Steady Eddie 72 Body Restoration

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

  1. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Rock on Eddie! Getting those rear arches flat is a PITA. Our are looking ok but reckon they’ll need further work. Getting high build primer on the van tonight!


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  2. You can say that again. So much as a single tack in the wrong spot or at the wrong time seems to fill the panel with tension. It makes me realise how nice the rear corners were to do!

    Good luck with your spraying tonight! What layering are you doing? Epoxy, hi-build then paint and gloss top coat or does anyone recommend adding anything else into the mix? I still don’t understand all the paint layering yet!


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  3. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Yeah it’s epoxy, high build, base coat then clear coat for me. Picked up the base and clear this morning too.


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  4. Awesome thanks! Yeah I’ve found a local car paint shop I might check out this weekend. I’ve been buzzing all week about this, I bet you are too! Looking forward to seeing your updates!


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  5. Rain limited play this weekend so for the most part we've retreated to the shed and stripped the doors down. While stripping the engine bay hatch two screws on the hinges had siezed and twisted off. I think I'll have to cut them out and weld in new captive nuts.

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    With that on the back burner, we got to stripping and spraying, oh what a mess!

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    Then attempted to turn my shed into a painting tent

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    Still have the passenger's door to do and the rears of the others. Over the next few evenings we'll try and get them all stripped and painted. the jobs then will be to tidy up the leadwork (a second time) and begin stripping the roof. It's exciting times!
     
    Valveandy likes this.
  6. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Looking good mate. Time to get the filler out I reckon!
     
  7. And so begins a fortnight's 'holiday' in an attempt to get the van several steps further, the September deadline is looming so I'm using up all my holidays just to try to keep up!

    Started the weekend with more of a stripdown.

    Roof on
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    Roof off (I do like the look without a poptop, much more streamlined)
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    Does anyone know if this is supposed to be attached to anything, it is on the front middle of the roof, just above the rear view mirror. There appears to be a matching one on the pop top and I guess they are supposed to link in or something. Please let me know if I'm missing anything
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    looks like I'll need some more wood and repairs to the hinges
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    now for the fun part, stripping
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    paradox likes this.
  8. Now with a nice coat of epoxy
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    My leaded joints on the A pillars are looking good
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    Then, as @JamesLey pointed out, time for a play around with the filler
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    The less we say about that wheel arch the better. Instead I want you to only look at the rear corners, I'm pleased with my first go on them
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    Anyway, I quickly got bored with filler so today was spent shotblasting the inside and various tricky bits like the gutters, door seal groves etc. There are plenty of words for shotblasting and fun isn't one of them
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    Just a very light skim over inside just to key the paint for better adhesion. Spent hours cleaning the grit out, time for some epoxy tomorrow!

    Oh, and I went shopping and spent my life savings on some tins
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    MeelisV, vw newbie, paradox and 2 others like this.
  9. Did you rough the epoxy paint up with 80 grit before applying the filler?
     
  10. Yeah I have it a quick scratch over first then cleaned up with panel wipe.

    I also got put off by the cost of sanding blocks and replacement papers so I’ve made my own with a block of wood
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    vw newbie likes this.
  11. It needs more than a quick scratch over fella
    It needs really roughing up anywhere the filler is going to go as it’s what the filler grabs hold off to stick to the panel.
    Also a block of wood and paper is fine for the flat areas and the initial knocking back of the filler but when it comes to contoured body shapes you will need a block with some flex in it to follow the body shape.

    I know it’s more cost on the initial outlay but it will save you time and achieve a better job in the end.
     
    SteadyEddie likes this.
  12. @SteadyEddie that catch on the roof stops it trying to lift up when driving. I assume the only way it can detach is if the other side of the roof has been lifted first
     
  13. now eddie that is one BRAVE resto you and your fine mrs have taken on ,some very brave tackles you ve taken on i tip my hat to ye both .2 things ,1 why did ye not use the full door skins ,much less work to do and cuts down on body work ,2 adjust your wire speeds ,turn wire down a touch and power up a bit , love the work owen
     
  14. Good point. I used the proper block with 80 grit to scratch up the epoxy and am only using my wood block with 40 grit to do the initial rub down but I’ll check it all over and make sure it is going on strong!


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  15. Ok great thanks! I was slightly unsure if it could have broken or been something to worry about. Definitely don’t want to forget it when I’m putting it back together then!


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  16. Thank you.
    Honestly I’m not too sure about the door skins really. In hindsight I definitely should have replaced the whole thing. I think I was mostly worried thinking that the bigger the replacement part, the more risk of things not lining up right. I now realise the longer welds is riskier. If I ever had to do it again (god forbid) I’d replace the lot!

    Yeah I played around with the settings a lot more recently and got it flatter and with better penetration. It’s still not welding quite right though. For some reason the arc is striking the metal before the wire hits it, this means that the wire just melts back into a blob before dropping off or blocking the tip. That’s why I’ve had it on low power with more wire. My neighbour has the same welder, same wire, same gas etc. But doesn’t seem to have this problem. As a newbie to welding ive just had to fumble my way through!


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  17. change your tip its earthing youl find a big difference also you probally have a piece of molten metal in side shroud cause it to earth clean or change shroud
     
  18. My neighbour thought that was it so I changed both the tip and shroud but it still seemed to be happening. I’ll try new ones again and see if that makes any difference


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    JamesLey likes this.
  19. try replacing the torch spring in case it is damaged with splatter ,keep up the good work ,
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  20. The work continues. With rain forecast before we’re likely to prime the inside, I opted to epoxy the inside. At least condensation won’t be causing any rust!

    Then went round and seam sealed the lot

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    Other than that we’ve just been annoying the neighbours by attempting to fill the bodywork only to turn it all to dust straight away!
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    If I’ve been counting right this is the sixth layer of filler on the one wheel arch, even if it only 1mm thin.
    Also moved on to doors and bumpers
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    I hated the amount of filler on the van when we stripped it so I’m doing the best I can to thin it out to the minimum possible. It still looks bad for now though.

    Still loads to do but we’re keeping at it!


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    MeelisV, crossy2112, paradox and 2 others like this.

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