1st time transit owner - mk5 conversion

[Goodomens]

o, I have a week off, its cold,wet and very windy. Even sitting in the van is like a child’s amusement ride. Now quite what I had planned for the week of fun, but we keep moving. Have managed to get a few little things done inside as its still dry there for the time anyhow.

Managed to cover one of the side supports at the start of the cab section with carpet. Have been meaning to tackle the cab section before now, but as I have to get some more welding done to the wheel arches, I am having to hold off on this till I get a Mig welder to work with. So, here is what the support looks like with the carpet on…

Was out in the van last weekend – am actually managing to use it as a camper despite the wee things needing done to it – and am starting to notice the little things that would just make it better. Like plugging up the holes in the floor during the windy days As I have not worked on the cab yet, there are loads of genuine holes for the various seat configurations that are open to the outside world that I have had to temporarily plug up to stop natural air conditioning work.

Appart from that, I did notice that when the table is not in use, a small resting place for coffee cups in the back left hand side would be perfect. So, I set about making said bonus item – as I would be inside the van working on most of it.

Marked out where is should go, cut something in a shapely manner and started preparing it with varnish and an iron on wood edging strip.



My aim was to resolve the rust spots on the front window frames, but if the weather holds out like this, then I would be best spending my time cleaning the interior of the cab as we never got round to that part.

More later, weather permitting.

[mr2swzo]

This looks great! I'm normally the 1st to point out bad taste but hey, this is coming on nice! Good work.

[Goodomens]

This looks great! I'm normally the 1st to point out bad taste but hey, this is coming on nice! Good work.

Does that mean that I have bad taste and you finally realised that you actually have it also? But thanks all the same...

[Goodomens]

And so, on the merry-go-round spins! Have some more time free so can post more, but not much to show.

Been working on the exterior again, on the front doors to be specific. Both doors started to rust in the same place between the winding and quarter windows at the base of each window. Cleaned the rust, filled the cracks and primed but ended up with this.




Had cleaned and primed this twice over the last few weeks and it came back. Thought I had just done a bad job the first time, but not so it seems. Decided to pull the interior panel off and have a look inside the frame and found this.


Looks like I will have to take the frame off the inside and have a go at cleaning the rust from the inside out.

Also managed to have a chance to remove the back doors to have a look at the bottom hinge on the passenger side. Forgot to take a picture of the mess the body mounting but here is what I had to do to the inside to make sure the mounting was strong enough for the time being.

The two square holes had become one diagonal slot. More rust!

[noah]

your doing well

[nila]

looking good as for the crack near the window had that on both of my vans ,first one did the same as you removed rust filled skimmed and spray over only to return a few weeks later , on the van i have now removed rust and run a weld down it that should sort it only time will tell .keep up the good work.

[mr2swzo]

This looks great! I'm normally the 1st to point out bad taste but hey, this is coming on nice! Good work.

Does that mean that I have bad taste and you finally realised that you actually have it also? But thanks all the same...

It means that, i've seen aload of shoddy jobs. But yours is an exception to the rule. It's a very nice build. Nice and factory looking exterior as they should be.

[Goodomens]

looking good as for the crack near the window had that on both of my vans ,first one did the same as you removed rust filled skimmed and spray over only to return a few weeks later , on the van i have now removed rust and run a weld down it that should sort it only time will tell .keep up the good work.

Thanks. The welding idea will be good to find out for sure if it works. As I don't have a welder yet, I have opted for cleaning the inside rust as best as I can reach, slapping on the red oxide and a stiff coat of fiberglass resin. Will have to clean up the filler again and let it rest to see. Fingers crossed.

[Goodomens]

Managed to get a bit more in yesterday with the good weather. Shame it turned sour in Glasgow today - especially for the west end festival.

Finally got inside the passenger door and had a proper look at the crack and found rust. Have cleaned it up as best I can reach, slapped on some red oxide and applied a generous coat of fiberglass resin to see if that holds it solid. Need to redo the outside now and leave it for a few days to see if it holds.


As the weather was nice for a day, took the chance to properly attack some of the body rust. Worked on this for about 4 hrs and still can't move my right elbow today!





As I haven't decided what to do with the exterior colour, thought I'd play a bit with primer and see what it looked like.



Van is sick again Not the nicest shade of red I have seen, but am starting to think more now. Is this the shape of things to come.

Incidentally, is there a favourite colour of transit out there? Just wondering as I will paint it, just don't know what colour to do yet.

Am seriously swayed by the rustoleum and the roller idea. Saves me renting a compressor and gun for the weekend and rushing. Not to mention worrying about my parent's neighbours' cars.

Lastly, bought one of these from Rien

and fitted it eventually after the best part of a blond day thinking it wasn't right.

Now takes pride of place in the van...


Just makes me think of how much more I have to do...
insulate the cab floor
recover it
cover the cab seats
line the cab interior
finish the side door step cover
finish the rust treatment
new front wheel arches to add
rear door lower hinge mountings to repair
full respray
underneath to clean up and fully waxoil
and the list goes on and on.

Ayhows, thanks for reading.

[mr2swzo]

I'd stick with clean white. Most body shops will give it a dust over for £200+ which willl be more than worth it considering the effort your putting in. Plus if done right when you come to sell you will get a generous sum of money when the time comes. If done with a roller it may look as bad as nearly all the roller jobs i've seen. It's worth doing right and a compressor and gun are best albeit a professional job. Maybe add some tasteful decal for some colour.