Eberspacher

Planning on putting the Eberspacher in here again. Same place as I had if in the '60. I'll route the tubbing outside into the main heater ducting. That way it will push the air directly onto the windscreen. Great for those cold winter mornings.

A rare day

I've had a whole day in the garage today! That's a rarity and I've enjoyed the long stint. This morning I fitted in the heater tube. Very little difficulty getting it in although I needed to make up a collar to slip in the end. I was going to take a look at where to put the eberspacher as well but I've left it for now and removed the top hat section where the two load bed panels meet. I drilled out the spot welds and it came away nicely. I also put a wee brace behind the nearside top air vent as it was a bit uneven. I've elded it in place which brings the vent flush with the panel. Also made a start at stripping the inner bulkhead.

Tilt

Think I'll have a go at making a set of these one day...

Trial Fit

I've trail fitted the load bed this evening. It looks good but there's a problem...... a 5mm gap between the two panels. Not sure what to do with it. I've put a post on the SSVC forum to get some ideas. Other than this minor glitch, this panel perhaps has the biggest impact on the look of the van. I also took the opportunity to have a bit of a clean out of the garage this evening. The place was a bit of a tip but there's a bit more space now for manoeuvring around. I'm going to replace the top hat section under the join of the load bed panels. It'll be much easier to get a flat surface to weld on.

Finished the load bed top hat sections this evening

3 Top Hat sections in

Welded in two other top hat section this evening. One left to go. I'm wondering whether I'll rue the day not putting in a whole one where the two panel sections meet... I might yet need to put one in. Quite pleased with the end result. Shiney new metal is always satisfying to look at!

Load bed supports

Replaced a small part of the load bed top hat near the bulk head. Water must have been getting in between the two panels and rusted through the metal. I thought about replacing the whole thing but opted to just graft in a new bit of metal. I had a piece of chassis top hat section lying around which came in useful. I also dropped in one of the three new top had lengths. There was a bad bow in a few of them and one has so many holes on the top I was bound to hit one when it came to welding the load bed on. Next jobs are to replace the other two top hat sections and then start laying on the load bed.

bending, stretching and trimming required

I finished off the top part of the frame for the bulk head this morning and got to work shaping the panel. It wasn't the best of fits but I was told it needed a bit of work. The top is a different profile so I needed to cut the frame a bit to get it to fit properly. The sides were also way out so I got the hammer onto it and stretched the lips a little. It's coming in well now. Pictures don't really do it justice. I think I'll tidy up the fitting on this and then start on the load bed top hat sections.

not such an easy job

Started repairing the top half of the frame for the bulk head this evening. It was just the piece flush with the bulk head that was shot. Fresh metal now in. I have another piece on the other side, about 6 inches in size to do as well. All these wee jobs take a tremendous amount of time to do properly. I've figured out that I'm not a particularly fast worker! Frame needs cut to size still but I'll use my cardboard template for that.

Check this stretched Crew Cab out

It's not my cup of tea but nonetheless, I admire the chap shose turned his hand to making it. It looks like it's a single cab at the back with a double cab at the front.

Where it all began

Taking glass out

Well, I'm typing this update with raw fingers as I have spent this evening prying out the rear glass from the cab. I eventually got it after borrowing the wifes hair dryer to soften up the rubber... I had better put it back! Anyways, I haven't done anything else this evening other than offer up the bulk head onto the frame to see what the fit is like. It needs a bit of work done to get it to fit but thats for another day. It'll start to look more like a pick-up when I get the load bed back on.

Right side done

Finished off near side

Finished off the near side plate behind the bulk head. It's come in quite nicely in the end. Need to do the other side now which by my reckoning is the last piece of serious rustyness on the van (I've been over every other inch. I've a few busy days ahead so wont get to the van again until next week. Hey-ho.

Started cutting out and putting back together

Started on the nearside of the bulk head this evening. I'm putting in two repairs; one running the length of the lip and a plate at the bottom. I've done the bottom plate and welded it in which was reasonably successful. I've cut a piece of metal to fit the long section but took the opportunity to drop in the last seat belt mount. I used the same method as last time and it didn't take me too long to locate the bolt in the captive plate. I put in two self tapping screws and added another to the other side....just to be on the safe side. Also sat the short load bed sections up against the lip and it is coming in nicely. Still a fair bit to do on this though.

Load bed bulk head

Removed the load bed bulk head panel this evening. It's a little bit rotten at both ends so I'll need to graft in a couple of replacement pieces of metal either side. The lower lip looked a little bit dodgy as it had had a weld run along the bottom but it has came up pretty good. It took me ages to get the old metal off with the chisel. The top panel which acts as a gutter, has a few holes in it. I'll need to think what to do with it as the holes are not it the easiest of places to get to. The water will make its way though easily enough. I was under the impession that when I got onto this bit it would feel like the home straight but there is a good few hours required to put this bit right.

A few wee jobs

Nothing major attempted this evening. My welding wire ran out last weekend and I bought a replacement spool but I've been struggling to get it set up right. As a result I've been making some fairly dodgy welds recently even by my low standards. Anyways, I have finished the engine lid hinge seal lip (if that makes sense). Both sides of the runner that takes the engine seal were rotten just at the point where the hinge meets the chassis. I've replaced both with new metal. I also patched up a corner under the wheel arch which for some reason was present as a result of a lack of metal on the inner dog leg where it meets the inner wheel arch (right at the top near the seatbelt mounting plate. I've welded a piece in but I haven't put a picture here as it is a very shoddy weld! Anyway, I've also finished the off-side lower door rubber channel with the same piece of metal which Stevie gave me. I'm pleased with the result. The only other smallish job I need to do is the channel for the front kick plate. I need to make two short sections up at either end. Then it's on to the load bed and buld head panel. That will take a bit of patience to get right. I'll weld in the top hat sections first. Also had a go at fitting my extended radio blanking plate. It's fitting not too bad. Apologies for the photos. There not very good.

Fiddling while Cab burns

Had a close shave the other night with the van. I was welding the underfloor and unbeknown to me was the fact that I had left an old piece of soft foam in the cab floor. It went up in a burst of flames and it was a right laugh trying to get it out. Anyways, it has some nasty stuff in it and it dripped all over the floor. It took me ages to clean it all up. No long lasting damage done though.

Instead of doing anything serious this weekend, I've fiddled with the radio blanking plate. I bought one off ebay knowing that it wouldn't fit as the aperture had been widened. I got to work on the short one and cut it in half and put an extension in. It's come up quite nicely. I've welded a few bolts on the other end as well which I can use to fix it to the dash board. In the meantime I've put some primer on it. Back to finishing the floor off tomorrow and then finish the wee jobs off around the sills etc. I'm waiting for some top hat sections for the load bed before I can get going on the next bit. I'll have a go at the bulk head first though and the short load bed sections as I don't need the top hat sections for that bit.