Hi All, thought I'd better start a restoration thread (especially now I've started the restoration). We've owned Sydney, named by the wife, for getting on for 18 months now and I've only just got around to starting work on her, so this is going to be a long one. Anyhow this is our Sydney when she arrived in her new home, shes a 1978 ex panel van thats been motionless for approx. ten years. Any thoughts or coments much appreciated. It was touch and go getting her in the garage....... One of the underside, still got the bellypans but alllooks pretty good. No poptop, previous owner binned it?? possibly going to fit a paris beetles sunroof, as I have no idea what top it had. Let me know what you think. There will be more pictures to come when I've uploaded them.
Thanks very much. I bought it on a wim, wanted one for years and then this one was offered to me at what I thought was a good price. A work colleagues son in law bought it to restore, but only got as far overhauling all the brakes, which was nice.
Welcome to the fold, I think you'll qualify for membership to the S.M.G without the need for the nod from the Approval Commitee It doesnt look too bad to be fair, I'd be more concerned about the lack of fixtures and fittings as these all mount up. You seem to know you're on a long road.......................................theres no rush, and no prizes, so just take your time and attack it methodically bit by bit.
First thought from first photo was "oh dear, another nail" (bikers term for a load of cr**). But wait, closer inspection shows a pretty solid looking canvas for creating a much prettier picture! What are you planning to make from it? Oh, and does the engine still work?
Thanks for the welcoming comments so far. I'm gonna need the encouragement, it's taken me a year to even get started and this is my first resto, more use to mk2 golfs. Ido have a few plans, but we'll have to see how things pan out. For the colour I was thinking Pargaus Blue, like this: But I am also considering welding the rear most side windows up as well (she used to be a panel van), so this at a show and thought it looked pretty good and differant, apparently this was a factory option but never seen one like it before. Theres possibly gonna be a paris beetles sunroof as well to fill the hole in the roof. More to follow when I get the pictures uploaded.
Some more photos for your delectation. Small repair to the L/H tub next to the seat belt mount Not sure if you noticed on the first piccies but Syd had an earlier lower front panel fitted, thats now been been removed, but I've had to fabricate a new flange on the top of the inner valance Trial fitting the new "late" front panel. Still need to locate a deformation panel Got some time off next week so should be able to do a bit more work then. Planning on painting with rustoleum, but I could do with getting some protection on the body, anybody got any sugestions (no facilities for spraying and can't afford a proffesional job). Cheers
Right guys and gals, time for a little update. Nowt real exciting being doing a few bits and pieces, but funds are low even though the enthusiasm is high. Anyhow here's some piccies - After cutting the lower part of the front panel off found some holes in the top of the inner valance (if that's what its called) Cleaned up, cut out and welded up. Finally got the lower part of the front panel welded on and started on the filler, nightmare trying to get this nice and flat (curved) anybody got any tips? Think I'm getting there but its a slow job. Also got the dash lower stripped and primed ready for when its time to paint, still got to make a decision on colour yet. Being doing a few other bits, but no pictures, sorry, steering column is out ready for paint, need a column cowl as mine is damaged, but can't find them with any of the normal suppliers or eBay if anyone can help it would be much appreciated. The engine has ran but won't tick over, fires runs for about 10secs then dies with plenty of back firring, but that will have to wait as its coming out in the next couple of weeks. That's it for now, be back soon.
Timing is probably well out on the engine. Do you need all that filler? Are you going for a super smooth show finish? You will need a long block and sandpaper to get a nice smooth finish, using just your hands creates bumps and valleys as you never have the exact same pressure over the whole thing. You can use a block of wood but a rubber sanding block will be better.
those 3M sanding pads are good trouble with the front panel is that it curves in 2 different directions - from left to right and top to bottom so a big straight block will not be much help. I used the same sanding block as you have...............and a lot of time and patience!! go for shape first with course paper, feeling the panel with the palm of your hand for low/high spots as you go, fill where necessary, then when your nearly there go fo the finer grades of paper to get a good finish. looks like your getting there though
Thanks Guys, It is getting there, parts of it feel pretty good at the moment. I'm using 80 grit, seems just about right for filler removal/shaping. Zed that's sounds like good advice about a complete skim, as I've being sanding and filling in the lows as I go there is a combination of filler mixes and some sands easier then others making it difficult to get consistency across the whole area.
zed's advice is spot on I use 80grit for my first lot of rubbing down, it soon goes blunt so fresh paper will cut through it quicker. I then use the worn bits to take it down further, then 120 grit to get it smooth. I saneded, filled the lows, sanded, filled the lows........very tedious. I had some advice fro the body shop next door to where my bus is and they said prety much what zed said, fill, get close with sanding, then go over the whole panel with dolphin glaze to pick up all the lows at once then sand down again
I suppose the most obvious thing to say is try and get the shape right as you put the filler on! I see pics of it plastered on and glad I don't have to sand those. I tend to put it on best as I can, have a very brief sand to knock off any ridges lumps and obvious highs, then fill again before proper shaping begins. The longer I've been doing it, the less filler ends up on the floor. lol
I made a profile from a large sheet of metal to get the shape pretty close with the first lot of filler
