Low&Slow

Hello LateBayers,

I purchased myT2 over a year ago as a rolling resto and straight away wasnt happy with reverse in the gearbox and so stripped the engine and box out. The engine runs sweet and had no problem sitting at 70 on the motorway. The gearbox has been rebuilt by ragtop63 from volkszone.

I noticed some bad repairs after removing the gearbox and so started some metal work......

Bad Metal removed and engine bay blasted.


Gap on the large side hinge panel will need replacing


Hinge panel removed


Passenger side



Home made chassis repairs



I have welded the rear inner valance in and unfortunatly its all gone wrong as the boot lines up with the top hinge panel but not with the outer valance at the bottom, it is out by a few millimeters so I will need to remove and refit. I have been strugling to get the time to get this back on the road so considering getting some help to get the rest of the rear end welded up.

 

Just take your time bud it will come right - try and do it yourself and you have to remember these are 40 year old vans - I will follow with interest -

 

As outlaw said, just do one bit at a time they all add up,more satisfaction if you did it your self. Nice work so far

 

Is the problem that the outer valance is too far in i.e. the seal depth of the panel is too shallow? I've had this problem in the past where I haven't repaired the inner and the rear corners are OG so it must be the panel's wrong, possibly for some buses and not others..

 

nice project

 

Thanks for all the comments, at the moment I am trying to get to the point of bolting the boot back on so that I can look at all alignment issues again.

I have finished all the repairs to the top inner valance, here is a pic of some of the rust I cut out.


With all the repairs done I have temporary fit the hinge panel.

Hopefully you can see the alignment is off the gaps appears to get bigger towards the middle. The gap around the the middle is about twice as big as the gap at either end.
Has anyone come across this before did you just bend the panel, I have tried to reshape it but found it difficult any ideas?

Some other pic from the past few months

The Workshop



Chassis Repair


More repairs



Refurb and replacement of ball joint - not an easy task!!

Cheers

 

I think that could be the issues, possibly increaseing the depth of the outer valance will solve this. Just trying to get back to the point of bolting the engine hatch on so that i can look at it again.

 

The hinge panel looks bent - send it back?

 

are they not always like that? cant remember where it came from.

 

actually it was from schofields perhaps it was damaged in transit, I seem to be having problems with every panel.

 

get used to it lol!
a lot of the panels need extra work to make them fit unfortunately, put a straight edge across the offending panel and see if it bows, i'd imagine it should be straight
good looking bus though buddy, you'll have it finished in no time

 

I have bought another hinge panel and am having the same problem. If I clamp it at both ends and force the middle of the panel up I can get it to look a lot better.
I've always taken the approach if it don't fit don't force it and I feel like I am putting a lot of pressure on the panel and forcing it into place. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance

 

good work there fella

 

I fitted a autocraft hinge panel and it was a pleasure to fit, where's the second one come from?

 

Schofields, it is an auto raft one, I must be missing a trick it really holding the resto up

 

Update, I've spoken to autocraft who have identified the hinge panels as there own and have agreed there is a problem with the panels. They are currently looking into it and are going to send me a free one once sorted. Can't say fairer than that I guess.

 

This is no joke. I don't shop at Schofields anymore, their packaging isn't up to it. Too much time wasted.

 

Where do you get yours from? Panels I got from just kampers where much worse.

 

You'll find alot of panels will need some tough persuasion, (its the same on new cars aswell) just make sure you've got plenty of grips to hand when trying to line them up, and use screws if necessary before tack welding and checking panel gaps.

Keep at it though, it will come eventually, I fitted the autocraft hinge panel to mine, and it probably the best replacement panel on the bus!

 

Evening All,

I've got the hinge panel welded in now after getting a new one for free from AutoCraft. As you can see from the pic below im having problems with both rear corners. Pasenger side is to far in towards the bottom and drivers is to far out toward the bottom. The horizontal gaps both close up on each side towards the bottom.

Is this normal are you guys just using brute force to get them back into place before welding up the b pillars?



Thanks for the comments and the help on the thread.

Cheers David