Iris the 1972 panel van conversion

Here's the worst bit of the old roof, pretty Fubared.

 

As part of our on going battle with rust we’re having a new roof fitted to the van to replace the old and slowly decaying one.

The plan is to take the old roof off, fit a californian Westy import roof and fit a new Space Roof pop top to her. Work has started this week with the guys over at Kombi Klassics taking the old roof off. It’s quite alarming seeing the van with no roof on, I keep having to remind myself that vans in a lot worse state than Iris have been restored so it’ll all be fine when they’re finished with her.

First off the original spot welds are drilled out to free the roof from the internal structure:



Then off pops the old roof:



Leaving Iris looking very sorry for herself (very glad I didn’t just patch the roof up based on the rust in the guttering)!





Anyone for a summer rag top?!

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I went over to see how work was going on Iris’ new roof today, and good progress is being made. She now has the Westy tin top welded in place and has the majority of the top half prepped and treated where needed.

Thankfully the upper half was in relatively good nick with no huge surprises lurking. The only one area of slight concern is the rear corner below which has some fibreglass and filler in it; for now this will be touched up and left as is (the budget has to stop somewhere!).



I love visiting this garage and seeing all the old vehicles the guys are breathing new life into, the end result will be well worth it as the pop-top will really open the space up.





[Original posted on tumblr]

 

Looks like they are doing a great job - looking forward to the end result (as I am sure you are!!)

 

Should be picking Iris up at the end of the month I hope (after nearly a 4 month absence)! There goes a wodge of cash.

 

Wow, looking like a factory job!

 

Cheers! It should be well worth the wait. She's going into paint this week so I going to take a nosey at the weekend!

 

Dont forget the pics

 

Of course! I should be getting a whole batch of pictures off them when the work is done. On an unrelated note I'm currently doing 'a Para' on an old ammo tin to use as a wedding card post box at our wedding in November (although I'll be using it as a spares case for the van after). Nitromors'd it to get off the shoddy 'shabby chic' paint job that someone had done on it, pictures to follow.

 

It always cracks me up when someone says im doing a para

I imagine them *******ed and coming out with some comment that supposed to be a compliment but doesent work that way

 

It was a compliment to your attention to detail mate! I feel we need a glossary on tlb with 'doing a para' in it!

 

We've been rather spoiled down in Dorset over the last few months with the weather, so I decided to make the most of a sunny morning by biking the 22 mile round trip over to Wareham to take a look at Iris (really enjoyable ride by the way, and much quicker than all the cars sat in seaside bound traffic). Iris has now been etch primed and high build primed and will be getting the top coats over the next week or so, ready for us to pick up at the end of the month. I think it's looking great!

 

Did you cut you windows in yourself?

 

They were cut in by one of the previous owners. Don't seem to be standard panel van conversion size though!

 

Ok, Just about to cut a window in mine so was hoping for some tips!

 

Best of luck. Measure twice, cut once I guess would be the only advice I know of.

 

I should be able to pick up Iris sometime next week as she is pretty much ready to come home! The upper half re-spray is complete and the new pop-top has been fitted. I’m absolutely chuffed to bits with the restoration work done by the guys at Kombi Klassics and when we’ve finally got everything finished on the van I doubt she’ll be recognisable from the van we originally bought.

Now just to get her through the MOT next week (hopefully no issues?!).







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Very nice James.

 

So after a minor MOT failure this week (rusty panels which will have to be addressed at some point but have been patched for now) Iris was finally ready to come home this week. My parents were down for the day as they had been visiting Bristol to celebrate my Mum’s 60th, and so we managed to grab a lift with them over to Wareham to fetch the van.

Mum and I drove her home and the van ran like a dream which pleasantly surprised me as I thought 4 months off the road might have taken its toll. The new roof and upper half look absolutely stunning and have given me even more drive to crack on with the rest of the restoration. We’re still a long way off having her in a campable state but this is one huge step along that road out of the way.

[Originally posted on tumblr]