A super productive few days on the rear of the van over the weekend. The only bit that really needs filler is the weld for the new N/S corner repair (the other side got a complete corner):
O/S corner and rear bare metalled (I dragged the van into the yard to enjoy the sun, but I quickly got too warm). The corner had a slight dent on the bulge line which got fillered too:
N/S corner filler work complete. I’m definitely improving at the filler stage, this only took a few skims to get right (Wayne’s van in the background getting in on the action):
Dragged back into the workshop and all masked up:
And 2 coats of epoxy primer 🙂
Nice and smooth where the weld is:
I’ll need to revisit these areas though. The welds for the battery tray are showing as high spots (not sure how I missed these!). I think I’ll just need to grind them down and apply a skim of filler:
After skimming the whole panel with filler, blocking flat and applying high build primer I’ve managed to get a much better result. Still not perfect but it’ll do for my first panel! Got the engine lid primed too.
Master cylinder and regulator installed. All new kunifer brake lines made up and fitted with goodridge flexi hoses. And the back end is off the jig for good now!
There is a guest author writing the blog today, my ineffable wife.
Hey guys, I’m Max, Jim’s wife and seeing as I spent the day doing the majority of the work 😉 Jim asked me to write the blog this week.
So initially yesterday, Jim spent the day masking up the majority of the underside of the van ready to get the seam sealer out to make her water tight. Today I finished masking up the rest of the underside. The only thing that got me through laying on a cold, dirty workshop floor with a strategically placed torch, was spicy salami sticks and a great playlist! Check out David Ramirez and Nathaniel Rateliffe.
Once we got all the underside taped off after a looooong time, mostly due to me checking if I needed to do a certain section and making awesome geometric shapes to fit some particularly awkward metal, we began the seam sealing.
Thank fully Jim bought me a new special tool. An air compressed seam sealant gun. I felt like Linda Hamilton in The Terminator (without a mullet thankfully).
We used tiger seal and a Clarke pneumatic caulking gun. Once we got the pressure adjusted right, I began sealing while Jim hung back for about 10 mins so he could smooth it off. I managed to seal very quickly due to the brilliant gun and then helped smooth off the sealant with a finger dab into paint thinner, making sure it’s flat and evenly spread before peeling off the tape to leave a gorgeous line. You know that sunburn peeling feeling of relief? Yep, that!!!!!! I even went over some of Jim’s work, I must have got far too into it but the MOT guys that will look at the underside will completely appreciate the factory fresh look we achieved. We managed to get the cab floor completely done and the rest will be done by mid week next week.
That’s it for now from me, I need red wine and a lie down after spending nearly an hour in the bath scrubbing seam sealant off my hands. GLAMOUR.
I’ve stripped down all of the running gear. Thankfully most of it is in good nick. I’ll need a new drag link, and one ball joint, and I’ll renew all the rubber boots as they’ve seen better days and the bolts.
Ready to go off to the shot blasters:
All blasted and looking like new (shot blasting is such a time saver!)
And back down the workshop for a coat of zinc primer. Very Satisfying!
Fitting the heating ‘y piece’ to Iris.
This piece is a right pain to fit so I thought it worth sharing how I went about it as it may help others trying to do the same job.
