hi all..... right firstly I want to say thanks for all the comments and advice.. I've taken this into consideration and spoken with the missus and even with the camper on ebay... the final thing that swayed me to keep the camper was the amount of people messaging me and people snapping my hand off to buy it there and then even at the full buy it now price... this made me rethink the whole thing and as a result.. the camper is now sat on concrete flags awaiting the sale of my other classic to fund the resto or part if it anyway lol. so... here I am... here's what the plan is... the chassis is in such a bad way it would need around 6 weeks work (with time and work commitments) to weld it up to even be able to get it on the jig as I wanted. so... we will be buying box section (unsure on size yet) but will be long enough go from the back to the front and will be welded to the centre chassis rail sections and there will also be box sections welded beside the crossmembers to retain the dimensions and stop any movement. with that then I should be able to rise it up on a jig and be able to roll it over and begin. (will look like a wheel barrow with box section coming out of the front and back). here's a list to be going on with: rear chassis rail from the inner valance to "in front" of the rear axle as this is all rotten (is it possible to buy these repair sections?) i know you can buy the rear repair sections from the rear inner valance to the beginning of the curve in the engine bay but I need a lot more than this clearly... needs rear crossmember front crossmember front chassis rail from front axle to the Y piece and the Y piece rails themselves (drivers side) to give you an idea of what I need.... the sections that appear solid is from the rear axle to the front axle... everything else needs new metal. I'm considering buying a rear axle tube or even messaging someone who is doing body cuts and ask them to cut out the sections I need for the rear. any suggestions? thanks rob
Sounds like you have planned things out; good luck, it will be an interesting project! FBI VW may have chassis cuts, they have allsorts of parts. @taypic on here also had some cuts available a while back http://www.thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/bay-for-panel-cuts.68084/#post-1262288
thanks fella and I've taken some time to work things out and decided to do it regardless. It needs a ground up restoration so a little more than I bargained for I suppose but when its done I'll know theres no rot. Thanks for the link fella.. I've posted so hopefully I'll get a reply. I know theres a rear section on ebay at the minute at decent price but I'm keeping my options open so I can take my pick of the best ones I can get. thanks again rob
Just a suggestion, have a look at the way Matt Balls and TYpe2Detectives etc do their body drops. It's possible to cut all round the edge of the floor pan to separate the chassis from the body, you could then literally lift it up like a Beetle, flip the chassis/ floor pan to renovate , then reattach the body at your preferred height, standard or lowered
It's not much but I've an "I beam" that I didn't use on ours if you need it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
thanks for the kind words fellas, I will take a look into that chassis seperation idea however space might be an issue as having the body and chassis separated. how much would you want for the i beam james? also... i know this might sound crazy but does anybody have a diagram of the chassis/underside of a late bay with all the panels named as this will help me and my brother out with the resto work as some of the photo's on website can be a tad confusing. it will also help us both when making sections up and the best way to do it. thanks in advance rob
Should you need it how's a tenner sound? Some only had tophat sections but mine had two I beams. Best bet is to get a copy of fletch's book on restoring a van. A lot of the part suppliers sites have exploded diagrams which are useful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Also where are you based? There may be someone nearby that could point you in the right direction should you need it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tenner is great if you still have the panel when im ready to start welding i'll have that off you . Ive seen the book and will be buying it and having a good study of it . Im in castleford west yorkshire Would be nice to meet someone local and cast there eyes over camper. Thanks Rob
Glad you decided to keep it ,take pictures of the underside.... the chassis front to back are two main rails ,the rear is attached to the rear axle ,the front bypasses the front beam ,front inner panel and rear valance and section over gearbox keeps it "boxy".. the main section has inner and outer sills running parallel ,then rails going across ,two of these has jacking points...
Alan Schofields have good diagrams of parts available.. You sound as daft as me ... Just removing my floor to do the supports..
Alright mate I bought a t2 Viking a few weeks ago and my gutter on the hinge side is badly rotten but the other side is fine...is it difficult to do...and how did u go about doing it...?
My Viking is in having the work done by an air cooled garage,I'm in no way capable of welding anything to a decent standard.he's removed the roof cap and replaced the complete side of gutter and I've bought new heavy duty brass hinged from poptop parts.i was expecting him to tell me it was a nightmare to do ,but apparently it wasn't the worst bit on the van.are you doing yours yourself? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah I think so...there's other places on the van what attention first when it comes to welding...I only bought it a couple of weeks ago and it needs more work to the bodywork than a probably envisioned...I fell in love as soon as I saw it...but mechanically its sound it's mainly the bodywork ...like it's gone on the bottom of the doors on the cab...so I'll probably have a go at them first and if I can't do it I'll probably have to have a look at getting someone to do it...I've not welded before so all new to me lol...I'm a joiner by trade so I've got an eye for detail...I'm not saying it makes me a welder but hopefully I'll be ok...has it been expensive at this air cooled garage...? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
