'79 Devon Moonraker resto.

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by brothernumberone, Jan 21, 2012.

  1. Hello all :D, This is my very very late '79 Moonraker.
    I bought this as a 'quiet time' project, to replace last years Eurovette quiet time project, which I accidently sold to some friends ;)
    according to the M plate, it was one of the last few thousand bays to be made, and probably would have rolled off the production line as the first T25's were being made. I'll post up more pics as I work my way through it. The little beauty you can just see in the background is my '71 panel van. ;)
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    Buddy Hawks likes this.
  2. nice project

    K+ for posting
     
  3. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    good basis for a project, keep the pics coming!
     
  4. Thanks chaps, and thanks for the karma point! :)
    Some more pics. All vans seem to have at least one bodge somewhere. this one had expanding foam in the front section of the rear arches :eek: excellent water retaining qualities! ;)

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    It's also got a couple of layers of metal to remove.

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    And it's going to need new outriggers/jacking points. The N/S Rear is saveable, the others need replacing. The N/S sill is also saveable, which is a surprise considering this van had belly pans.

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  5. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Late belly pans, with all the air holes, seem to have worked far better than the early ones don't they?
     
  6. Nice project should keep busy for a while
     
  7. good luck with the resto ;) Ours is in for a bit of work at the moment too. You doing all the work yourself then?
    You just don't know what you'll find under all the sound paint. We've found layers of metal placed on top of rusty metal :mad:, solidified shot blast that wasn't cleaned out and a bit o bog too. At least you know what to expect if you've done a few restos in the past ;)
    Is this one a keeper then?
     
  8. rickyrooo1

    rickyrooo1 Hanging round like a bad smell

    i've said it before but i'll say again, i have the upmost respect for anyone who restores a van, i just couldn't be bothered with all the arsing about, get rid and get a done one is my plan if mine ever gets like this.
     
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  10. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

     
  11. Good luck mate ,full respect for the restoration.
    Good conversion ;)
    My belly pans have been removed and the underneath was very solid.
     
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  13. Most of the rot cut out of the O/S sills now. The top hats are all fine. I almost patched the inner sill up, but it was gone in several places and it had been bent around, possibly by someone jacking in the wrong place.
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    I've just discovered these jackingpoint/outriggers from Auto Craft via Heritage. I'd always thought they were crappy klokkerholm style bits, but they're really well made quality bits.
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  14. Got a bit more done today. I don't like doing rear arches, I much prefer to repair what's there if possible rather than chop the whole lot out, but this one was going all over the place so it had to be done.

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    A quick splash of red oxide on the inner tub.

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    Re-made the bottom of the C-pillar and scotchbrited the inside of the inner sill ready for some red oxide.

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    Got the rear arch on.

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    Then started getting the outer sill ready, but ran out of time, so it'll have to wait 'till tomorrow. Hopefully the tophat section is turning up along with the B pillar outer repairs, so hopefully I'll get that side sorted.

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  15. Got some more done the last couple of days. The repair sections for the bottoms of the rear corners aren't the best panels in the world, so I repaired the ones on there. This side had rotted through where the battery tray meets the corner. The seam sealer had dried and cracked and of course the water had got in, but the bottom edge was fine.

    Rot coming through.
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    Cut out.
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    new metal welded in.
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    The other bit which always seems to go is the bit next to the outer valance. The outer skin of the corner sits up against the inner pillar which follows the contour of the corner up to the roof. Luckily it wasn't too badly rotted so I made up a bit and welded it in before repairing the outer skin. you can also access the rearmost captive bumper mount nut which is welded into the bottom of the inner pillar. mine was ok. I also ground the rear valance off, which was shot. the inner valance/crossmember is fine so I'll remove the remains of the waxoyl and paint inside before putting the new valance on.
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    The scrap pile grows!! ;)
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  16. Then it was back to the N/S inner sill which I'd decided to repair rather than replace. It had gone at the back where it extends beyond the protection of the belly pans and also at the front under the sliding door track.

    Rear bit done.
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    Rear section of the middle sill repaired and also the bottom of the C-Pillar.
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    Then onto the front of the sill, the inner arch and outrigger.
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    Remaking the C-Pillar. :D It takes flipping ages doing this bit. well it does for me anyway. ;)

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    That's it for a bit. I'm hoping to get the sills, outriggers, rear arches and rear corners sorted over the weekend. That's the dream anyway! ;D
     
  17. Cracking pics. Love the C pillar repairs. I know from looking down the rusty hole in the end my sill that these are non existant on mine!!!
    Good work wish I had the skills!
     
  18. Great work there. Looks like ours has gone in all the same places too. Keep the pictures coming. I'm loving this thread :)
     
  19. Nice work there, likes similar to what mine was like, what's the silding door sill like?
     
  20. Thanks for the kind words everyone.
     

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