A restoration for Iris

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by JamesLey, Jul 6, 2015.

  1. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    So I've been continuing with the strip down. The front beam is nearly ready to come off.
    I suspect I'm going to need a new cab floor though as ours is looking pretty rough. I'm thinking of getting a klassic fab floor however there are a few different years available. Ours is a crossover of sorts so I'll either need a '72 floor or a 73'+. What features would tell me which one I'll need? I'll grab a picture next time I'm up there.
    Our floor has the accelerator pedal with the long arm that goes from the hole in the floor across to the pedal itself if that helps.
     
  2. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Found this picture from a few years ago which may help identify the floor year.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    So does mine, it's a 74 model year. Earlier had a contraption under the van.
    Looks like mine.
     
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  4. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I think I was getting confused by the pictures of the klassic fab ones. They only have images of the LHD ones which presumably don't have the long arm across the floor as the pedal is towards the centre of the floor?
     
  5. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Correct. VW Heritage used to do a selection of floor repair panels for all years, you don't need a whole one, just the panel to cut what you need from.
     
  6. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Cheers. I was thinking of replacing the entire thing to be honest. Both sides have considerable rust and there wouldn't be a huge amount left to weld to. Any compelling reason to avoid replacing the whole thing?
     
  7. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    It's more work than you think?
    The left half looks good from here, it's been repaired previously, nowt wrong with that.
    The middle looks good too...
    If I'm right you're turning a couple of hours work into a couple of days minimum.
    I'm betting there's plenty of bits more in need of repair, you can always leave it for now and re-assess later.
    Am I right that you are new to this malarky?
     
  8. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Yes I think you're right. The above picture is a few years old so it's a little worse than that now, the drivers side is nasty and the passengers is pretty rough. Repairing this is a fair way down the road though, just wanted to start thinking about it. Main reason I suggested replacing it all was if that was a quicker and better approach, but sounds like it's the opposite.
    Yeap I'm very new, but keen to learn! Everyone starts somewhere right.
     
  9. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Finally got my owner history request back from the DVLA (all 22 owners!). Hoping to send them all letters to get a bit more on the van's history.

    Slow progress over the last couple of weeks stripping the van down. Finally got the rear hub nut off with a 4ft breaker bar and scaffold pole lent to me from the guys at Kombi Klassics. Just need to finish stripping the rear end down and she'll be on the jig (finally!).
     
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  10. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Just ordering up some bits for the underside and chassis repairs. Which top hat repair panel do I need for the top hat that sits above the front jacking points?
    Is it this one?
    http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/Item/Sho...-C-3rd-C-4th-CB-_-OB-55-67_1st-C-5th-CB-.html

    I only ask as they refer to it as the 2nd, 3rd, 4th support which confused me a little. I thought this would be the 1st, unless they count something under the cab floor as the 1st?
     
  11. For some reason which I now can't remember, I was advised to (and did) use a splitty top hat from Schofield's. Maybe @davidoft can remember?
     
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  12. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor

    because bay ones come with loads a holes in, splitty ones are solid al the way across so you can chop um up and use oe to repair several top hats :)
     
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  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    That makes sense. Is the one I linked to what would replace the one above the first jacking point if I was to replace the whole thing though? Hoping to avoid if possible.
     
  14. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    The front one is shorter than the others to fit between the sills that are wider at the front.
    If you can make your own holes (just the gear lever IIRC) splitty ones are thicker steel for some reason, or certainly used to be.
     
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  15. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    This came on the radio on the way home today. Sums up a restoration nicely: "It's gonna take time, A whole lot of precious time, It's gonna take patience and time, To do it right".
     
    paradox likes this.
  16. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Huge Karma to @paneuropaul for not
    only providing Iris with a set of bumpers for free, but for also delivering them to the workshop for me! Glad to see the Dub spirit is alive. Sorry I didn't manage to meet you either.
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Happy to help, I just hope you can make use of them.
     
  18. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Think they'll both go on. My rear one was knackered and the front one from you is in better condition than mine so will go on to save fiddling with my front one. Mine will be free to a good home now.
     
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  19. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Further arsing around with the jig tonight (sick to death of the thing now!).
    Still not happy with it as it felt as if it wanted to turtle on me (the wife came down to give me a hand), but I'd rather spend the time and get it right.

    @mm289 I think I saw a thread of yours from a few years ago and you'd used the same jig on yours (inc a poptop roof still attached). Do you remember which position you had it in at all? It's currently at 3 holes from the bottom but it felt like it wanted to turtle on me as it was getting heavier as I lowered it. I think I'll move it to position 2 (when I tried it at that position a while ago I didn't try rotating it too much as it felt heavy to move (i.e. it didn't want to roll over), but perhaps once I get it over a bit the roof will assist)).
    o_O
     
  20. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Stop worrying, go for it (and film it for us). :D
     
    JamesLey likes this.

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