Woody's Woody

[Mark OD]

Only one word needed here………NICE

[gogsie]

I quite like that, reminds me of the southern comfort advert

[drw42]

Its been a while ... but finally got a bit more done, namely making the bandies fit. You may remember I had a bit of a drama because the side door would not open. My wife took one look (laughed) and said I should cut a bit out of the door. Obviously I just ignored her like you do. 6 months on I have just cut a bit out of the door and now I'm all smiles. A feller called Pete who works at Belgrave Body Repairs in Plymouth did it. I mentioned to some random punter about getting it done after I had booked it in and said it was in Valley Road. He immediately said is that Pete cos he knows his stuff? So it was nice to get a bit of confirmation confidence and I can vouch for his work now its done.
Here is the door open all the way.

And here is the door open 1/2 way so you can see the cut out and re-instatement.

Finally Joy of Joys, wheels on and cruzin.

Now the weather's a bit better and work has calmed down I have more wood to add (channels in the roof and side bars/running boards?) and 70's stylee porthole windows, though the idea of cutting holes in the side is filling me with dread!!!

Keeping the faith Woody

[mkvanman]

Looks Nice M8 what portholes are you putting in perspex with rubber or the old style Ali framed ones

[Doc]

That cutout door looks like a solution many could do with.
Nice work

[Bigharty]

Bloody love this van. Cool retro styling.

[I.D.S.]

If you think the outside is good,you should see the inside. Top work Woody welcome back

[drw42]

That cutout door looks like a solution many could do with.
Nice work

Cheers Doc ...was a bit anxious but there isn't a lot missing when the door is shut. I was a bit worried about increased road noise but I don't think it makes any considerable differnce, and probably even less once I carpet the door.

[drw42]

Looks Nice M8 what portholes are you putting in perspex with rubber or the old style Ali framed ones

Hello mate, got a couple of domed perspex jobs from Australia. They will be fitted with rubber. I replaced my caravan windows so reckon I have the capability...still a bit worrying though!!

[drw42]

Big thanks to Bighearty and I.D.S. for the continued support and enthusiasm for my misguided route down the dark side. Its been great to meet you and feel so welcomed into the fold. Guess I must owe you both a beer by now. Hope to meet up again soon. Cheers Woody

[feeenix14]

nice work on this, different but nice.

[the long one]

Seen this one today but was going the other way
Exeter street around 1155 couldn't get a good look

[drw42]

Were you in a grey one...with a big smile?

[drw42]

At last I have had a bit of time to get some more work done and weather to allow me to do it. Usually it rains every weekend or else I 'm not here so finishing off has dragged (if you ever finish!!).

With much trepidation I decided to get the protholes in. First you need to remove the strengthening strips over the panels. I had also put sound proofing over the panel so this had to come off too.

I cut along top and bottom with a cutting disc in a dremel. On the Dremel - I bought one years ago for various custom jobs and have used it extensively. It got really diss'd by a couple of blokes in the Scooter club I was in but I never had a problem with it (well the first one I had I burned out the brushes and contacted dremel to try to buy some replacements but they sent me a brand new updated machine free of charge instead. You can't argue with that service.


After you cut the strips you need to slice through the bonding (like sikaflex/silicon stuff) to release them.


I then decided where I wanted the top of the window to be and took a deep breath then drilled a hole.
Using the hole as a start point I then taped up and marked out the window i.e. drew around it. The rubber holding strip needs 7mm clearance so I reckoned the thickness of a marker pen should be enough.



I had read that you should cut a bit then tape it up to prevent the loose bit flapping around. I used a jigsaw with a metal blade (apparently a nibbler is better/easier) but you have to go with what you have got. You then need to file off the burr and perhaps (though I haven't yet) apply some paint to the wound.



Its too late now!!

Then came two hours of grunting and swearing trying to get the windows in. I thought this would be easy. I had done 5 on the caravan which was a real chore so I felt confident. However I finally had to accept that perhaps the hole was a bit too small so I ran the saw around again by one blade thickness and re-tried. As it happened I needed 2 blade thicknesses and the window pretty much popped in (which was a relief). The rubbers I used came from COH Baines in Tunbridge Wells. They have loads of types available and are really helpfull if you can get someone on the phone (however they have a minimum order of £10 and I think their postage rates are a bit cheeky). The rubbers are a two part strip. I soak the holding peice in boiling water for a while to make it more supple and use a liberal spray of silicon lubricant to help the windows along. Once the window is levered into place using a blunted and polished screw driver (which I "made" for the caravan fit) you then push the locking strip into the channel. Baines do supply a special tool for the job which I bought but could not work out how to use since the locking strip seemed to be too big to go through it thus the alternative home made tool. They did offer to give me a refund if I sent it back however. Finally windows are in place.

So that's it for now. I have still to replace the rubbers because I cut them for the smaller window hole and there is now a gap which I have filled for now with an offcut and I have yet to decide how to finish off inside. Also I think I might add another two so the passengers can see out, but that's a job for another day.

[drw42]

Another couple of little jobs for a rainy day. I fancied a pool ball gear knob. There are loads on ebay but none to fit the Caddy as they do not screw on. I had messaged a couple of bods but never got a reply so decide to go my own way. First you need to nick a pool ball from the pub (prfereably not one you are going back to or where you play regularly) or £1.31 on Ebay. I then drilled a hole in it using sucessively larger drill bits. Helps if you have a pillar drill. I though a bit of plumbers copper pipe would fit over the gear stick and provide the opportuntiy to secure it all together.



I then added a tapped hole and a grub screw and drilled into the grear stick to enable it to be located in place so it doesn't twist around or come off.

Then it was all down to refitting the gaiter which was minimal faff.

The other job was fitting a stainless steel ring bolt in the boot puller downer so I could fit a bell rope instead of the plastic flappy thing.

And here's the bell rope (still working on that nautical motif!!)