Rhubarbs ( and custard ) resto

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Poptop2, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    This is what I always do as well - when I'm near enough to have everything attached and working I MOT it to see what's worn out. Stuff like your list is easy so as Para says - why take it all apart once if you might have to do it again. Same with the CV joint - if the wheel bearing fails you'll be taking the driveshaft off again. It's also handy to have a list to work to after which you will pass.

    So enjoy your Xmas and do bugger all until the new year, and if I have my interior sorted by then I'll have won the overall "finished bus" race as well as the "mot" race.:)
     
  2. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Para ,diddy , zed and shielsy , you lot have become my jiminny cricket type conscience , whatever i do i have you lots words running through my head , nag , nag , nag , nag ::) ::) ::) ::) -- i will think about it , i am kacking myself as it is never mind mot day ;).

    But thanks for the encouragement :hug:
     
  3. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    A open letter to paradox

    Dear Rick

    i remember well the first day we met , you came to my house bearing gifts , a large very pointed screwdriver and a bloody large hammer , we had tea a fag and a chat , within a few minutes you were beneath my van tool in hand , your verdict was'nt good , i suspected it was in desperate need of a welder but to what extent i had no idea .

    You looked at me with a sort of bewilderment , i wondered if you thought i was entirely bereft of common sense , Rhubab was just about as bad below as a van could get and your verdict was - scrap it or spend a lot of sponduli's on it .

    I could'nt disagree , after all you had been doing them up longer than me , i might have driven them a lot and way before you had even been near one , but i had never had this sort of task that now lay ahead of me - what a downer .

    Still we managed to laugh about it over a cuppa , while i had my haircut in the kitchen and a friendship blossomed .

    Without you n yer very pointed scrrwdriver i would never have got as far as i have , each new bit of undiscovered tin worm would have made me falter and ultimately give in , but you having pointed them out somehow made the surprises easier to bear , your help along the way , combined with others and my fortitude to see it though have been a adventure i would'n have missed for the world .

    Here i am on the cusp of mot ing Rhubarb and i spent part of the day going all paradox on metal bits ( thats rubbing down and painting unseen bits, for the uninititiated ) , i thought of you a lot today Rick , somehow it seemed fitting !.

    Thanks paradoodle ;)
     
  4. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    I don't think it will throw up any surprises when the time comes. Even if it does, after tackling the rear suspension tube repairs anything is going to seem easy. I would have baulked at that.
     
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  6. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Wouldn't kiss your arse with poos lips.jjust stating facts., nn I'm ok for. Money dude. Now just be patient doodle dear. :D
     
  7. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

     
  8. Love this thread Malc :thumbsup:

    This is what TLB and bay ownership is all about if you ask me

    Triumph over adversity, comradary, banter, the highs and lows and helping each other out, no bitching or one up man ship here

    just a shame you all live so far away oop north :p ;)
     
  9. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    paradox is oop north , me n zed might argue the toss though , shielsy, well he's in the emerald isle somewhere ;)
     
  10. If you draw a line from London to Bristol, anything above is oop north to me ;D

    mind you I cant get much more south with out getting my feet wet ;D
     
  11. am in the north west of ireland ie derry , ie owen nw
    glad to no we get under your skinn , love watching other people squire lol
    :praise: :smiley_dog_kiss: :bag:
     
  12. Any updates malc?
     
  13. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Yes , propex fitted and working , all electrics including , horn , brake lights , indicators and wipers are now mot ready .

    i would like to renew the ball joint gaiters this weekend just for peace of mind , then spend a a few hours tickling her up with spray cans in readiness for its mot asap .

    if i get time this weekend it will be done , so long as i remember to order the ball joint boots tomorrow .
     
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  15. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

     
  16. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    33 years and i know what i want

    When i first bought a vw camper it was a early Devon , i never really made a type choice ,it was 1978 and it was the only one i had the choice of , the truth is , i bought it off my father in law for £900 and paid for it bit by bit .that helped the decision process .of course she was only eight years old so was quite tidy, my next one a Danbury was equally as nice , but my t25 needed a facelift to get her looking decent .

    These days and 4 campers later i have a little knowledge and more choice , this time i plumped for a 72 westy ,late of course .

    As i worked my way through the rust and other problems i occasionally allowed myself to think of the finish , the colour , shine etc , it was only fleeting glance as the amount of work still to be done soon brought me back to reality .

    I am nearly there now and am beginning to think of how i want the finish to look , at the moment i see a basic tidied old paint job , not rat , but something akin to a keeping the van on the road on a budget type look ( cos thats what it is in reality ) , sort of complete but not fussy , this will allow ,me time to prep her for a decent windows out job in the future .

    i saw a van at sainsburys the other day , same year make and conversion as mne , she was spanking , reaaly nice ,y'know the type of spray job that costs thousands and says - " i might be old but my owner spoils me " type of spray job , good god i wanted that van .I will endeavour to get Rhubarb to that standard eventually but for now the i will be happy with my on the road and running look , i hope people are kind to her and understand the amount of work and effort put in thus far .

    To be perfectly honest , i don't care how she looks so long as she is road worthy, safe , reliable and campable ( at least for a couple of years ) and i would'nt care one bit if she does'n fit others criteria of a good van , she is ours and we would be truly thankful if she gets us to our destination provides a cuppa and a bed for the night , i have the same approach and feelings towards others vans too .

    This time i know what i want , and it is'nt all about looks
     
  17. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Do it once and do it properly would be my advice. It's a fair bit of work to even paint it roughly. As painful as it seems - be honest, after this epic restoration, you're unlikely to want (or be allowed by your family), to start taking it all to bits (again) to paint it (again). Soz, but you know this makes sense. Get the MOT and have a break until after Christmas. :thumbsup:

    If you really can't hack taking the windows out right now, why not make a nice job of the lower half and do the top some other time?
     
  18. Poptop2

    Poptop2 Administrator

    Fair point zed , she has been a epic rebuild and i never thought i would get so attached to the project , but tbh she is'nt that bad above the sills , i can tickle her up and make her presentable with little work and cheaply , i am not overly fussed about her looking the best in the line up , thats just not me .

    Next winter when i have replenished the funds i will really go to town on the finish , but until then i need to use her and find out if she's worth bothering with ,i mean if she does the job an goes without too many mechanical issues then i will give her a coat of paint to be proud of . :)

    After what i've been through with this rebuild , i think i can handle people looking down their noses at a bt of paint , they would'nt be the type i would mix with any way ;)
     
  19. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Sorry - just had a re-read and you have as much painting to do as I do. :cool: 2 small strips........I have a bed.:) But no time to sort it out yet.:(
     
  20. Has it had its mot yet
































































    What about now?
     

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