Yorkshire Van restoration

Restoration projects and Austin related chat in here please
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

I've now completed the first gutter, the second should be easier as the curve is not needed.
Attachments
I chose to fabricate the bend because I didn't want to cut notched in it but when I made the first fold, I finished up with a curve which I could not get out without cutting notcheds along its length.
I chose to fabricate the bend because I didn't want to cut notched in it but when I made the first fold, I finished up with a curve which I could not get out without cutting notcheds along its length.
A pillar gutter 2 - Copy.JPG (41.34 KiB) Viewed 697 times
Folding the rain channel profile.
Folding the rain channel profile.
A pillar gutter 3 - Copy.JPG (40.89 KiB) Viewed 697 times
Welded in place just awaiting grinding flat.
Welded in place just awaiting grinding flat.
A pillar gutter 4 - Copy.JPG (38.42 KiB) Viewed 697 times
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David Swain
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Location: Suffolk

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by David Swain »

Fantastic work as usual, well done! :thumbs:
David Swain. Member No. A1743
Contact for 'The Suffolk Group'.
Contact Email suffolk@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

A30 van 55 'R.G. Swain', A35 4 Door 59 'Little Gem', A35 2 Door 59 'The Rev' '+1'
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A35revisited
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Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

I was being unduly optomistic when, in my last post, I said the other side should be easier. When I removed the old gutter, it took with it a substantial amount of A pillar with it.
A pillar os 1 - Copy.JPG
A pillar os 1 - Copy.JPG (39.51 KiB) Viewed 662 times
Nothing for it but to cut out the remaining metal and start again.
A pillar os 2 - Copy.JPG
A pillar os 2 - Copy.JPG (39.51 KiB) Viewed 662 times
Opening the innards of the A pillar allowed them to be cleaned up and treated with Hydrate 80 and zinc primer.
A pillar os 3 - Copy.JPG
A pillar os 3 - Copy.JPG (38.4 KiB) Viewed 662 times
I made up two pieces in much the same way as I had for the the near side gutter but without the actual gutter part to replace the metal which had been cut out and welded them into place.
A pillar os 4 - Copy.JPG
A pillar os 4 - Copy.JPG (36.81 KiB) Viewed 662 times
I now have a sound A pillar onto which I shall plug weld a new gutter.
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

There's been lots of boring patching jobs this week. I don't see why I should suffer alone so here are more pics:
I completed the off-side A pillar gutter and turned my attention to the windscreen surround. The top rail had become detached from the side-rail so, first I tacked it together as best I could.
Screen surround 1 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 1 - Copy.JPG (30.81 KiB) Viewed 636 times
Then I added in a half inch plate over the joint, welded to stronger material.
Screen surround 2 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 2 - Copy.JPG (34.13 KiB) Viewed 636 times
The flange is tatty all round so I started in the easier bits. Here, I replaced a rotted out inner skin section of the bottom near side corner.
Screen surround 3 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 3 - Copy.JPG (32.46 KiB) Viewed 636 times
The off side was worse, both skins has rotted.
Screen surround 4 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 4 - Copy.JPG (27.49 KiB) Viewed 636 times
I grafted bits in both inside and out
Screen surround 5 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 5 - Copy.JPG (26.17 KiB) Viewed 636 times
The two skins had de-laminated leaving significant gaps so I clamped them and edge-welded them together.
At this stage, it looks truly horrible but I am trying to convince myself that when ground down and fettled up a bit, it will be quite presentable.
So much for the easy bits. I am now retiring to a darkened room for a lie down to prepare for the top flange.........Advice will be most welcome!
Screen surround 7 - Copy.JPG
Screen surround 7 - Copy.JPG (34.02 KiB) Viewed 636 times
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Neil Evans
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Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by Neil Evans »

A35revisited wrote:The top rail had become detached from the side-rail
They were never properly welded, often only the paint holding them together...
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tonyg
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 11:56 pm
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by tonyg »

My van was very bad in that area as well, with both the outer and inner windscreen surround rotted. The A30 windscreen surround is the same as the van but they tend to be very sound on the saloons but rot on the vans. What I did was to find someone who was breaking an A30 saloon and cut out the required sections and let them in as required
Attachments
windscreen3.jpg
windscreen3.jpg (163.42 KiB) Viewed 599 times
windscreen2.jpg
windscreen2.jpg (182.22 KiB) Viewed 599 times
windsreen1.jpg
windsreen1.jpg (207.12 KiB) Viewed 599 times
Paulc
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Location: London

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by Paulc »

I have this piece if you are interested, just about 4" of gutter missing.
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IMG_3346.JPG
IMG_3346.JPG (103.41 KiB) Viewed 582 times
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

That would be great, thanks. I just found that the roof is perforated behind the gutter so that will solve two problems.
pls pm address and price.
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A35revisited
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Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

p.s. That for a van or car? I presume the gutter is the same but the roof line differs though that should not be a problem.
Paulc
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Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by Paulc »

Came off a van, I did pm you the other day!! :whistle:
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

PaulC's offer of the windscreen top panel was a life-saver. Once I started to prepare the top gutter, I found that the roof had perforations just above it along what appears to be a seam and the only solution would be to cut out part of the roof as well. Just awaiting the call to make the 400 mile round trip to collect it. The things we do for our Ausins!
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

This was the most nerve-wracking job to date. Paul C's section arrived safely and was perfect for the job. Thanks Paul.
Windscreen 1 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 1 - Copy.JPG (36.67 KiB) Viewed 505 times
First job was to carefully split the body panel from the top rail.
Windscreen 2 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 2 - Copy.JPG (38.78 KiB) Viewed 505 times
Then I cut the panel to the shape I wanted and grafted in the missing four inches of gutter. The thick top layer of paint was also removed.
Windscreen 3 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 3 - Copy.JPG (35.46 KiB) Viewed 505 times
The old gutter was cut out to allow the new panel to be marked on the van.
Windscreen 4 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 4 - Copy.JPG (35.93 KiB) Viewed 505 times
No going back now, I'm fully committed.
Windscreen 5 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 5 - Copy.JPG (34.53 KiB) Viewed 505 times
The panel tacked into place.
Windscreen 6 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 6 - Copy.JPG (35.27 KiB) Viewed 505 times
Finally the new top rail clamped in place ready to be welded in.
Windscreen 7 - Copy.JPG
Windscreen 7 - Copy.JPG (37.28 KiB) Viewed 505 times
In order to help offset the effects of my less than skillful welding. I first tacked a strip along the edge giving me something to weld into and reducing the expected distortion. Overall, the shape worked out surprisingly well and I'm pleased with the result.
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A35revisited
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Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

Just a few incomplete jobs to report today. First up is the rotten front ns wheelarch.
First the corrosion is cut out, back to solid metal.
Wheelarch nsf 1 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch nsf 1 - Copy.JPG (33.41 KiB) Viewed 411 times
Some corrosion in this panel - no idea what it's called - but rather than cut it out, I chose to wire brush it using the angle grinder and treat with Hydrate 80.
Wheelarch nsf 2 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch nsf 2 - Copy.JPG (37.31 KiB) Viewed 411 times
The bottom of the wheelarch cut back to good metal, exposing the new floor pan fitted oh so long ago!
Wheelarch nsf 3 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch nsf 3 - Copy.JPG (36.33 KiB) Viewed 411 times
A large spreader plate plug welded on, much larger than the affected area.
Wheelarch nsf 4 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch nsf 4 - Copy.JPG (36.3 KiB) Viewed 411 times
The wheelarch was plated up and sprayed in primer, now just awaiting the arrival of the Tiger Seal.
Wheelarch nsf 5 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch nsf 5 - Copy.JPG (30.52 KiB) Viewed 411 times
The nearside sill was originally covered by a home-made cloaking sill which I had removed previously leaving only a strip of original sill.
Inner sill ns 1 - Copy.JPG
Inner sill ns 1 - Copy.JPG (34.59 KiB) Viewed 411 times
My recent investment in a 6mm spot removing drill paid a handsome dividend, the inner and outer sills being separated with no damage to the inner.
Inner sill ns 2 - Copy.JPG
Inner sill ns 2 - Copy.JPG (33.76 KiB) Viewed 411 times
Just a coat of primer to prevent rust and to make me feel good as the @old@ van slowly becomes covered in primer, highlighting my progress.
Inner sill ns 3 - Copy.JPG
Inner sill ns 3 - Copy.JPG (31.17 KiB) Viewed 411 times
On inspecting the, now open rear end of the sill I identified two layers of panel not attached to anything. I welded on a patch fastening the first skin to the inner sill then another on top fastening the second to the patch and through that to the inner sill.
Inner sill ns 4 - Copy.JPG
Inner sill ns 4 - Copy.JPG (29.58 KiB) Viewed 411 times
Whilst I await Management's approval of the cost of a new sill, I went back to a job I have been avoiding for months. The rear wheelarches have corroded where the rubber seal fitted. Using my trusty spot removal drill to remove what was left of the strip designed to hold the now missing rubber, exposed a rather frilly gap between wheelarch and body. Much energetic use of the wire wheel in the angle grinder and liberal application of Hydrate 80 got me back to good metal then, using a length of 2"x1/2" angle made a trimmer piece which fitted snugly.
Wheelarch trimmer os 1 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch trimmer os 1 - Copy.JPG (35.56 KiB) Viewed 411 times
This was then drilled for welding and primed.
Wheelarch trimmer os 2 - Copy.JPG
Wheelarch trimmer os 2 - Copy.JPG (38.7 KiB) Viewed 411 times
The story ends here as, through all the angle grinding at full stretch, lying on my back, on cold concrete, something went in my back so it will be a few days before I resume activities. I am, dear reader, bearing my pain manfully (personfully?) and hope to be back on the job, so to speak, quite soon.
Dave Clark
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Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by Dave Clark »

I thought I had a rusty van when I started out but this is incredible.
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A35revisited
Posts: 532
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
Location: Huddersfield

Re: Yorkshire Van restoration

Post by A35revisited »

Only good panel was the bonnet lid!
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