Here is a project I'm working on for a few years now.
It is my first restoration job, and I have to say it was not a good idea to start with such a vehicle.
Lot's of big flat panels and being a utilitarian van, it got a rough life. It has been welded at several places more to hide the rust than repairing it, I have sanded through several paint jobs. It was first white, most than likely it was a cop van, then skin-colored thick stuff that clogged papers like crazy, followed by a Sage Green layer to end with a peppermint and white roller like finish job and a DIY nasty camper interior.
I start to work in my grandparent's barn, I'm lucky to have this place, having no experience at all, bought an half-decent MIG welder, and start cutting hoping for the best.
It was a steep learning curve, with lots of trials and errors. I redid some works 2 of 3 times to achieve a good result. My in-laws being Ford dealer (I start the van before meeting my girlfriend, I maybe should have finished it before starting a relationship ), I asked if I could have some bits of help from their bodyworkers and trailer it to their Bodyshop. Well, I think they were scared to get started into this mess and it doesn't evolve a lot when sitting there. I finally decide to get it back home. Luckily, at this point, a friend of mine step in as he saw I was being demotivated, frustrated and ready to put that thing on fire... I'm not someone who asks for help, but it was more than needed at this point. He is a very good bodyworker, mechanics, welder and already have experience dealing with classic cars.
I learn a lot in a very short time from him. Tricks to weld, how to apply and sand body filler, he like U pol products and I have to say they were much easier to apply and sand than others products I used, working dings and dents, I asked him why he didn't show up before . Unluckily, he divorced, got a new wife and doesn't have much free time now. So, as it is pretty well advanced in prep stage, I don't dare to continue working without guidance on it. I also became a father, we build a house, and took the lead of my parents business in the same time. It doesn't leave lot's of free fun time. I plan to restart working on it now. Even doing small jobs, but keep moving forward. Still better than standing still.
Sorry if it is a bit long and for my spelling, I'm french spoken. Here are some pics.
1976 VW T2 van resto.
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Last edited by jeanfrancois on Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Suite. I have to find a way to better sort the pics...
Last edited by jeanfrancois on Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Suite. Sanding the whole vehicle. I try paint stripper, wire wheels, expensive 3M plastic disc to finally find that a large sanding disc on a variable speed angle grinder work best. I Sand blast inside.
Doors were in excellent shape and the rear hatch only needed to be welded on the window corner. |
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Some repair done on the cargo door.
Last edited by jeanfrancois on Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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At my in laws body shop. As new side panels are still available, they advice me to replace them instead of trying to get them in shape. Very wise move for a better end result.
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Very cool project. Sounds like you are like most of us hobbyist in that life always seems to post pone progress at times. It seems like I have little stretches of getting a lot done, and then priorities like family put things on hold for a while. My advice is to just take your time, do quality work, and keep chipping away at it here and there. And most important is to not make it a burden and have fun with it.
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Thanks Lenny. Yes, same thing for most of us, but at 37 years old, I still have some time ahead to finish it. The only problem, is that I have another van, a '60 bug, a '71 Audi 100 C1 and a '59 Fordson power major that are waiting their turn and my '68 bug in need of an engine rebuild That's also another problem of most of us, can not resist buying a good project So, new panels are in. And first plastic fillers are applied. As it was sitting for a while at my in law's bodyshop without any more work done, I spray some 2K wash primer to seal it and trailer it back home. My barn is much less comfortable, but I'm home and more free to work on it. |
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Side panels needed some filler at the welding points, but much less than the original ones which were very dented.
And here is how it sits now. I remove front and rear axles so it is now a bare shell. I spray epoxy on the bottom to have good protection. I plan on using Raptor bed liner tinted the same color as the body inside the fenders to prevent stone chips. I had the bad surprise to see a rust spot on the right front fender. Looks like some rust was hiding between the fender and the B pillar. I will have to remove the fender to sandblast the rust and weld a new one. Somehow, it is better now rather than when it is painted. Some very satisfying pics for a DIYer. Still a lot's of work to get it done, but the hard part is behind. |
Very nice.
I agree with Lenny, when doing this as a hobby plan on life (and lack of money) getting in the way of your progress. My '68 Plymouth GTX is still sitting in epoxy primer while I work on other people's vehicles trying to earn some $$ for parts. 1968 Coronet R/T
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Found some more photos.
Another nice job from a previous owner... No rust? Surprise! |
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