Introducing Doddy - My 71 Deluxe

[rallye dale]

Well done fellow OCD buddy :lol: , You just cant leave it alone can you, bad as me

Looking good though, who pressed your ball joints in ? , will need mine doing

 

[89Rallye]

Well done fellow OCD buddy :lol: , You just cant leave it alone can you, bad as me

Looking good though, who pressed your ball joints in ? , will need mine doing

Yeah, I have a huge fear of putting it into a body shop and them just throwing buckets of filler at it. So plan now is to attempt to straighten it all as good as I can get it before giving to to someone. If nothing else it should keep the costs down... hopefully

Balljoints were done at a place in Manchester called Harvey Engineering (http://www.harveyengineering.co.uk/index.html), its a machine shop that we use in work. Just call in there and ask for Barry, they will probably do them while you wait if your paying cash 8) , They all know me as the VW geek but remember to tell them Mark from Coopers sent you. Or if you can get the trailing arms and balljoints to me I can probably get them done for nothing but not sure how quickly I can get there and problem is I've just quit my job and finish in two weeks :shock:

 

[rallye dale]

:shock: , take it youve got something already sorted

Will take them down when im ready, will be a few weeks yet, ta

 

[89Rallye]

:shock: , take it youve got something already sorted

Will take them down when im ready, will be a few weeks yet, ta

lol, yeah its all been thought out and wasnt just a spare of the moment decision.. More money for bits, more time off to fit them 8)

 

[pk1was]

Thats looking amazing. Some top work

 

[89Rallye]

Its been a while since I updated on here, I recently changed jobs which has meant me working longer days so getting time for the van (and internet) has been a little hard but thankfully i've now started my four on four off shift pattern so hopefully things will move on a little quicker now.

Anyway i'll let the photos do the talking, spent the last couple of days slowly pulling dents (and most of my hair!) from the front panel. Started with bare metalling most of the panel,

I'm glad I did strip the paint on the front as there was plenty of stone chip rust hiding away.

hard to see but its there..

Lots of boring photos which dont really show whats going on.

Still plenty left to do but it gets depressing very quickly working on it.

Also started on the cab, trying to get it all prepped and painted so I can get the dash back in and move on with something.

Probably a bit OTT bare metalling it all but someone had attacked it with a grinder when I had my back turned and taken bits down to bare metal so the only real answer was to carry on.

After 3 days of **** I got bored so decided to get some primer on the floor, starting with an etch primer then a high build primer..

And got some seam sealer into the joints

Back at work now so work will have to wait till my shifts rotate again.

Sorry too many photos as usual

 

[rallye dale]

Keep going

 

[Mark6455]

Nice job mark keep it up

 

[89Rallye]

Thank you guys as usual,

Im struggling a little because I cant actually see myself ever owning a finished bus but i'm trying to just knock one job off at a time, still not helping though :|

 

[crede999]

Really nice work

Keep at it

Chris

 

[Mickey Sam]

Thank you guys as usual,

Im struggling a little because I cant actually see myself ever owning a finished bus but i'm trying to just knock one job off at a time, still not helping though :|

I know that feeling Mark, you think it's going to go on forever !

I thought I'd never get to the end of my resto but I'm putting mine back together now and it feels great !

Hang in there there mate , one day at a time , you'll soon be trundling down the road with a big smile on yer chops

Some great work going on there, keep it up , it's all worth it in the end, good luck mate.

 

[89Rallye]

Been a while because as usual I've been mad busy with work..

Went up today to see Steve at street style bodyshop and she's booked in for paint Jan 20th'ish, it's been a hard job trusting someone to do what I want but ste is a gent and a proper enthusiast who takes pride in his work. I just hope he delivers what's promised

Can't wait now, it feels like a massive weight off and a major hurdle overcome.

Watch this space 8)

 

[rallye dale]

8)

 

[89Rallye]

Well it certainly wasnt the weather for it today, esp with the front in bare metal :shock: but thats the painters problem now :lol:

But shes on her way, cant believe the next time shes back on my drive she'll be painted.

 

[Mark6455]

Good news mark I look forward to seeing her painted 8)


Ps are you gonna reveal the colour?

Mark

 

[89Rallye]

Good news mark I look forward to seeing her painted 8)


Ps are you gonna reveal the colour?

Mark

I'll decide that when I know the colour myself! :lol:

 

[Bigbear]

Brave taking it to the painters today, hope its not to far?
Looking forward to seeing the colour.

 

[89Rallye]

Brave taking it to the painters today, hope its not to far?
Looking forward to seeing the colour.

Not kidding, I tried to move it wednesday but couldnt get a trailer and sods law it was sunny all day.

Only went 35miles and mostly motorway, got there safe and sound anyway. Now in storage for a while and it will hopefully dry out, were looking April for completion and its going to be the longest 8 weeks of my life!

 

[rallye dale]

Didnt see you, was in widnes today !!!

Good luck with the colour choice , mines easy

 

[89Rallye]

Well, while the shell is away I have lots of to play... with :lol:

Managed to get the engine stripped down today, what I thought was going to be a quick strip and clean.

First up though, got to try some bling on 8)

After a steam clean everything was looking A-OK,

There were signs that the engine was a recent recon/build,

Not googled RIMCO yet but im guessing its a recon,

Anyway, not good news I was hoping for inside.

Im hoping this will hone out but there are some deep looking scratches in the bores.

Even the lobes on the camshaft look worn,

And im a bit bemused how this has happened?

So not sure now what to do, just plum for a new set of pistons etc 1641 or just bite the bullet and go 1776 1914 etc as I can get everything machined cheap through work.