1976 TaigaGrun Dormobile Overhaul - Toodle Deux

So we bought jellytots bus called vinnie, think we will call it Toodle Deux, and it is pretty solid to look at but has not had much proper tlc since the seals were put in or had much maintenance uderneath etc. The original seals were still round all side windows, and the only ones that were new ish were the front and back screens.

So upon purchase, we enjoyed as was for a good week or so, then when work got cancelled for me (phil) just before christmas - im self employed and a cabinetmakingcarpenterjoiner and am always doing bespoke work- i decided to start the re-vamp of my lifelong dream camper. Always wanted one, still cant believe how lucky we are to have one.

I always seem to do people favours, like for instance i painted a graffiti mural for free in my friends workshop called EVObreakers, hence the name, they break evos and sell the parts. Now when we needed a place to work, i managed to persuade them to let me use their workshop and two post lift and all the 20grands worth of snap-on tools. Some would say that is a result. And so would i.

Anyway ill probably do the resto in pictures and if i am in a good mood i might add some words of 'wisdom'. Most people think im proper grumpy, but im not.

Please bear in mind i have never used a welder in my life, or angle grinded a car, or had any knowledge of cars or mechanics. This should be fun... For you.

Missed a couple of the photos from the initial starting point, so i will jump to where i have photos from. These photos consist of 3 days work.

the engine - sound and starts first time every time if its got petrol in


constructing new window profiles


finishing the surround on the new profiles (my dad is bossy chief instructor - ""old classic car MG renovator gives advice to stubborn yob."


after re fitting the rear side window - all of the surrounding body was rusted due to old leaky seals, we found this on the side panel.


better pic


only solution. Fingers crossed i can pull this off. Didnt want to spend a hundred quid on a new panel and my labour is free. That money could buy me a decent ish spraygun.


Left the ribs in to hopefully retain most of the profile and curve.


Nearside rear window finished ready for bit of sanding. Looks like we did nothiing here but actually replaced most of the profile and primed and Tested our Taigagrun/Sage Green cellulose mix here and seems to have been a perfect match after nearly three days of searching. Got to have a little taster of the finish havent you?!


offside side rear window inside, ready for final sand etc.

all looking like its going really smooth.

then this pops up on the sliding door at the end of our day.awesome.


oh and of you need to see bigger pics, feel free to look at my flickr where i dump most of them and my carpentry stuff too - http://www.flickr.com/photos/42815136@N07/

 

Good luck with the bus. Looks like your not wasting anytime

 

looks like you've got a good project there and what better way to learn then jump in at the deep end

 

Going to enjoy watching your progress

 

Wow, you're certainly not one to let the grass grow under your feet are you!!! )

 

good luck with it, and without sounding bitchy...another reason to not care the steering wheel is on the left and the only way is "for ni a"

 

Good luck with the panel - Dad's are cool.

 

Todays oomph


new panel fitted, getting slightly better at welding, got the mig set up nice. still getting some blowholes dont know why.


Zinc primed until i get to skimmming across the welds. Was a bit daunting for my fourth day of welding and metalwork in my life.


closer view of my welding, flat section with bend and curve, made the curve on a bollard outside, and used an old bending device my dad brought from the dusty shed.

Thats all for today.

 

for someone who can't weld you're doing a decent job there matey well done.

 

blowholes..your holding the torch too long in one place maybe bruv......i agree think your doing a blinding job

 

Top notch Mate, i like the way you sorted that middle panel, did you get much distortion?

 

no we didnt appear to get much distortion at all, been using an air hose to cool after each weld as i was so paranoid that the panel would just start popping bulges everywhere.. looking to do a test coat to see how it looks with some reflections on and then ill tell you....lol.

johnnysensi - i try not to hold it in one place too long, but sometimes it just blows, maybe there is a bit of oxidisation under the surface or something. I learnt to spit weld today into holes, so i think i will overcome, plus i am using an air hose to cool.

having fun though, wondering when the novelty will wear off? probably when i break down.....

 

i'm impressed mate its going to be a resto to follow.

 

Im going to enjoy this thread

Best of british to ya dude

 

novelty wears off as soon as the bus stops working whilst ya on a wicked camping holiday and wanna go out for the day looool..........great trick i learnt from here was 2p piece behind where ya welding ...helps mucho .......swear i know your face bruv from that lil pic u got up .....

 

where u from then?

 

bethnal green ....worked as varnish maker and polish maker in shoreditch for years to the wood trade....granyte surface coatings and john mylands

 

Was desperately trying to get the window areas ready for the new seals and for the windows to go in, but we were short of time so here is the update on the panelwork and window profiles done this week, primed and ready for another rub down and then hopefully a topcoat.


the floor prior to a coat of black silicone free rust paint


hand painted white silicone free rust paint on red oxide, hand painted as the gun was full of black for the floor. will look much better when it is rubbed down and primed shown below.


view1 of offside panels repaired and primed, all is ready for final rubdown.


view2


sliding door and nearside repairs, the panels here have had a long swipe dent down the lot, so need to bang that out next week. sliding door window hole primed.

so that concludes 5 days work.

Just had a bit of luck, the workshop next door is going to be up for rent, and its fully heated with bar heaters all around, so we may even get a bit of topcoat on as an experiment to see how it turns out. That will probably happen in january.

 

Great progress again well done fella