... And we're off!!

[maicoletta]

fyi, this is the third time Ive tried typing this post- i'm crap at getting the photos down to the right size, and have lost the post twice so far!

Anyway, back to the matter in hand....

Bessie has been in drt storage for the last 18 months or so, and have finally got around to starting the resurrection this weekend.

She's a 1980 white (dulux gloss finish, i believe) LWB, jumbo top, with single rear axle. Mechanically pretty sound- red 202, 3 speed manual. Got cracked exhaust manifold, badly needs a coolant flush, and control arm bushes need replacing. Rust too of course, in the passenger front wing and one of the barn doors, but I have sapres of both, so I can fix em both up, and choose the better one! But the main problem is the roof...

Someone obviously put a heap of work into her tn the past- nicely done cabinets, cupboards and wardrobe, neat little compartments in the rear doors. But damn the roof! There's a big fibreglass dome in it like an upside down bath, and a roofrack that surrounds it- the rack they chopped off the outside edge of the gutters, bolted this thing on, then bogged up all around it. Naturally, the paint cracked over the top of the bog, rain in, and hey presto- Rust!

I've pulled the dome off, then chopped out where i'm gonna put my poptop in (courtesy of Thrills, cheers bud!) (note- picked up some air shears from Aldi for about $15- they certainly won't last forever, but if they get me through this stage of my project, I'll be well happy avoiding the cutting discs, sparks, flames, fire extinguishers, sirens, etc).

I've also had to rip out some of the cupboards, 1) because some of it will be in the way of the poptop once in and 2) wifey's preggers with #2 (please be a boy, please be a boy), so I need to make room for a 4th seat so all of us can go on these family hols that I've got the beddy for in the first place!

So, I'll start posting when I can, with as many pics as poss.Feel free to ask anything, poke holes in what I'm doing, criticize,  advise, what ever sees fit.

Al

 

[maicoletta]

and some more...

[maicoletta]

no going back!

[Sammy]

scares me looking at the photo at the end!! good luck and may the force be with you!!

[maicoletta]

ha ha, thanks Sammy!

Once the poptop base is in place, i'll be using some 25mm square section to increase the rigidity, and allow extra bracing against the frame.

But yeah, cutting that out was a bit of a brown trouser moment   

Al

[rumax]

25mm... are you planning on swinging off the roof  ... and as for the cutting, I'm with you. I ALWAYS procrastinate until I can delay it no longer.

[maicoletta]

Swinging off the roof? Yeah, there's a possibility of the odd dirty weekend away! 

My engineer said specs were to brace around the cutout section with 25mm. I've seen that other folk here have just used the base or the popper as the bracing, but mine isn't continuous all the way round (not joined at the corners), plus isn't designed for the LWB, so I reckon going that bit further will defo help!
Al

[rumax]

Good call. As for the dirty weekend.. offroading or just dirt roads where you live....

[westy12]

G'day Al how's it going?
I'm in stkilda too u may have seen my van cruisin around with the green stripes? Would love to catch up and see ur project... I've been trying for years to get the rust cut out of mine with no luck!
Anyway give us a text on 0427104384 if u have time... Cheers