oftensideways

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

Getting through the number of patch panels. Most of the pictured repairs are now finished but just realised i didn't take photos of the finished patch. I decided to TIG all the repairs where the panel is a butt joint and im getting far better results then the previous MIG repairs i've done

The old chop chop

I was well aware of most of the rust present but both A pillars being rotten was a heck of a suprise! both looked fine at a quick glance but it turns our previous repairs have now meant they are both rotten to the point the door hinge mounts are stuffed

Progress! Finally got a bunch of customer projects and my own other cars out of the way and got this back into the shed. Time to attack this rust! So lets be honest here, there is a lot of rust! From what i can see mostly due to poor previous repairs and the years under the tree i pulled it from, some really typical places are non existent while other places (windscreen frame) don't have a spec of rust. I'm actually a bit late updating this so i'll do A picture dump and it should bring us up to date with current state of the repairs

Well! the lack of updates as well and truly been the lack of work on this sadly. Customer cars and other projects of my own took up the needed shed space untill right about now really so will be cracking back into this again ASAP! Nobody enjoys a picture less update so heres a couple of shots of my Starlet I ended up with and preceded to modify nearly every aspect and fail to take nearly any photos or document anything! goes pretty well now but the bodywork seriously lets it down, not really any rust but pretty dented and painted very poorly about 4 times, numerous colours. The Advan livery was a quick attempt to polish a turd. enjoy

So i've decided on bit of a plan in the way I should attack this thing. Get the motor, brakes and suspension up to scratch road test rust repairs rear fit out- seats, bed, kitchen etc re-vin I probably should re-vin at an earlier stage but we will probably use it for a few sneaky runs down the valley to camp at the river and i'm willing to risk it. Have had a reasonable look over the van and its all in really good shape save for the rust which i gather has only appeared since being parked up under the tree. Got it up on axel stands, removed the wheels and drums to inspect brakes, all in really good condition, good shoes, no leaks and un worn drums. Repaired the dodgy work on some of the fuel lines and replaced the broken filter. charged the battery and got it going with the help of ether. Cleaned the points, set the idle mixture and speed, set the timing (way advanced! no wonder it struggled to turn over) now it fires up and idles fine just need to get oil, filters, plugs and coolant. Next step is to get some tyres (looking at whitewalls from STA parts) and put the van back together to road test! Realised i've had a few goodies stashed that fit the project perfect! Front centre badge i've had for ages and i'm sure its from a Hiace (and the camper is missing it) A set of 14" hubcaps that fit perfect, pretty sure they came off a Toyota Crown so a good enough match for me

Pictured is the Newmans Toyota Hiace camper used by the french bombers of the rainbow warrior. uncanny and only 5 places difference in plate numbers!

something not 25mm off the ground you mean?! for those interested Ill post a picture of the Newman's Hiace the Rainbow Warrior bombers used as told by Zebra Dude in the build thread (I cant seem to do it here)

Hey Zebradude, that sounds like a cool film to be apart of, i'm going to google said van and see what i come up with. EURON8 was yours the white with flowers Hiace that was on here a few years ago? I remember seeing it but forgot who owned it

Made a good start last weekend. Completely gutted the rear as none of it was really going to work. Saved all the good bits handles, hinges, sink, fittings, tank etc. also removed the front seats and engine covers to start going over all of that. While demoing the rear and removing all the rubbish I came across a couple of sweet photos of the van all set up! nice to see the past owner has a good choice in beverage also. When i first picked it up we got it running and drove it around the paddock, no brakes and a stuck accelerator pump so hopefully it wont take to much to get the old girl up to scratch.

A caravan would probably have been the better option as we don't really need another vehicle but it was to good of an opportunity to pass up. And tear drops are so bloody cool!

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, etc

Discussion thread //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50845-oftensideways-83-family-camper-discussion/ Hey guys, So i've been hanging around the forums a fair bit still but have been real slack on any form of contribution. Theres been no lack of projects in the shed to be fair (many of the drifting variety), but I find myself changing between so many that i never felt i could really document them very well or when I thought I should I had already made a decent start and thought it was to late. ANYWAY, now we have two young boys i felt a fitting project was in order. we'd love to spend a bit of time traveling around the place taking family holidays when we can. A new van just wasn't going to cut it and it turned out a guy I know through a customer of mine happened to have the perfect thing parked up on there lawn heading no where fast! He assured me it was running perfect when parked but they had no use for it. I turned up to have a good look over it, covered in tree leaves and grime but the potential was there! Turns out the rego has lapsed so for $400 we loaded it up and hauled it away to store untill now. The camper needs its fair share of work, plenty of rust to fix but very little appears to be structural, get the motor sorted, the brakes and suspension up to scratch. The inside is all there but isn't going to suit our needs so I will have to redo the entire rear section, we need a good sized bed, secure points to strap the kids car seats in and most likely an arrangement in the front seats for a small child to sleep. The stripes WILL stay. The pop top is the sweetest thing i've ever seen. I've also aquired a crashed 3sge altezza so that motor may make its way into the bay, Let me know your thoughts. The most important part of any project, picures

Yeh I've come across the early 2l differences before to. After I cooked the first early turbo 2l in my surf I put a NA hilux 2l in, turbo gear, boost compensater mods, intercooler, big exhaust, lots of fuel (always maintained good egt) went Really well for what it was. But non stop towing tandem trailers and 33s slowly but surely killed that to. 1uz sorted all problems. 4age idea cracks me up! But awesome...

looks good! thought of shortening the chassis up?

have never heard of that plastidip before but could be the go, at least if i didnt like it it will come off alright

whats plastidip? i do like that photoshop above but i would go a lighter/brighter gold center than it has at the moment. Just noticed, shit the car is dirty in that pic! thats fresh off the trailer from todd's Keto manji day. I did think of getting the centers blasted back to raw alloy clear coating and lips a satin black. If the rear fitment matched the front it would make it that much better but it is a drift car so ive gota be realistic about the rims/tyres i run on the back

i'm toying with the idea that when i refurb the rims to go black lips and Gold or sliver centres, that or just go the norm and polish the lips. I really did like the car on all black wheels but i wonder if the polished look will grow on me thoughts??

so im not great at regularly updating this but... been doing bits and pieces, scored some 14 inch volk mesh for it as the widened steelies weighed a ton, 14x9(measure slighty more between beads) for the front and 14x8(measure slightly less) for the rear. ended up converting it to ke70 steering rack, really only did it as i am trying to get as much lock as possible, the steering box worked fine but at massive lock the angles of the tie rods dont do much favours. new lower arms at 40mm longer and new knuckles to. had to abit of cutting and welding to the front gaurds to get the wheels to fit, and not sure if ive posted above but have cut the rear gaurds off and fitted rivet on flares to stop the gaurd rub, I plan on making some steel flares at some stage but these work for now. I've also remade the gearbox tunnel so i could raise the gearbox (driveshaft angles weren't great being this low) and have completley remade the exhaust to get it off the ground. A post would suck without pics so..

awesome stuff man! you've got some serious skills behind the wheel and behind a grinder/welder. i'm pretty keen to drag the corolla up to hamptons but was worried how it would go being underpowered, your vids are about the first low powered car making a decent effort i've seen. might have to book in for the next DMNZ day.

good work man, this thing is so awesome! love everything about it, colour is so sweet!