Van Restoration/Modification Project

[BigDawgV8]

Hi All,

Welcome to my new van restoration post.

Here is the ad that started it all;- http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... 3&start=15

And here is the van as it arrived. The roof had to be tied down due to it lifting off coming down the motorway!! [frame][/frame]

BTW - that is Scottie the delivery guy. He is very good and highly recommended (based in Reading but travels around the country!). PM me if you would like his number.[frame][/frame]

[BigDawgV8]

The strip down didn't take long as there wasn't a lot keeping it together! [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[BigDawgV8]

Another car was cannabalised for it's back axle.

Anyone care to guess what this is from????????????[frame][/frame]

PS ;- ignore the scrap in the pic!

[mmjosh]

what engine and other equipment are you putting in it

[BigDawgV8]

what engine and other equipment are you putting in it

Still undecided at the mo. Plenty of time to decide though!

I'm going to concentrate on the bodywork stuff first and consider my options.

HOWEVER, the front cross-member will be modded for a Zetec or similar install and the body will be seam welded and strengthened where necessary as I go.

[BigDawgV8]

My original idea for this van was to build it onto a more modern floor-pan ie. Subaru. and save myself a fair bit of money buying floors etc.
Sadly, increasingly strict red-tape has made this idea almost impossible so I decided to save myself a whole load of grief and buy another, far more viable base vehicle.
Never fear, the useable parts of the van have either been sold, to keep other vehicles on the road or kept safe for use on this, my new Mog. You may recognise it from the Classifieds a few weeks ago.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[BigDawgV8]

There is very little rust. The floor has been patched but the welding is very good!
The chassis is amazingly sound and looks like new inside the front legs.
The roll bar could be useful, once I've tidied it up a little.

It has seen quite a bit of action in the past.
The previous keeper took it down the drag-strip with a super-charged A-Series
and Capri back axle.
All the holes in the bulk-head and scuttle (even the wiper spindles) have been blanked off with rivets and alloy plates so it obviously wasn't road legal.Plus, the engine bay floor has been drilled for a couple of different engines. A-series and possibly Fiat Twin-Cam?
The front brakes are Marina and the suspension seems to have been re-built recently with new pins and bushes (many of which have sadly perished). Notice the bump-stops full of holes!

After a few hours we have this, ready for cab/chassis separation.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[BigDawgV8]

Work can be useful sometimes! We have a small sand/bead blaster which I made good use of during the tea breaks.[frame][/frame]
A quick coat of rust stuff ready for primer.
BTW - The non-standard bits are for the Subaru back axle.