Windscreen aperture repair

[1958 harry]

Superb work!

[irishtransit]

that's some nice work ya got going on there.keep the pics coming

[Retrohowla]

Thanks guys i appreciate the comments, starting to flag a little, loads of interruptions today and found yet more rot on the nearside gutter, so ive been constructing a new gutter today, i have tried to take pics but with the rain today ive been all sheeted in and the darkness/camera flash has made it hard so please bear with the dodgy snaps.



Cutting out rotten gutter trough, needed to go right into the upper door shut area


New metal tacked into door shut


Welded up


New insert cut for pillar


Welded in, sorry its hard to make out


New gutter section tacked on


Welded up and cleaned back, top and bottom of new piece will be removed and replaced, hence the joins are only temporary


Again, hard to make out due to flash but thats the gutter section finished

[Muttley]

Damn good work being done there, you are too modest

[Retrohowla]

Thanks Muttley, its been a long slog so far, slowly learning a few tricks here and there, first time ive done anything thats on show/got to be smooth etc for seals to make on. Up till now its always been chassis sections etc that can be left with full welds etc so its been a learning curve to say the least.

[baconsdozen]

In some ways I wish you hadn't posted this.
I keep looking at a rust stain under the rubber on my Mk1 and I'm sure since you posted it's getting bigger.Your posting reminds me too of what horrors might be hiding underneath the rubber. I bought a new rubber and spare screen a long while ago but have manfully resisted doing anything since but every time I read this I get to thinking I should have a go.
I'm selling up and retiring so it wont be for a while before I start doing anything major,maybe I should avoid forums in the meanwhile!.
Keep up the good work.

[Retrohowla]

My advice would be to do it ASAP. I put it off and put it off and quite frankly it just made the job much harder to do. The rot has really had chance to set in and I'm paying the price.

[irishtransit]

again nice work

[Retrohowla]

Well it all got rained on again today. Then the wind whipped up and destroyed my tent so the last sections were a little rushed to say the least. It's now got a few coat of primer all the way around, hopefully it will be dry enough for some top coat tomorrow.

[DodgeRover]

You're lucky I was adjusting tappets in the sodding snow, (and as usual cursing number 3 exhaust for shear awkwardness) without a tent! I think the top end of my engine is cursed, I've never had it apart when it's not been either freezing cold or snowing....
Looking forwards to seeing yours finished.

[Retrohowla]

Well it's no concourse restoration that's for sure. As you can probably tell my van has what some might call a certain 'patina' about it. Pics to come soon, the last few sections were rushed due to weather but are good enough, got some distortion on the roof section as I foolishly rushed the welding, ah well it's water tight. As for working in the snow I feel your pain. I once did a gearbox swap roadside on my mk2 escort in 6 inches if snow, never again!

[Retrohowla]

Here are a few more pics of the progress
Chopped out some ore gutter and the whole in the roof


New roof piece cut


Welded in


Top of gutter and door shut area cut out


New metal taking shape

Welded in


New gutter metal taking shape



Its raining again im afraid, gutter welded still needs cleaning up


Pics are dodgy but thats the gutter top finished


Another roof section






Thank god the sun came out again, first coat of paint on


There we are done, obv needs a bloody good clean, fairy liquid smears galore

[1958 harry]

Fantastic work. From the pic you'd never know it was done!

[Retrohowla]

I'm lucky my van has a 'distressed' paint job in the first place means I can get away with getting overspray everywhere and it Doesn't look too out of place

[Neil]

quality