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Rusty Westy - My Diary
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 16:16
by 16vmini
ok , sort of a log of my rust repairs , i have not started yet , just listing what panels i will need to get, he's the state of play so far :
WHEN I GOT HER :
rear arch , big dent/scratch , found that the rust is also under the runner for the sliding door , full hieght wing will be ordered for this side :
other side rear wing , might just get away with a lower repair section on this :
filler cap area , can you get panels for this ? or is it a home made job :
also the rear tailgate/boot has got some rot near the bottom , not sure what to do here , might give repair a go , do rear tail gates come up often ?
also noted some rust around the bottom runner of the sliding door .
Hopfully order up some panels in the next week and get chopping.
UPDATE , CURRENTLY 29/02/2012:

Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 16:18
by 16vmini
allot of seam rot , i guess best thing to do is get wire wheel onto them and see how bad it is.
also got some rot around window rubbers , but i will leave that till last / near the painting.
Matt
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 16:27
by jed the spread
She is a rusty bugger all right, but glad you took it on as Lloyd would have taken the interior out and sold the shell. I considered buying it from him and chopping it up as I knew Futbus would have had the roof section. Just a quick insight as to what you will find behind the cooker unit (horizontal seem LH side)
Bottom of this page from when I did my Westy
Have a look along the inside back window of the tail gate, it has double glazing so their is a good chance it will be f**ked there too.
It will be a good advert should you wish to start doing these vans as one thing the south is lacking is a good body repair fella. I will follow this with interest.
jed
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 17:41
by ricicles
looks like you will need a full side, also some repairs inside, check carfully above the suspension mounts, the last one i had a good fish around it was completly rotten, i think i put a post up about it(johnnys rusty wedge) ditto the other side. the fuel filler cap area i have done as well, also put a post but cannot remember the thread name, i think you will need a new arch but there will most deffo be a bit of repair needed to the pillar, prob the same on the other side. ditto what jed said about the sill/ floor (offside)
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 18:27
by futbus
Lots of work, but stick with it, too many vans are chopped up cause they need a little to much work for most. Saying that we have a couple that have become shells due to being recycled into others vans so maybe able to offer some panels. Just moving into new shop, but will be up and running very soon. Give us a call if you need any cuts from a shell.
Dave
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 19:18
by PEET
Thats not oo bad and T25's are pretty simple to weld up as the steels pretty thick. Worst area and I hate doing it is the area where the B pillar and sliding door runner have disappeared, thats a pig to do! Tailgate is a mid (late) style so I'd just replace it save all that effort and u never get it perfect in your eyes anyway!

Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 19:30
by 16vmini
cheers guys , have tackled a few rusty minis in my past .. so hopfully this wont be much different.
will keep an eye out for a rear tailgate.
i am going patent panels , as it does not really bother me trying to make them fit. i have a friend who works at VW heritage , so hoping to get the panels from him ... not sure what make they use ?
looking at the receipts its had some welding done , and i can see some done on the front arches , where you climb in etc.
fancy tackling the rear wing first and sliding door area , get that all sorted first.
Matt
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 19:44
by ricicles
good luck. keep us posted.
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 22:19
by Plasticman
Think the other side will need more than just the arch, check this
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... lack+of+it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak ... 7154_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=72888" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
lots to look at, good luck and keep us all entertained/I mean posted
mike
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 23 Nov 2010, 16:00
by 16vmini
popped down to VW heritage today , picked up some new metal :
next is to find some time ....kids 13th this weekend so might not get much.
Matt
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 23 Nov 2010, 16:36
by New Kentish Campers
I'd use a full size panel on the o/s too; for what the extra cost is in relation to your then being able to get at the seams, then its well worth it I reckon. If they aren't showing rust now, they will sooner or later, so be rid of it in the first attempt

Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 23 Nov 2010, 16:42
by 16vmini
yep , pics arnt clear , i got full length for both sides.
Matt
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 27 Nov 2010, 20:58
by 16vmini
woo , all the ladys of the house are out to see harry potter tommorow ... time to get busy with the disc cutter.
had a few other ideas while sitting around ... fancy a different filler cap and door handles ... but they can wait untill main rust is sorted.
Mat
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 27 Nov 2010, 21:30
by Plasticman
16vmini wrote:woo , all the ladys of the house are out to see harry potter tommorow ... time to get busy with the disc cutter.
Mat
Cutting it inside are you
mike
Re: Rusty Westy
Posted: 28 Nov 2010, 16:17
by 16vmini
cold outside today , first job was to remove interior panels , also found insulation behind them ,guess this is standard westfalia , :
started cutting rear wing off ,
then its a case of grinding all the spot welds and removing the old panel.
all allot cleaner now , rust behind was not as bad as it could have been :
added strip to inside of wing ,
skip lots of test fitting , / primer etc , got wing tacked on :
slowly welded it all up , and slapped some primer on for now :
a slightly less rusty westy :
time for a beer ... took about 6 hours , inbetween lunch , chatting to friends etc..tidying up ...big pile of rusty metal left.
Matt