Steady Eddie 72 Body Restoration

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by SteadyEddie, Oct 10, 2017.

  1. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Looking good mate. Looks like I got away lightly on our sliding door bottom based on the rust on yours.
    On the cab door inners ours had similar rust problems on that inner strengthener. I ended up cutting a big chunk of it out and Welding a new piece in. The rest got cleaned up and painted. I’ll try and dig the pics out for you.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    MorkC68 likes this.
  3. Fantastic! Thanks @JamesLey that's exactly what I need! I think I may have to reproduce your repair style as it doesn't involve too much faff with the door skins. When I started looking at all the spot welds I started to worry it would need both door skins seperating to get at it properly.


    I attacked the passenger door tonight which was nothing but filler, amazingly it looks like the filler has saved the inner section so it may only be the driver's door needing additional repairs.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Big relief, now time to open a cider and plan some more fabrication :cheers:
     
    Valveandy likes this.
  4. Possibly true but hopefully I won't have to touch the outer skins of the front doors, you win some you lose some!
     
  5. Little bit of progress on the sliding door today, I intentionally bought an oversized outer repair panel so it can be cut down to fill a few holes.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Thankfully it looks like everything is salvageable which is a relief after the front doors. Hopefully I'll get some welding done soon.
     
    nicktuft and paradox like this.
  6. Hi Eddie I don't know if this is useful but have you started grit blasting yet? If you are outside it goes everywhere (including bouncing back in to you!) so I basically rigged up a tent arrangement with big plastic sheets and parked on one too taping them where there were gaps. It's also possible to re-use some grit that way (if you can bother to sieve it). ps I also have rhd front roof Westy
     
  7. Hi VRM, I haven't started blasting yet but am planning to do tomorrow, I bought a cheap marquee from ebay which should do the job for blasting and spraying but haven't assembled it yet, that'll be tomorrow's job! I can imagine what a mess it'll make and I'll try to catch as much as I can to re use.

    Unfortunately, about 75kg of the glass grit got wet so I've now turned my conservatory into a beach for a day or two while it drys out, I feel all tranquil like a Japanese garden!

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2017
    Kruger, Sick Boy and paradox like this.
  8. I'm back!

    For some reason Forum Image Hosting website seems to be down so I haven't been able to post pictures for a while. I think I've worked out how to use a different site so I think I may finally be able to catch up with some updates. Anyway, less of me, more of the pics:

    Sliding door:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Turns out the sills were more rust than metal so the whole thing had to come out!
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Passenger door
    [​IMG]
    My attempt at a fabricated curved repair section, I'll have a go at lead loading it soon.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Another attempt a repair, Amanda's getting good at fabricating
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  10. Driver's Door
    [​IMG]
    I've started on the inner repair section but my drill got wet in the snowmelt (I've now got distracted patching up some leaks in the shed roof so I'll get the inner repaired once my drill has dried out.
    Managed an ok job with Amanda's outer repair
    [​IMG]

    I'm chuffed that I'm finally starting to get metal put back in rather than just cut out, I may not be very skilled or refined but it's a lot better than it was!
    That's it for now, time for some mead :beer:
     
    nicktuft, JamesLey and MorkC68 like this.
  11. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Looking good mate! That corner repair is a right pain in the backside.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. Very true. Thankfully the curved outer skin I’d cut off from the other part of the door was in good nick and mostly the same shape so I cheated a bit. It’s not comparable to the extent of your repair to the same bit!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Tell me about it. Think it took me a whole weekend to make that part and fit it.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. Aye but it’s worth it for such a close fit. Mine was a bit of a bodge. And will take a bit of lead and maybe a touch of filler as much as I hate the stuff.

    My excuse is that I’m working to a deadline but the reality is I’m just not that much of a perfectionist I’m more of the ‘that’ll do’ type


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Really pleased with the last couple of days, I finally rolled the van around to my neighbour's drive to do a bit of shotblasting . I did various bits and pieces like the sliding door runner, sills and rear panels in preparation for everything going back on. It's not the nicest job in the world but I now have no excuses not to start putting bits back on the van rather than taking them off!

    While the back corners were out I've tidied up the air intake sections, spare wheel tub and some other bits and bobs.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    And today I got the outer skin of the passenger door in and had my first ever attempt and lead loading. As with everything I do, it's not perfect but it'll do. Besides, it will only be visible to someone lying under the van as the door opens and I suspect anyone in that position will have bigger worries than my door skin!

    Not exactly subtle welding clamps but the old ways are the best.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    And covered in some rather colourful hi-build
    [​IMG]

    I still have some tidying to do and some minor holes to fill in some tricky places but I'm very pleased with today, lets see what the new year brings...
     
    MorkC68 and Lasty like this.
  16. As you have been working so hard, you can have the day off.
     
  17. I'll take the evening off but back to it tomorrow (after a lie in):thumbsup:
     
  18. enjoy.
     
    SteadyEddie likes this.
  19. Love it
     
    SteadyEddie likes this.
  20. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Bang on mate!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page