Hey, slight introduction and the start of restoration build thread. I've done a few cars and several motorbikes. Since I've just finished my mk1 caddy im moving onto my first camper now I have some space. All the cars I've done in the past have been mechanical/paint restoration with very little welding. 2 new sills on a mini being the extent. So I've never done a camper and done very little welding so sorry if I'm asking too many questions. Please don't hesitate to tell me I'm doing something wrong and let me know any top tips as I'm a mere novice on these things. It's only a panel van conversion with some boat windows in (don't judge me ) it's all I can run too. Here's some pics from when I bought it.
Yay another resto to follow along I quite like the boat windows Whats in the bag attached to the roof?
cool, converted panels are the biz.. we could have our own converted panel club.. I started with a converted panel too. never knew any diffrent.. now I love it cause its unique, soon everyone will want one good luck with the build..
I liked the look of the windows too, didnt know they were boat windows but a good idea...look right at home on the van.. good proportions ...
Thanks for the interest Inside the grotty bag on top bag is a very basic awning. Took all the boat windows and windscreen out today as well as stripping the inside out. Needed to make way for some proper panel van conversion windows. Some rot around the old frames which hopefully enough will be cut out for the larger original (ish) ones. The more I look the more rot I find. I've also removed the pop top and started on a 1 spline rear end drop so it'll roll in and out of the garage. Quick question regards to panel repairs etc. What do you guys recommend for a none porus finish prior to painting?. Basically I'll be making a few panel repairs over the next few months before it go's to get repainted but I don't fancy putting a load of work into a panel for it to surface rust. I was thinking about bare metal resto as the original owner was kind enough to supply the paint that he finished it with....emulsion :/ so for any decent think I should paint strip, repair/replace and then something to protect pre paint in a few months. I've heard that Finnegans no1 is good stuff.
Hi Dubstream. I don't think its porus but I am using Bonda primer because it has zinc mixed in. It seems to the one everyone uses. Good luck with it all.
Bonda Primer .. definately ... If I had the boat windows in mine, I think I would have left them, I changed mine because I didnt have the slightly curved glass and I wasnt keen on the way the rubber seals stood proud... However Ive since seen some really smart panel conversions where the rubbers look pretty flat.. I recessed my windows so I could fit flat glass and set back the seals... .. The boat windows kinda give the van an airstream look.... they kinda look like the ones fitted in a lot of the split screen panel conversions... .. I would keep them..
Haha well I've seen em on my dad's boat so I'm calling them boat windows. From now on they will be called nondescript windows for a multitude of vehicles including boats, caravans, campers, low flying planes, side cars etc. Too late they are out and staying out. Red oxide, that must have been a right mare to recess all the windows.
It was a bit of a pain ... are you thinking of taking the same route... its probably less work than replacing with proper bus window openings... Its just a case of sticking with it, and when you get fed up ..... do something else and come back to them later...
I like the smallness of those windows, they are a big of a nod to splitscreens with similar? But they aren't curved to match the panels at the sides.
