Winter project. Meet Niknak the T3 hightop.

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Zebedee, Nov 24, 2021.

  1. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Don't you count those deeply pitted areas as rust?
     
  2. I might make myself a metal folder except i have no where to put or use it. :(
    272007645_10159278445245100_6184151301392547577_n.jpg
     
    F_Pantos and CollyP like this.
  3. Few more bits made. Made the usual blood sacrifice to the garage gods too. :rolleyes:
    269591278_10159280337915100_8663273747429969860_n.jpg

    Just needs a 90 degree bend for the flange on the end.
    268793942_10159280338015100_2169792072794233740_n.jpg

    272301613_10159280338150100_2080476721852315907_n.jpg
     
    Norris and F_Pantos like this.
  4. Just finished one of those but worse, inner and outer sills plus all 4 arches, had enough now I’m not doing any more T25s
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Nice work. Looks the same Marsala red this one is (under the cack respray).
    I've someone locally who wants me to do theirs after i finish Nicks. I've looked at it and it needs inner and outer sills, jacking points, B pillars, repairs to both front and back arches, cab steps, rear corners and some repairs to the windscreen pillars and round the side windows. Its also in need of the whole electical system looking at as half the stuff doesn't work. I've had to pass it up as even through they've not got a timescale for the work to be done its not something i'd want to tackle outside.
    Looks like its gonna be sold on again as a project at a loss as they can't find anyone willing to work on it. :(
     
  6. Sounds about standard for these, I’ve done 5 now all pretty much the same. It’s a lot of work in a workshop let alone outside.
    I’m not doing any more full resto’s for customers they take to long and not worth it!
     
    JamesLey, Zed and davidoft like this.
  7. I can quite understand that.
    I'm just doing a few small jobs on them for friends for beer money. I still quite fancy another bay but theres only 6ft of height in the garage. :(
    I'm planning on building an enclosed carport down the side of the garage but the cost of timber has gone stupid since i built my last one. I also need some of the space to keep Moby, so 8ft wide is about the maximum it could be and that'd be a squeeze.
    1Untitled-1 copy.jpg
     
  8. Got a few bits of metal welded in this afternoon before the rain came down.
    272961829_10159307239740100_3625986392541090265_n.jpg

    272899445_10159307240355100_2281161132456379240_n.jpg

    273149904_10159307346010100_8051537333336222073_n.jpg
     
    dubsurftones, F_Pantos and Geordie like this.
  9. Bit more welded in this afternoon and a couple of templates made for the outer skin.
    273272978_10159317199720100_7350339247060542903_n.jpg

    Chopped the exhausts tailpipe off, though to be honest it just needed waggling a little to fall off.
    Gonna make a tailpipe as they're nearly £20 which is daft for £5 worth of steel pipe with a 90 degree bend.
     
  10. Starting to loose the love of this camper. Where ever you look theres just more rot hidden under the rubberised sealant.
    Got the bottom of the snorkel box welded up this afternoon.
    DSC_2257.JPG
    Put new welding wire in (a different brand than i usually buy) and struggled to get good welds with it. :(
    2022-02-11 16.12.54.JPG

    This should be fun to fix as theres very little access on the engine bay side of the panel due to the plastic airbox and intake manifold. Tried to get the plastic base unbolted but even after all the bolts were removed it wouldn't come off. Theres two snapped bolts which i assume are still holding it on but i can't get them out.
    2022-02-11 16.13.11.JPG
     
    F_Pantos likes this.
  11. Got the outer skin of the rear valance welded up this afternoon. Needs a bit more sanding though. N/S also needs some panel beating where its taken a whack on the underside at some point.
    273897804_10159329117815100_6433098851768690940_n.jpg
    273861993_10159329117905100_8031601347390273256_n.jpg
    274332304_10159329118020100_8742861634225210501_n.jpg
     
    PanZer, Norris, paradox and 4 others like this.
  12. Made up a new exhaust tailpipe to replace the rotten one.
    2022-02-25 14.01.31.JPG
    New support made from 2mm steel welded to the end of the silencer and bolted to the bracket using a new mounting rubber. Much better than a section of steel hanging it off the back valance.
    2022-02-25 14.01.10.JPG

    Looks much nicer with the silencer level with the back valance.
    2022-02-25 14.01.44.JPG
    I also welded some new steel into the chunk that was cut out the valance at some point and gave it a quick coat of black paint.
    2022-02-25 16.07.21.JPG
     
    F_Pantos likes this.
  13. Rear corner looks a bit tidier now.
    275110092_10159349799675100_7961050178185599527_n.jpg
    275173605_10159349799670100_1089138247978787323_n.jpg
     
    art b and F_Pantos like this.
  14. Finally managed to get the airbox off and cut out the rot in the side of the engine bay.
    275227883_10159354799065100_3950006195299801593_n.jpg
    275152257_10159354799055100_4103442285115665501_n.jpg

    Found some more rot under the other arch though.
    275181576_10159354799060100_2896268694561040960_n.jpg
     
    paradox and F_Pantos like this.
  15. Got the rot in the engine bay welded up and filled.
    274815739_10159356502060100_8937919842301439595_n.jpg
    Rear arch repaired and new rear lower corner fitted plus a small repair to the other rear arch.
    274831778_10159356502250100_2332654535877728335_n.jpg
    274725450_10159356502165100_3644435471560412532_n.jpg
    274736464_10159356501970100_8288261189422371820_n.jpg
     
    Iain McAvoy, F_Pantos and JamesLey like this.
  16. I've spent 38 hours on this camper so far.
    Got the rear hatch seal mounting channel welded up this afternoon. I think the seal was being held in with good luck only before.
    275547661_10159364588895100_2296709845747702377_n.jpg
    275634708_10159364588900100_5400891207053040104_n.jpg
    275656181_10159364588885100_961974195978908155_n.jpg
    Theres a bit either side along the top that also needs replacing as its rotted away.

    Found a small bit of rot on the closing panel at the end of the sill. Not as bad as the one on my caravelle which is nice.
    275582810_10159364588905100_579248789918813485_n.jpg

    Not very pleased with these welds but the sill was coated in waxoyl so struggled to get it all clean enough to get a good weld that doesn't look like pigeon poo. :rolleyes: Its solid though. 275529995_10159364588890100_689951269848319451_n.jpg
     
  17. Chopped the rot out of the closing panel at the end of the sill and welded some new steel in. Coat of epoxy primer and some seam sealer applied. Had to repair a section of sill too as it was made of wood with filler over it. :rolleyes:
    275593124_10159370913730100_9181948409811188019_n.jpg
    Wheelarch side of the snorkel box had the rot chopped out too. I still had to cut a little more out to get to good steel.
    275722612_10159370913335100_4532290965180101923_n.jpg

    Epoxy prined and seam sealed too.
    275690944_10159370913480100_2011024423566361516_n.jpg
     
    F_Pantos, iblaze and MorkC68 like this.
  18. Got the sliding door seal mounting channel welded on this afternoon.
    276084583_10159377215300100_735307754398711016_n.jpg
    Bit of black paint to cover the primer. Sliding door seal is an oddun'. 3 sides are the right length but the 4th is about 8" too long.
    276133512_10159377215285100_7626990881059759290_n.jpg
    Made a start on the rear hatch seal channel thats rotten in the top corners.
    276223856_10159377215295100_8293420085841715296_n.jpg
    276133472_10159377215290100_3706161426754550504_n.jpg
    276001369_10159377215305100_2852319477877862285_n.jpg
    Sanded down some of the filler on the rear 1/4 and sprayed on some gloss black.
    275994512_10159377215280100_6944224424820625007_n.jpg
     
    F_Pantos, iblaze and Purple like this.
  19. Got the two bits of the rear hatch mounting channel welded up this afternoon.
    276134242_10159381979640100_5323183333870171588_n.jpg
    276078599_10159381979645100_5261420869947745613_n.jpg

    Rear end still needs a little more sanding, though it might just get left for now until its time for paint.
    275995278_10159381979650100_7592549987793513769_n.jpg
     
    F_Pantos and iblaze like this.
  20. Had a quite productive day.
    Repairs to engine bay painted, new engine lid seal installed and airbox refitted.
    277107245_10159386744675100_2871589967805595825_n.jpg
    277097113_10159386744670100_8046933495334967569_n.jpg
    New sliding door guide block and new seal fitted. Door is a PITA to close now.
    276253975_10159386747450100_6491493599289317341_n.jpg
    277226643_10159386747445100_6482367898585787827_n.jpg
    I didn't know early T3 used bay window sliding door handle. 211 part number. Late sliding doors do not work on early vans, even though the PO fitted it. None of the locks line up so theres just a bent piece of metal bolted in place.
    276267151_10159386747440100_682441710099503007_n.jpg
     
    F_Pantos likes this.

Share This Page