Club 80-90 Forums

One day a beautiful swan will grow from this ugly dougling.

Anyway the work has begun. Last year a 1y and 5 speed box was fitted, transforming the drive. Medium term I will turbo the 1y. Meantime the interior and roof have to go.

The roof is just plain ugly. That will be replaced with a pop top and new bellows. Hopefully soon after easter.



The interior is also plain ugly, and cramped. Its a multivan with a full width r&r bed, which is cool, and a huge kitchen unit blocking half the sliding doorway, which is both old and rotten, and in the way. Its got to be improved on!

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So over the week ive ripped out the old kitchen unit, which was so nasty the glue from the laminate was oozing out all over the place. I've pulled up the floor, which was so rotten it snapped like balsa wood, and weighed the same. Removed the rear multivan plastic panel and the bed. the main cabin is now empty.



Unfortunately the van has shown up a few secrets. I suspect the water tank had been leaking. Behind the multivan panel lives metalworm. Luckily the sills are totally solid as is the outer skin. However the floor pan has rot all along that side. My friendly welder will do his stuff this week I hope.



Its a messy bit of the van to be honest. The rot had just reached the skin but only on the surface. The only part im slightly concerned about is the bottom if the pillar, where it has entered the sill. The lowest point has rot. This last pic was taken from inside the sill, looking forwards toward the pillar behind the front door. Being inside an otherwise good sill i doubt I can do anything with it, except maybe let it dry and spray some waxoil. Not even sure i can get to it enough to vactan. Any ideas?

Taking advice from people here and my own misgivings I decided not to try and waste the sink across the van, so the LPG tank and waste water tank came off. Waste will be remounted on the other side, but the LPG tank is huge, far larger than required. Im thinking I might replace it with an underslung locker and sell it. Its probably 70-80 liters so could be good for someone doing a petrol LPG conversion.

This will be one of the last few posts in the thread. Doug is currently being welded and then will be painted, will then refit the interior with its cleaned up multivan setup and a new floor etc. Sadly thats as far as this will go. My better half has turned to the dark side and has decided it makes more sense for us to get a t4, and sell the van and family car.

I hate to admit it but it does make sense, too many vehicles in the family. The t4 is easier for her to use as a daily driver. Our t25, which ironically will be looking its best (and much better inside than most of the period weve actually used it) will have to go on the market. I will miss it! Someone else is going to have a good solid van on their hands.

I will finish this thread anyway, though it wont be of so much interest now.

Al