watch some YouTube videos!




Started with the windows, took me around 3 attempts doing the first one, I kept cutting it out as I wasn’t happy with it but started to get the swing of the heat/gas settings and changed to a smaller wire, got there eventually:





 

[MarcoT3]

Next onto those notorious high top gutters

Before:



After:



After, After.. (can’t believe I have only one photo of the new gutters welded in:/) 




 

[MarcoT3]

Then just welded in some new sheet metal and panels around the body.. (and a small bit of filler  shhhh )





 

[MarcoT3]

Time for primer:




 

[MarcoT3]

Then a few more YouTube videos before deciding I was capable and going 2k paint and a HVLP gun.. never painted anything before (can you see the theme emerging?! :D ​​​​​​)

also had to wait for a warm, dry evening with no wind (in Ireland)…



 

[TwinTurbo]

That looks liek a great transformation

[MarcoT3]

Out for a quick spin before tackling the mechanical resto 

[MarcoT3]

Next up rebuilt the carb of my new (1984) DG







Lapped the valves, new head gaskets and set the clearances (you’ll have to take my word as I don’t have any photos:/) and installed the DG:





 

[MarcoT3]

Onto the undercarriage, what I would’ve gave for a 2 post lift or even a pit  I knew I was in my 30’s after a week lying under a van  ..

I done the brakes, bushings, bearings, suspension, CV’s, ball joints and sanded and painted everything else…

I decided when I was doing it I would go all in and buy the best  :




Front:





Rear:




 

[TwinTurbo]

"Pits" are almost extinct these days, health and safety legislation all but banished them.

I have a set of seasaw ramps, but not sure Maisie would have the ability to get onto them.

Rob

[MarcoT3]

Took a full days work to get the windows back in!

[MarcoT3]

Then put the high top back on:

[MarcoT3]

The inspectors were on site most days!

[MarcoT3]

Sound deadning:




Insulation:




interior re-installed: