Custom Resto 71 Dare to be Different

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by outlaw, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. Well i think you all know the history of Gladys - she is fine at the moment and I have had her for just over a year now, she has a base colour coat of P--- Yellow on her roof and I have now done a few extra repairs to try and improve it still a couple more to do
    The new engine cover is made and fitted so yes all the custom body tricks are done -
    So its back to flating down and try and finish paint the roof this weekend if i can
    A few pics for you all
    Before 1 year ago
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    As she is now
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    List of the custom touches
    Frenched Rear Lights / Frenched Aeriel /moon roof / hand rolled and frabricated sunvisor/ swaged front panel / Scripted tailgate/
    Frenched dash / 7" tvdvd in the dash / 20" tv between the seats / custom shaped seats / Audi 200 multi spoke rims / slammed / frenched front and rear bumpers /custom chassis repair panels -
    Soon i will want help fitting her up wiring window fitting
    Thanks for the interest so far i know its not stock just enhanced !!!!!!!!
     
  2. I need updates mate :) ......been missing your thread on here .....not even updated your JK thread so I couldnt get my fix there either ;D
     
  3. Love the embossed VW and extra vents keep it coming.
     
  4. I have been very busy at work lots of hours just lately plugetting nagged to get the bettle finished and sold I will try and finish paint the roof this weekend and then push on with her i promise
    I am pleased with her rear end one of her better features
     
  5. I will ask do you want me to put the whole build of Gladys on here from the start ?? or just carry on from where i am at present ?????


    Dale
     
  6. this is one of my favs on here!
    when you frenched the rear lights, did you cut the mounts and "sink" the lights into the rear or have you built the panel up around the clusters?

    james
     
  7. Whole thread please dude
     
  8. I made new light buckets as you do with any frenching - you open up the aperture to suit the outer size of the lenses then weld them into place . A little bit of fettleing and you are good to go
    Before
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    Marked out prior to cutting
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    First Fit
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    Frenched Aerial in the swage line
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    Finally As she is now with the new engine cover 3rd brake light and script also you can see the light buckets in this shot.
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    Dale
     
  9. Ok I will set about the whole detailed build for you .
    Would you like a new thread or continue on this one
    Dale
     
  10. ;D want to see it again from the beginning ;D

    I think it would be useful for any one comming on here for the first time to have them from the start :)
     
  11. Ok Late bay Folk as requested
    Gladys was bought local to me in Dorset for the grand sum of £675 - repairs had been done but not to a very good standard but the shell was all i wanted.
    The plan from the outset was to enhance the bus and bring a little old skool hot rod into the bus as that is my background Drag Racing and Hot Rodding.
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    I had a little doodle done by a friend of what the finished bus would look like.
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    So this is what i have started with .
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  12. Where do you start ????
    I have always been taught to start at the worst point and work you way forward so chassis repairs and floor
    The chassis rail on the n/side was rough so a nice clean up and begin the fabrication


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    I folded a repair panel from 16swg and bead swaged some lines into the panel - this was then welded into place - in time this will be finished painted the same colour as the body
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    To ensure the same theme runs through the bus I fabricated a chassis repair panel for the front of the chassis made from the same material and swaged etc
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    The same process was repeated on the o/side
    The outriggers had been fitted ok but I re welded just to be sure I was happy it would all be safe and make the mot man happy.
     
  13. Moving on and fed up with burning myself and hot bits dropping on me I moved to the front arches inner and outer, i brought a pair of 2nd hand bare doors for £20.00 that needed skins as I was unsure about the door fit -
    This turned out to be a wise move because they didnt fit - I had to spring the arch and hang the door and the tack a brace bar in place to hold it in place.
    With it all solid I removed the rough inner arch and then hand rolled my own inner arch and welded into place


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  14. Looking good Dale,

    what about the interior pics ;D
     
  15. I will put the whole build on so wont be long
     
  16. thats some awesome work going on there.

    looking forward to seeing more of this.
     
  17. Moving Swiftly on it was time to set about the rear arches and corners that had been fitted.
    It was a good attempt and I will knock anyone for trying and it is a big job to undertake but had to addressed prior to the rear light conversion.
    I will not bore you with the details that panels were removed and joggeled and fetteled to fit as they should , it also gave the a chance to seal behind the panels -
    With the panels fitting as required I set about frenching the rear lights .
    I fabricated new light buckets to suit and then marked out the body to suit the size of the buckets, Simple cut the holes in the body and weld into place not going to mad as you weld - A nice clean up with a flap disc and bobs your uncle frenched rear lights.
    To continue with the custom tricks I then added Blue Dots to the us lenses i have simple little job very old skool .
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  18. Looking around on a Bus we are limited as to where to fit an aerial so on with more frenching and fit carry out something trick and fit on into the swage line in the rear.
    The process again is the same as the rear lights - make a bucket to house the aerial and cut your hole and weld into place the grind and fettle to suit.
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  19. Now to a little mechanical work and the stance time - A deal was struck with Mark c/o Dreamshack Southampton he is building an off road Bay but the donor van was slammed at the time so swap over time- Back to my workshop and clean and paint and detail as required prior to re fit- The rear was dropped 2 splines this may go down a touch more I will wait to see just how far it moves with all the weight in it.
    At present the drop is as follows approx 9" in the front and 6" in the rear that is with running 40 profile on the front and 55 on the rear - I may change these tyres yet as I stated the weight still is not in.

    Before
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    Replacement beam in Paint
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    Rear Before
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    New Stance 1st set up
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    Now fitted with Audi 200 rims and slamm tyres
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