Hello All,
Well my basic stats are, 35yrs old Aussie, NO welding experience, no welder atm. Desperate to begin.
I own a 1976 Bedford Van (i believe in the UK they are Vauxhall's or something).
Its full of rust. And NOW thanks to my trusting nature, its also partially cut up.
Now i realise 99% of people would scrap her and start with something better, and probablly save alooot of money doing so. The other 1% are criminally insane
hahaha
BUT it is my DREAM car...ever since i got my licence some 19yrs ago (sad i know).
ANYWAY...shes been thru alot. I brought her covered in primer and looking almost mint, a few holes could be seen around the roof near front doors, BUT i had a mate who's dad said it was less than a few hours of work. UNTIL he sanded it back....and from there...it escelated as u can imagine
Anyway...a poker friend of mine said he could do it for a Grand + Materials..so i said "YES" and well, once he started he said "Best do the brakes and bushes etc first..." SO i was refered personally to a guy who was "A top Bloke" who would do this all for me.....and he left the now partly sanded, and mostly primed windowless Van out in the rain for 3mnths (i tried to get her back etc...but well, it got ugly)....Turned out he couldnt "Face me" as he thought 2 of the custom mags had been "Stolen" instead of asking/telling me, to which i could have said "NO, i have them here, i had to take them off so it would fit on the car trailor!"
Soooo i get the old girl home, pay a professional $3.5K to do all the brakes etc...etc.. also sandblasted the crossmember and painted everything related. Expensive ..YES, done? DAMN RIGHT!
Now its in the shed and my "Poker buddy" begins rust repairs, and most importantly the "Steel Flares/Body Kit" Fabrication....
Now i dont know anything at that stage, and think..its slow..but its getting done....Until he suddenly suffers from a "Lung problem". He bails....i recoup some money but its now stretched this "weekend project" to well over 2yrs in total.
I find out the "Metal" he was using is "galvanised steel" and a BIG NO NO (he charged me $50 for a few sheets..hence why i dont believe the lung story so much)..
But before he had quit the job, he had cut out the arches on both rear wheel wells...and "spot welded" using Oxy the beginings of the first sides steel flares..
Anyway... Now stuck..I try a new option.."Getting a sponsor"...I get serious interest, they request a quote, i find the BEST company i can (that way..i can negotiate with the sponsor)...Only for them to turn out to be shady...BUT the quote is legit and its $15'000 for the Rust repairs + Flare/BodyKit Fabrication. Money i dont, and wont have..
So ive decided its all a test....I need to do this myself....So here i am, after mnths and mnths of searching, asking, being told, being re-told, being un-told, researching,changing my mind,finding different research...and being MORE lost than on day 1.
I feel jinxed, i booked a welding course, and paid for it..3 days before it starts "Were sorry, its actually full!" i go to buy a Mig welder "NOPE you dont want any of these!" I cant catch a break.
Im here to get direct str8 answers. preferably helpfull
Ohh and im passionate about this project, as u can tell
Thanks,
Kirk.
Attached are a few pics of as it is currently (other side has nothing done except arch cut out). Also added a pic of condition i bought it in (the good pic lol) AND how i found her at the "Mechanics" workshop, after 3 mnths outside in Aussie winter).
Well my basic stats are, 35yrs old Aussie, NO welding experience, no welder atm. Desperate to begin.
I own a 1976 Bedford Van (i believe in the UK they are Vauxhall's or something).
Its full of rust. And NOW thanks to my trusting nature, its also partially cut up.
Now i realise 99% of people would scrap her and start with something better, and probablly save alooot of money doing so. The other 1% are criminally insane
hahahaBUT it is my DREAM car...ever since i got my licence some 19yrs ago (sad i know).
ANYWAY...shes been thru alot. I brought her covered in primer and looking almost mint, a few holes could be seen around the roof near front doors, BUT i had a mate who's dad said it was less than a few hours of work. UNTIL he sanded it back....and from there...it escelated as u can imagine
Anyway...a poker friend of mine said he could do it for a Grand + Materials..so i said "YES" and well, once he started he said "Best do the brakes and bushes etc first..." SO i was refered personally to a guy who was "A top Bloke" who would do this all for me.....and he left the now partly sanded, and mostly primed windowless Van out in the rain for 3mnths (i tried to get her back etc...but well, it got ugly)....Turned out he couldnt "Face me" as he thought 2 of the custom mags had been "Stolen" instead of asking/telling me, to which i could have said "NO, i have them here, i had to take them off so it would fit on the car trailor!"
Soooo i get the old girl home, pay a professional $3.5K to do all the brakes etc...etc.. also sandblasted the crossmember and painted everything related. Expensive ..YES, done? DAMN RIGHT!
Now its in the shed and my "Poker buddy" begins rust repairs, and most importantly the "Steel Flares/Body Kit" Fabrication....
Now i dont know anything at that stage, and think..its slow..but its getting done....Until he suddenly suffers from a "Lung problem". He bails....i recoup some money but its now stretched this "weekend project" to well over 2yrs in total.
I find out the "Metal" he was using is "galvanised steel" and a BIG NO NO (he charged me $50 for a few sheets..hence why i dont believe the lung story so much)..
But before he had quit the job, he had cut out the arches on both rear wheel wells...and "spot welded" using Oxy the beginings of the first sides steel flares..
Anyway... Now stuck..I try a new option.."Getting a sponsor"...I get serious interest, they request a quote, i find the BEST company i can (that way..i can negotiate with the sponsor)...Only for them to turn out to be shady...BUT the quote is legit and its $15'000 for the Rust repairs + Flare/BodyKit Fabrication. Money i dont, and wont have..
So ive decided its all a test....I need to do this myself....So here i am, after mnths and mnths of searching, asking, being told, being re-told, being un-told, researching,changing my mind,finding different research...and being MORE lost than on day 1.
I feel jinxed, i booked a welding course, and paid for it..3 days before it starts "Were sorry, its actually full!" i go to buy a Mig welder "NOPE you dont want any of these!" I cant catch a break.
Im here to get direct str8 answers. preferably helpfull
Ohh and im passionate about this project, as u can tell
Thanks,
Kirk.
Attached are a few pics of as it is currently (other side has nothing done except arch cut out). Also added a pic of condition i bought it in (the good pic lol) AND how i found her at the "Mechanics" workshop, after 3 mnths outside in Aussie winter).
hahaha
