1975 devon revamp - scampervan

Cheers daisy. I've seen a few ppl cut and reweld the gap.i might see how the from lower valance lines up ad mayb make up a panel to close the gap up abit or bring the line of the door down

 

Good progress being made dude especially considering how much of a pain the usual rot spots in the inner rear arch are

 

^^ what Daisy said re- the front arch

I think zed told me when I was doing mine, that there was supposed to be a bigger gap between the step and door than the rest of the gaps.

the main bit you need to worry about is geeting it lined up with the little 'lip/step' on the main step as this is where the door seals will meet.

like daisy said, I tacked mine at the B post and jacked up the step.....I also used a scissor jack to push against the chassis to push the front arch outwards to line up with the bottom of the door.

leave the big seam weld to the A post until last, make sure you have it lined up where you want it before you make that weld or you will never move it again for any further adjustment ;D

 

Indeed - if the you make the step gap same as the rest the door will foul the arch. Check out the pics in the front of your Haynes - big gap.
You should find it's about right when the bottom on the outside of the arch is lined up with the bottom of the front valance.

I'd advise keep the door on until you have the arch 90% welded in place and keep checking. Welding shrinks steel. I leave them on until it's all done except the very front bit where the door gets in the way. You wouldn't want to find it's shifted after you have it fully welded on.

 

Thanks for the advise guys.cant wait to get cracking with it again after Xmas!

 

front arch is now tacked into place. im starting to think i should of got some new doors or repaired these ones first before fitting the arch. ive lined it up the best i can but its still not 100%

 

Well tonight progress kind of went backwards a few steps. I wasnt happy with the fit of the arch around the lower a pillar. I had previously replaced this but it when the arch was fitted there was a 5mm gap where the seal weld would need to be :s

So tonight I cut the arch off (so glad I only put a couple tack welds on it) and took a grinder to the a pillar repair. Once cut off I realised I had only made the new piece out of 1.2mm steel rather than the 2mm steel like the rest of the pillar is. So yet again I remade the repair but in the correct gauge steel this time and trial fitted it into the arch. Finally im happy again so on it went







This time I also made it long enough to meet the inner valance

Next question though is how should the bottom of the arch and a pillar look? This was with the old repair panel fitted. The holes from underneith just look like a water trap to me

 

the bottom of the A post had an infill piece from memory, basically a piece with 4 edges folded over that fits up into the A post with the 'lips' facing down, comming level to the bottom of the A post - originally spot welded on.

I think the rest of the gap you have should have been covered by part of the step .....I'd just make a small filler bit for it though and drill a few drain holes

 

Small update. Refitted the arch tonight and started making a strip to repair the edge of the front tub. Arch still needs some tweeking but its the best it's ever fitted with the new a pillar repair









I just need to get something behind the arch at the top to push it out abit more as it has dropped just behind the edge of the door

 

were both at the same stage, looks lke neither of us can get near our own stuff for doing stuff for mates... To gee me up Im back to see how other folks are progressing... I had some spare cash for a job I done on a 33 ford so decided to blow it on a deposit for my camper interior, hopefully that will gee me up.. Im going for a lock in at the wekend with the aim being to get the driver side inner sill welded in, the outer bit with the holes needs a slight tweek to the bend at the B post as it sits a bout 3 mm to high amd stops the floor sitting flush on the inner, inner sil panel that than means it needs a trim along the bottom edge so both outer inner and inner inner sit flush along the bottom edge, Im hoping thats how they should fit ..... Im also planning to get the inner rear arch floor edges cleaned up ( i pulled out the original wheel tubs and bought vw audi replacements ) and the new inner arch tacked in same with the extension bit that goes from the engine lid opening ( under the corner panel) to the inner resr crossmember.. a wee bit of hammer and drift work to shape up the fromt inner arch where that long oblong recess bit is and that should about do saturday before me and me mate head out to the lap dancers LOL

Keep up the great work on your van, it will be worth the effort, your doing it right..

 

Cheers for the comments.it helps spur me on when things are moving slowly.

Seeing as the better half was out this evening I made the most of free time and went straight to the camper from work.

I cut out the strip that I had tacked into place on the edge of the tub with abit extra as I was havin problems welding them together. It kept burning through no matter how low I turned down the welder. Anyway I think it was doing i for a reason as the end result this time was much better.

I had set myself the task of completing the front tub and cab floor repairs this evening but I don't want to be grinding too late into the nite so called it at 10.

The section removed



And new metal in place and dressed back. I didnt get any photos of pushing the arch out to line with the door but I used a scissor jack and a piece of wood and it worked a treat.



A pillar and arch welded together



Just the rear of the arch to weld now but I've decided this would be easier to complete when its back on the jig and rolled over



Front of tub repaired





And finally started making a repair panel for the floor





And finally new seatbelt mount ready to go in



All in all i productive evening I feel



Tomorrow night i will finish the seatbelt mount and cab floor repairs and poss make a start on the outter sill/centre panel

 

Good work.

 

I've been far too much of a wimp lately to brave the cold and get up working on the camper again but here's some progress from this eve.

The drivers front arch is now completed but I forgot to get photos.

Drivers seatbelt mount welded in fully



Centre panel trimmed and held in place with self tappers



It lines up well with the seams





But in the process if cutting and folding the edges round i seam to have lost abit if shape in the panel so need to get practicing with my panel beating





Once im happy with it then I'll drill some holes at the bottom and get it spotted to the sill. The end of this side is in sight

 

Looking good dude

 

Looks pretty solid now.

 

Interesting to see how the r/h chassis rail and valance repairs were done, I have the same work to do. Just on top of that I have d-pillars to repair as well. Got the d-pillar repair pieces from Schoefields and a correct fit inner and outer valance from Custom and Commercial.

 

Kenzie - I have the d pillars to repair also. I plan to get the front end on next after finishing welding on the outer sill. I wasnt aware you could get the repair panels for the d pillars so I'll have to look them up

 

These ones, just noticed VWH do them now but are out of stock

 

nice work mate,

its starting to come together and you'll be spending weeks sanding and filling before you know it

^^^ I ended up making the D pillars on mine as I didnt reaslise they were availible!! .....think I did a thread in the 'how to' section on making part of them


....ah, here it is....but just shows the outer part being made

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=1230.0