The Sheldon has landed.

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Ride' started by 89Rallye, Oct 12, 2016.

  1. I'd really love to renew all the interior but with funds tights at the moment im still on with just refreshing it all,

    Its slow going, especially since the van is in storage so I dont get to see it very often.

    I've got all the doors at home but have made a start with the frame work too,

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    Lots and lots of Marmitety dirty sanding later it was looking smooth and some what presenatable and ready for a lick of paint.

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    And the reason for the grey dashboard was to try and tie everything together with the cupboards, hopefully time and momey permitting ill get to rip all of this out but for the time being this will have to do.

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    Its taken a lot of sanding filling and more sanding to get everything semi smooth for paint.

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    The main reason for the grey apart from the fact its the only paint i have that goes with blue is that I get it from work for free!! Its a two pack and I decided to roller it on but with pretty poor results to be honest... I ended up with lots of air bubbles from the roller, so this is something I need to look into. I have smoothed them out with a brush and sprayed over the top.... i'll see the results in the morning.

    Difficult to see..

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    These actually look better than they are,

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    Last edited: Jul 24, 2017
    gninnam and Lasty like this.
  2. And finally the cheapest, quickest upgrade/improvement i've done for a long time.

    I thought this would end up needing shot blasting and painting but it ended up being a very simple fix and making a massive improvement.

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    It still need a little more cleaning but the difference is immense!

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    I'm still struggling with parts, particularily the speedo/gauge assembly if anyone can help.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    gninnam likes this.
  3. Although it seems to of taken forever I finaly feel like im breaking its back.

    I've managed to get a coat of paint on the units, this was done late one night and with a head torch as the bulb blew in my halogen light. It's not the greatest of photos but I think it looks better than the tired worn wood. It'll do till I get time and energy to hopefully replace it all one day.

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    The dash has gone back together pretty well, everyone who has seen it is amazed at how good the grey and black looks. Oh Ye of little faith!

    Again dark photos dont do it any justice at all.

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    I've slowly started returning all the wiring back to standard how VW intended, making any future problems easier to repair. All apart form the EPAS unit which is all re-instated and working again. Dont worry all those devil'ish scotch locks have now been removed and return to the hell they came from!

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    Wiring all tidied up,

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    Thanks to Davidoft for sorting me out with the missing instruments, upgraded with a few led's and installed.

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    More wiring woes in the rear,

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    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    gninnam and Merlin Cat like this.
  4. This took a bit of head scratching, I know Andy the previous owner had put a lot of effort (and I'd say expense) into installing a lot of extra goodies into the van but I've decided for the time being standard is best (cash is tight at the moment but I would eventually like to reinstate heated rear screen etc). Ive left all the wiring in place front to back of the van so it should be easy enough to do so at a future date.

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    So with all the van wiring completed I thought i'd take it for a quick spin around the estate but she cranked and cranked and wouldnt start...
    Stupidly I think I've managed to fry the electronic ignition with my power probe tuesday_wildchild, poking 12volts where I shouldnt have. I'm guessing it was a feed for a rev counter to the coil oops! expensive mistake to make.
    Onto the interior and leasuire system now, have something planned for the inside that looks great in my head lol but yet again not sure how it'll turn out.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    Merlin Cat, tyke2 and matty like this.
  5. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    Nice job, I like the grey units.
    Don’t put a LED in the ignition/battery warning lamp – the alternator won’t work if you do.
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  6. Yep... Cheers,
     
  7. Busy day yesterday,

    I knocked these up at home for the gauges,

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    There not pretty but they do the job well, ive also satin blacked the corsa steering motor making it disappear a little better.

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    I then swapped out the electronic ignition with a spare I had lying around, although it was for a standard 009 not a vaccum advance one so it required a few modifications to fit.

    Still need to recheck the timing but she's firing up and running again now, although it wouldnt idle properly which always fun on your own, running around the van before it cuts out! (I did make a remote start setup a while back to fire it up from the rear but its a faff getting under the van to fit it).

    Anyway I discovered that the idle screw on the carb was missing or maybe even stolen, so I replaced this with one from a scrap carb and after a little bit if tweaking shes running sweet as a nut.

    Which led to my first proper test drive, I know its not a new thing but this is my first proper drive with the Epas steering and i'll never own another bay without it!

    Not the best quality but lets see if this works...

    https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https://www.facebook.com/mark.lloyd.564/videos/10154200471885886/&show_text=0&width=560

    https://www.facebook.com/mark.lloyd.564/videos/10154200471885886/


    Also started to re-assemble the interior, still not conviced it looks right but its better than the bare wood and I think the grey goes great with the blue.

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    And one just for the hell of it now she's back out in the sunshine,

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    Still looking for a rear bumper and mounts if anyone can help?

    I'm really not one for "what do you guys think?" question but its a lot of work to do to end up hating it, anyway since I'm going to end up having to paint the front and rear bumpers my mate suggested doing it in the same grey as the interior tying everything together.

    The idea then went to the wheels, headlight rings (as there corroded) and front badge!! I think that may be a little too much. I'm thinking cream bumpers, grey wheels and maybe grey headlight rings (although I think it'll look pants its a cheap option). Or maybe cream bumpers and wheels with grey hubcaps (but that may not work as I dont think there'll be much left of the hubcaps once I shot blast them, so I think they will need replacing)
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    Merlin Cat, gninnam and alanchester like this.
  8. I think white painted wheels and bumpers to match the high top, with either white painted existing hubcaps or new chrome ones (expensive). And white badge and air intake grille and chrome headlight rims at front.

    I like the light grey interior, and it looks smart.
     
    Merlin Cat and 89Rallye like this.
  9. Been a quiet few weeks, a lot going on in work has kept me out of the garage recently plus I'd decided to see if I could collect all my remaining missing parts at Dubfreeze but it turned into a bit of a wipe out and people asking ridiculous prices for manky second hand parts.

    To keep the Sheldon mobile its been sat on a temporary set of rims for the last couple of week, not really digging this look.

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    This gave me the chance to sort the wheels out,

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    Looking a little fresher and a tad more factory now.

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    This first of the missing pieces I picked up for the van was the windows, they actually came out of a stock pile my mate had so at least they didnt cost me anything... so I thought anyway

    Went to fit the side/sliding door glass today.

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    Only to discover this,

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    I'm not sure if this is panel van conversion glass or maybe even T25 glass as my mate has a lot of T25's/bits but safe to say this may whistle a little too much for my liking!
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    Merlin Cat and Flakey like this.
  10. Not much more to report, dashboard is now more or less boxed up. Just missing a glove box lid as the one I had isnt good enough to fit.

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    My one bargain at Dubfreeze was this cheap rear bumper, I know why it was cheap because I think its made from peanut butter! but it'll do for now though.

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    They were all damaged rejects I think so this ones actually a lot straighter then I thought it would be. Just need to sort some mounts out now, I may end up making something just to get it fitted for its ever closer MOT test.

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    Next job up for me now is the front door builds,

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    After looking at endless over priced rusty 1/4 frames I decided to stump up for a brand new set with a full set of new seals.

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    Heritage let me down though so no seals till tomorrow,

    Any advice, tips or tricks on doing the front door builds will be much appreciated, what goes in forst and in which order etc

    Fingers crossed it may actually go for an MOT next week!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
  11. Since I'm on a tight budget with the van I decided it wouldnt be that difficult to build some bumper mounts, bend a bit of plate.... how hard could it be?

    Well turns out the original mounts are actually quite a tricky shape, so I had to build them in seperate pieces. Luckily for me I can do it in work so all materials are free and I'm even getting paid to made them!

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    Almost like a massive pair of overiders! Still need to square off the holes for the bumper bolts

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    Next step is to mount the arms to the van chassis and offer the bumper up into position, tack it all together and weld it up. Then another cross bar to incorporated a tow bar.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
  12. What a Illegitimate child of a day! As it seems with all the jobs I'm doing at the moment, something i expect to take a few hours eats up a full day.

    You'll be glad to know I didn't take many photos, too busy swearing and trying not to get blood over everything.

    The front 1/4 window was a new (pattern) frame which wasn't bad but not quite the right shape so did take some manipulation. Combined with new seals it was a pig to put together. Lots of swearing and two pairs of hands in the end one of which was left bleeding.

    It was all a little trial and error... Fit the seal on the glass and fit them to the frame or fit the seal into the frame and attempt to fit the glass. It ended up being latter that worked, I use some masking tape to hold the seal then with plenty of lube slide the glass into the frame. Then fit the second frame half and rubber hammer to gently work the frame to shape while also forcing the seals into place.

    Got there in the end!

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    I was however pleasantly surprised at the quality of the seals, the only real issue was the inner scraper which was a simple fix.

    Out scraper in place,

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    Inner scraper,

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    Even though these are genuine seals it took a little fettling in the rear corner as the clip didn't line up.

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    1/4 frame in place,

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    Completed, I've been dreading this job but other than assembling the 1/4 frame it was actually quite satisfying to do.

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    With the windows all complete I was able to trial fit the truck mirrors...

    Sorry to those who run them but I hate these things!! While I know they will be easier to use and live with they are just plain ugly and simply don't fit the van.

    However I'm stuck with them as the holes are already in the doors,

    They still need more tweaking to fit, I may cut the arms down or even make my own to try and get them to fit better.

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    And lastly I managed to get the rear bumper mounts all welded up,

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    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
  13. Congrats and nice job on 1/4 windows and seals. Mine were a pig to remove when stripping my doors down, not looking forward to the rebuild.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  14. Thanks, I can see why people switch to opening quarters (apart from the added air con advantage) as I recon they'd be easier to assemble.
     
    Merlin Cat likes this.
  15. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Nice work mark, it's looking good. Those bumper fabrications are fab (even tho they are bits you can't see!) :)
     
    89Rallye likes this.
  16. Bumper update!

    Been a few days prepping and sanding, I'm short on time so havent gone over the top trying to straighten them out so theres a few ripples and imperfections that I can live with.

    I'm pushing to have it roadworthy for Bustypes, which seems weeks away but in reality with other work commitments its only round the corner.

    Excuse the mess in my garage at the moment, I'm clearing alot of stuff out to move house.

    Front and rear all sanded down,

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    I think the look says... Tired and not happy doing this Marmite!!

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    We use this anti-corrosion primer in work (on cranes working next to the sea) with good results,

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    The front bumper has already been sealed behind, so I only had the rear to do. Its over paintable stone chip but I thinned it down a little so it wasnt as textured (in case it tampered with the fit of the mounts)

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    Outside today in the sun for some flatting down,

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    Then paint, This photos do them A LOT of justice but considering where and how they were done mm happy with them.

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    Back in work tomorrow for four days so that should give them a chance to cure fully, cant wait now to get them fitted next week.

    Just need to finish the drivers door find a piece of glass to replace my missing sliding door window then it should look like a complete van again!

    MOT is getting very close :chewie:
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2017
  17. Also does anybody know where or if I can get bumper tape to fit the centres of the bumpers?

    Fancy doing them in a matt black for contrast but dont want to paint them.
     
  18. Ok I am as of right now officially ready for an mot!

    Today has been all about getting the outside finished and sealed up, although the second quarter window on the drivers side went together and in quicker it was worse to do than the passenger side.

    I still missed lots of photos but remembered to take a few more of actually putting the frame and seals together. It wass basically a technique of fitting and trimming the seals to the glass then fitting them into the frame. Easier said than done but with a little hammer persuasion it went together well.

    I found that using masking tape to hold everything temporarily made things alot easier,

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    Cables ties are simply one of mans greatest inventions!

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    Out scraper and frame installed,

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    Although im still waiting on glass to do the sliding door I'm happy to say that all the window dilemma's are completed!!

    Bumpers are all now completed, its hard to see but they've both been wax oyled inside to try and prolong their life,

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    And refitted,

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    I'm over the moon with how the rear turned out, I had a bet with a guy in work that the way i'd built the mounts i'd never be able to get the bumper straight and level..

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    Still not sure about the grey but its done for now so will have to stay for the time being.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2017
    paradox and JamesLey like this.
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    I cleaned the rear panel behind the bumper before fitting it and sort of just carried on a little.

    Going to be a long process but i'm not going to go silly with it, just a quick machine polish.

    Its never going to be a show winner but the paint is surprisingly respectable, just needs a little tlc.

    Taking it one panel at a time, It was the turn of the rear corner and upper rear quarter panel.

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    Someones very kindly left there marks, these may be tricky to hide

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    Looking alot better after just the first cut with a 500 light compound,

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    1st coat of polish and buff

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    One for fun,

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    Last edited: Jul 28, 2017
    paradox likes this.
  20. While I had them off I attempted to buff some life back into the rear lenses, I think it would be possible and it has started to shine again but it is so discoloured I think it'll sadlt they will have to be replaced.

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    Looks alot better when fitted but I think the camera has a lot to do with it too... obviously (hopefully) the polished ones on the right!

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    Last edited: Jul 28, 2017

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