Yorkshire Van restoration
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
I've now completed the first gutter, the second should be easier as the curve is not needed.
- Attachments
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- 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 698 times
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- Folding the rain channel profile.
- A pillar gutter 3 - Copy.JPG (40.89 KiB) Viewed 698 times
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- Welded in place just awaiting grinding flat.
- A pillar gutter 4 - Copy.JPG (38.42 KiB) Viewed 698 times
- David Swain
- Posts: 3707
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:08 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
Fantastic work as usual, well done!
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'
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'
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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.
Nothing for it but to cut out the remaining metal and start again. Opening the innards of the A pillar allowed them to be cleaned up and treated with Hydrate 80 and zinc primer. 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. I now have a sound A pillar onto which I shall plug weld a new gutter.- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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. Then I added in a half inch plate over the joint, welded to stronger material. 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. The off side was worse, both skins has rotted. I grafted bits in both inside and out 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!
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. Then I added in a half inch plate over the joint, welded to stronger material. 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. The off side was worse, both skins has rotted. I grafted bits in both inside and out 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!
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
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Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
They were never properly welded, often only the paint holding them together...A35revisited wrote:The top rail had become detached from the side-rail
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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
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- windscreen3.jpg (163.42 KiB) Viewed 600 times
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- windscreen2.jpg (182.22 KiB) Viewed 600 times
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- windsreen1.jpg (207.12 KiB) Viewed 600 times
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
I have this piece if you are interested, just about 4" of gutter missing.
- Attachments
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- IMG_3346.JPG (103.41 KiB) Viewed 583 times
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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.
pls pm address and price.
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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.
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
Came off a van, I did pm you the other day!!
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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!
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
This was the most nerve-wracking job to date. Paul C's section arrived safely and was perfect for the job. Thanks Paul.
First job was to carefully split the body panel from the top rail.
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.
The old gutter was cut out to allow the new panel to be marked on the van.
No going back now, I'm fully committed.
The panel tacked into place.
Finally the new top rail clamped in place ready to be welded in.
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.- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
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. 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. The bottom of the wheelarch cut back to good metal, exposing the new floor pan fitted oh so long ago! A large spreader plate plug welded on, much larger than the affected area. The wheelarch was plated up and sprayed in primer, now just awaiting the arrival of the Tiger Seal. The nearside sill was originally covered by a home-made cloaking sill which I had removed previously leaving only a strip of original sill. 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. 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. 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. 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. This was then drilled for welding and primed. 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.
First the corrosion is cut out, back to solid metal. 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. The bottom of the wheelarch cut back to good metal, exposing the new floor pan fitted oh so long ago! A large spreader plate plug welded on, much larger than the affected area. The wheelarch was plated up and sprayed in primer, now just awaiting the arrival of the Tiger Seal. The nearside sill was originally covered by a home-made cloaking sill which I had removed previously leaving only a strip of original sill. 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. 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. 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. 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. This was then drilled for welding and primed. 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.
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- Posts: 5896
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:00 pm
- Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
I thought I had a rusty van when I started out but this is incredible.
- A35revisited
- Posts: 532
- Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:52 pm
- Location: Huddersfield
Re: Yorkshire Van restoration
Only good panel was the bonnet lid!