1976 TaigaGrun Dormobile Overhaul - Toodle Deux

Not been down there for years....doesn't look like too much has changed. Lol

 

yes fritt, nothing has changed. keep it on the low low its a good resource only nearest and dearest.

 

So after the bulkhead find, we start with the fitting. Removal of the old seat doddle.


This is what we had


Out


Found this under the seat, nearly bought one the night before. Coincidence.


Edge cleaned up and trimmed ready to go.


All in, primed and temporarily painted in a green topcoat for now.


Think im happy with the seat positioning, got the hook brackets in place, just need to fabricate a middle bulkhead tomorrow, all sketched up ready to go so itching to do this.


Somethin just doesnt match about these two seats, but i will persevere to see how i feel or if anything turns up. I did a bit of reupholstry......just so when i take the covers off i can retainn some shape for a pattern. Good old duct tape. Someone waxed my middlebrow with some the other day. Lovely stuff.


Fabricating some new pieces to replace rusty areas in the bottom of thhe door. the skin was surprisingly solid considering how much rust was inside. My dads handywork here, its hard to get used to the sequence of stages during these bits of repairs. Sometimes we stand there for ages working out what we are actually going to do. Usually starts with - should get a new door really, then it becomes - we'll get the wire wheel on that and have a butch - then ends up being - lets make this and piece it in here. It seems to be a constructive thought process from negative to positive, hopefully like the outcome we all aim to achieve.




Pics above showing some trough replacement pieces where the rust was removed, hoping to weld these tomorrow.


Probably going to be taking our blue tint windscreen out to look at the surrounding damage from having the cheaper seals in. its amazing what a little extra skirt of rubber can do for your van, why would you ever not use the better seal? Beats me. Anyway, front and rear screens to be done after the doors, and a couple of dents in the tailgate.

Been a constructive day really enjoyed it. Good to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel - metalwork wise that is....

Not looking forward to having to remove those windows and refit them again when its paint time, that is a pain in the arse, but if we keep having days like today, then im up for it.

 

oh yeah, if all goes well, the passsenger single seat will be up for grabs.
bump

 

Nice work on the bulkhead. Seats will be good. I know it's not the full on bench seat, but better than a gap you rarely walkthrough anyway.

 

good thread, you're doing a grand job.

 

Another weekend gone, and another day in the workshop.

Started the weekend off with this Eberspacher BN4 which i am repairing. Cant really justify spending any more on a new or reconditioned one right now, so this will be worth it when it works.




This is the temperature control which attaches to a cable operated switch on the dash normally, i am trying to get my head round removing this and using a more modern thermostat like the one Zed used in his resto.

Then onwards to a little fabrication today - just quick flick book no descriptions as i need to be somewhere and got to get petrol too. Always the way.






Wanted to make everything as removable as it could possibly be without risking an MOT fail....


My welds are slowly improving... I used M6 bolts throughout


This bit had to be welded, but easily removable in the future.


Quick mock up


all in place, i put anold Mitsubishi Evo door seal under the seat base to avoid rattles etc and some glazing tape where the two panels meet at the rear of the seat base. After this, i drilled 3 holes in the top where the rolled sheet meets the bar and rivetted this to hold the panel down as i fabricated this using a 20mm bar on a fixed ladder in the workshop, then when i went to get some bar from the suppliers, they only had 18mm so i had to make do. Looks good though regardless.


From the back - there will be a whole bespoke panel here, but i made it as tidy as i could.


Getting much more confident with my metalwork now, welds are developing nicely and quite happy to push myself towards more complex stuff now.

Thats it so far, see what tommorrow brings eh.

All the best.

PSG

 

Looks great Phil. Much neater than mine. Have you got the fittings for the seat? You could make the lower one easily enough, but it's worth sourcing an upper one I think.

Just one thing - seatbelts.

 

doing a great job .really interesting

 

you got stuck straight into that eber didnt you!

keep going mate your doing a sterling job

 

Oh and i managed to 'stig' the top bracket when i was at the place with all the wrecks. So just need to position that today and make the bottom brackets before i move on. Oh and the seatbelt access... But ignoring that, i have got space under for a nice stow away drawer.

 

I have just had the pleasure to read all of your thread a cracking job going on here certainly one to follow in the future

8) 8) 8) 8)

 

Thanks Phil, I did a deal for the ebay seat you found, picking it up on wednesday.
How are you getting on with yours?

 

Nice work dude

 

So the seat goes like this


runners done, all belts through


lap belt is there somewhere....

surprisingly easy all the above fabrication and fitting. I guess i say that because im used to it with wood, but metal work is 100% new to me and i was apprehensive to say the least when we took on the project. I know its not a huge resto compared to some.




this is where we're at, done some prep and topcoated it as ive gone, but need to go for a couple more rubdowns, then its good to go.

back at work now, but back to it as soon as i can.

All the best

PSG

 

If your used to working with wood you will fly along with steel dude as steels plays fairer

I hate working with wood which is strange as my dad was a carpenter and joiner

 

Those 411's are too far gone to be saved. I don't know the place

 

Runners for the double seat? How does that work Phil?