oftensideways

Pretty bloody happy right now!

Finally spraying some colour around! Real happy with the colour. Will have all bar two doors done by the end of the weekend

Final prime is done, I have the week to block it back then will Paint next weekend! It's definitely not factory straight but it'll do. Also made a start on the bolt on panels, which don't need to much work, so hopefully get those in primer ASAP.

ooooooo wee!

A bit of inspiration!

I've been cranking along on the bog work, getting in a few hours every night after work, kids, dinner, partner etc and most of the weekend. deadline to have it back together is looming. I guess people are usually a bit worried about showing how much bog has gone onto a car but if I want this to be even reasonably straight it just is what it is. two big tins down at this stage. Another night or two filling some of the lows and pinholes then i'll high fill prime all the repaired areas and give it a good block back and see how it's sitting. Decided on a colour. I was leaning towards more of a chocolate brown but found a few pictures of Hiaces dark browns and I wasn't a fan, the Brown i've chosen is a factory KE30 colour and was actually the colour of my KE30 when I first bought it as a 17 year old, which I then proceeded to ruin it by painting it satin black.

man how good does that look! Get it done greg then we can go on vanning missions

All etch primed and ready to body fill! It really was a struggle to stretch the weld shrinkage back out due do it being to hard to get to the back of the panels, but its solid steel so i'm happy. I think a real quality metal finished job would have the entire panels un picked and beaten into shape before being stitched back on, far beyond the scope of this build I feel.

Thank you! I'm self employed and do a lot of repair and Fabrication work, mainly for agriculture/horticulture guys but I do dable in cars for customers. Not qualified in anything tho! The internet is a great tool for learning.

Nearly a year to the day I started the rust repairs and today the van found its way into the temporary spray booth! Laid on some Brunox and epoxy primer this evening so once we are back from our little NY camp mission i'll be able to get stuck into getting some filler on in prep for some top coat. Can't wait!

Yes im a tad impatient at times and do big long runs of welding haha. Most of the warped areas I can get behind so once all the repairs are done, i'll do my best at panel beating some straightness back into it. I've never heard of a shrinking disc? will do some reasearch

cheers mate! I've still got a long way to go with controlling warpage so will be all hidden in some lovely layers of T bucket bog

RUST! Jesus this thing was riddled with it. Probably not the wisest starting point for a project but i've thoroughly enjoyed the process so far, it's been a big learning curve and it's satisfying to know that at the end I will have saved something that was destined to rot into the ground. The end of the rust repair tunnel is near. the list is something like this, new rear lower quarters both sides, upper rear pillar repairs both sides, new tail light surround both sides, sill repairs drivers side, window sill repairs both sides, A pillar and hinge area repairs both sides, new lower door passenger side, repairs on drivers door, roof skin repairs all around pop top attachment, floor repairs in rear of van, top of rear wheel arches and various other spots that rust made home! My original idea for paint was to replicate what was already there but ive since changed my mind and at this stage will be going an undecided shade of brown with the original stripes but, in most likely, red, orange and yellow. We now have a deadline that it has to painted and drivable which is our wedding middle of Feb so still plenty of work to go!

I did a winter season in Lake Louise a few years back, Canada is such an awesome place! I'm actually amazed at the lack of rust in it, the salt on the roads fucks cars and I remember seeing cars in far worse states then yours! good luck with the project, should be a cool little whip once your done

I would feel like I've failed if I gave up. Not happening! Its a real enjoyable earning curve actually as I haven't tackled this size of rust before, plus saving another old car from certain death is always a bonus