Club 80-90 Forums

Over the last couple of days I've made a start on the interior of my new van, by ripping everything out so I can start from scratch.
Here's the old interior:




And here's it now (it has to get worse before it gets better, right?)...


I'm can't get that wood off the floor! The screws are so jammed in there that they just snap rather than come loose. That's tomorrow's project!

I'm thinking that maybe this might have been a minibus at some point? There are loads of these holes in the floor...




And these holes in the side that I think I remember reading were old seat belt anchor points?


My plan had been to strip it right back to the metal, so I can see any dodgy bits and get them sorted, and that's still the plan, but I'm not sure whether to keep this floor in. It's the right size, but I'm not sure if it's waterproof, and I haven't been underneath it yet to see if there's any kind of sound deadening or insulation underneath (I'm guessing not). Do you think this stuff would make a suitable floor (I'll probably put laminate-looking vinyl on top)? ...


This is the mat covering the back area. I think it's probably original, and I'm not sure whether to keep it. What does everyone else use to cover this area? It's quite heavy so it might cut out a bit of road noise.


And this is what's underneath the mat. It's sort of plasticy (though I'm sure it has a proper name!), and it's really stuck down. I'm thinking I should probably just leave it, it looks like it gives the floor some protection...


Then there are these holes that go right through the floor. Am I right in thinking that they are for seatbelts too? They are quite rusty though, so I'm not sure if they'll be any good. Are they in the right position for R&R bed seatbelts?




Door cards and things are a bit of a mess, so I'll have to replace them, and also those carpet panels (anyone know where I can get that sort of thing?).




I'd like to replace the headlining, becuase the old stuff is a bit minging, but I'm a bit reluctant to take the old off becuase I have no idea how much it will cost to have it redone (I don't think I'd make a good job of it myself). Anyone have any rough ideas?






And I'm not sure about this stuff. It looks like a sort of fibreglass lining. I would have rather taken it back to the metal so I can look for any bits of rust and then paint it. Can this be removed do you think?


And then there's this panel at the front, dividing the cab from the back. Is this an original feature do you think? It's really horrible and I'd like to remove it altogether, but the back of the bench seat is bolted to it. Someone's cut a chunk of it out, and the metal edge is pretty sharp (a bit dangerous)...






This is at the bottom of the panel. Anyone know what it is?


I took a couple more pics of the outside of the van. Most of the bodywork seems alright, except the back door, which looks like this...






I had thought of getting it repaired, but looking at it closer maybe it would be better to replace the whole panel. I don't know how easy it would be to get rust like that to stop? I'd like to roller the whole thing when the weather gets a bit better (maybe green). The paint on some of the panels look as though it's been put on with a brush.

I'm looking forward to getting stuck in over the next few weeks, but seeing it all together it looks like a mountain of work (and cash!) is going to have to go into it! I realise a lot of these questions are going to seem ridiculous to experienced people like yourselves, but any advice will be very greatly appreciated!

blimey gone a bit mad there

Most those holes are seatbelt anchor point for various configurations minibus etc

think i can safely say the tailgate is totaly fooked worth searchin classifieds on here for a replace ment

while you have the van that bare i would invest in some sound deadening (stops the road wheel noise and make panels feel moire soild)

and some insulation dont use the rock wool type as this holds moistuire=rust

use thermo bubble wrap used for behind radiators in houses or the yeloow dense foam cheers

Def keep the mat they are pretty rare unsplit etc and help keep the noise down.
That flooring is as waterproof as any, if u can take it up n check it'd be good but its jus as easy to check from underneath.

Have a gander at the very bottom inside the panel opposite slider cos if its bad in there, you would be well advised to pull the floor out, sort that rot then gradually refit. Its a weak area on a T25 owning to water ingress from side window plus condensation.

rear cabin heater vents (rare)



cabin bulkhead (original and removable)

wow gardernergirl - you don't mess about!!

yep tailgate whip it off and get a new one.

sound deadening material for panels before refitting - squares of evostick flashband stategically placed on panels work well (and cheap). then follow covkids ideas on insulation - silver bubblewrap stuff......

keep looking here - and look on the wiki link.

brilliant stuff - keep us informed with pics.

I think I will be going with the flashband/aluminium bubblewrap for sound deadening and insulation, but do you think that will work on the floor too (underneath the wooden stuff)? Or should I be going for something more heavy-duty there?

Any thoughts on the fibreglass stuff on the interior walls? It only comes down as far as the top of the door cards, but it seems very well attached. I'd like to paint it if it can't be removed. Would rustoleum work on that sort of thing (I'm ordering some for the bodywork)? Does anyone else have this lining on their van?

Thanks (sorry for all the questions!)

gardenergirl wrote:Thanks

goes a long way on here
all this info is given freely

CovKid wrote:Have a gander at the very bottom inside the panel opposite slider cos if its bad in there, you would be well advised to pull the floor out, sort that rot then gradually refit. Its a weak area on a T25 owning to water ingress from side window plus condensation.

Thanks for the tip, I took the cards off this morning and had a look. It's actually not too bad in there (esp on the offside, nearside is a little worse). I think, from reading on here, I should scrape the rust away, then paint with vactan (with a possible coat of rustoleum on top of that). I've read about spraying in Waxoyl, but is that really needed on top of everything else? I'm going to be putting sound deadening (flashband) and insulation (alu bubblewrap) in there, and am a bit worried that waxoyl might mess it all up and make the insulation fall out of place!

I guess I'll work these things out as I go along!