'95 LWB 150 minibus conversion

[MinorMatt]

Here is my passenger step :



And here is my drivers one which I (badly) welded last summer when I needed to sort it quickly - I will be replacing it properly very soon



Rotton wings



Rotton rear arches (this is the best one , the other is hidden behind a tree)



Rot along the rear windows



And finally a real bugger to repair... rust all up the A pillar and there is a BIG hole under that tape



The rear crossmember also needs welding before MoT time - I did one side 2 years ago, I did a patch on the front one last year and I need to repair the other side of the rear now.

Hopefully will all be fixed in the next few months

Oh yes there is also rust in most of the seams etc too! So yours is comparatively good

[Nadjenka]

Right, but you are skilled, you can do it! When you get round to start welding, could I come and watch how you do it? I hate when someone is watching me though... Mine is not that bad, but I have a strong feeling that mine window seals will need work too. It's all hidden behind that black painted stuff (I'm talking about back windows), but I can see that there is something going on. Will see when the windows fell out

Oh and that duct tape I was driving behind a Ford Courier this morning, silver coloured and from the distance I thought that he has similar paint job to mine - smooth on the top half and hammered at the bottom. Then I got closer at red light and he actually had three lines of silver duct tape nicely stuck on the bottom of his back door to cover rust I found it funny, of course that was before I found mine rust worm...

Wait I'm going to make some pictures of my new olive greeeeeeeen

[Nadjenka]

Rustoleum rustoleum, heeeere we go

This is how I prepared panels for painting before, I scrubbed down all bubbles, rusty bits, sanded it smooooooth and then primed





This is what my colour looked like whilst miging it to required shade. I wish I could get EXACTLY that pattern on the bonnet


And here it is on Lola




Yes I painted the handle too just to see what it would look like I am only half way through and just starting on the sides of the doors with brush... getting late, but I want to have the passenger side done. Also the colour is actually little bit darker than on pictures and I still think I am going to make it even more darker during secon coat... If only those small insects didn't try to sit on it all the time

[MinorMatt]

I dont think that would work I dont know when I am going to be doing it all.

Welding is all about practice. Join www.mig-welding.co.uk for lots of advice. If you can pay my expenses I could come up one eve and try and give you a lesson on how to do it and put some new metal in your van?

[Nadjenka]

I dont think that would work I dont know when I am going to be doing it all.

Welding is all about practice. Join http://www.mig-welding.co.uk for lots of advice. If you can pay my expenses I could come up one eve and try and give you a lesson on how to do it and put some new metal in your van?

That would work too I read loads of stuff on mig-welding, the theory should be all in my head, I am just scared of it and would prefer to see it in practise. If you could show me how to do it here, even better. I'll have to sort out some mig thought first as I haven't got any, but that shouldn't be a problem. Then I can fix her completely

Here she is now

[MinorMatt]

I have a MIG. I also have 2 others which arnt wonderful but I may be able to repair one of them

[Luke]

if your prepaired to learn MIG welding it really isnt that difficult
what i'd suggest is collect as much scrap sheet metal as you can to practice on 1st if you wernt so far away you could pop round to mine and watch me weld - yesterday i spent a few hours underneith a mates transit welding up the rear crossmember give me a wheel arch and a step over that anyday but i'm sure there would be someone local to you who'd offer the same
i was reading GBbikers wanted post about having his doors welded at transitmania and i thought it'd be cool if we could have a welding tent to for the experts to show the beginners like yourself the basics if somone would like to volenteer PM me or post in the transitmania section - we will have power there so all we'd need is a welder some gloves masks etc. i'm sure as a group we could get all the required bits there

[Nadjenka]

I have a MIG. I also have 2 others which arnt wonderful but I may be able to repair one of them

Wonderflul! That's settled then. Just let me know when it's good for you. Thanks Matt.

[Nadjenka]

if your prepaired to learn MIG welding it really isnt that difficult
what i'd suggest is collect as much scrap sheet metal as you can to practice on 1st if you wernt so far away you could pop round to mine and watch me weld - yesterday i spent a few hours underneith a mates transit welding up the rear crossmember give me a wheel arch and a step over that anyday but i'm sure there would be someone local to you who'd offer the same
i was reading GBbikers wanted post about having his doors welded at transitmania and i thought it'd be cool if we could have a welding tent to for the experts to show the beginners like yourself the basics if somone would like to volenteer PM me or post in the transitmania section - we will have power there so all we'd need is a welder some gloves masks etc. i'm sure as a group we could get all the required bits there

Yes Luke, shame you are so far. I know the theory now, I read the "how to"'s, had a long read on mig-welding too, it's just as I wrote before - I am a bit scared of it and would prefer to see how it's done it practice. As I said - my grandad is a welder, has been all his life. He travelled around Europe as a welder under the regime, he was that good (not sure if this means anything to you). I wanted to wait till I get home so he can help me and I would learn a lot from him. But situation has changed, I am not going to see him before September and those holes needs to be done.

Welding tent at Transitmania is good idea, is there enough space for it? Bear in mind - TRANSITmania, won't there be a huge demand for welding?

[MinorMatt]

I will go and see if I can sort out the "spare" welder then...

[Nadjenka]

Here she is during daylight. Or should I say - her newer half

It dried a bit brighter than I anticipated, but it's still just a first coat, so I will make it darker on the second one

[transit jono]

if your prepaired to learn MIG welding it really isnt that difficult
what i'd suggest is collect as much scrap sheet metal as you can to practice on 1st if you wernt so far away you could pop round to mine and watch me weld - yesterday i spent a few hours underneith a mates transit welding up the rear crossmember give me a wheel arch and a step over that anyday but i'm sure there would be someone local to you who'd offer the same
i was reading GBbikers wanted post about having his doors welded at transitmania and i thought it'd be cool if we could have a welding tent to for the experts to show the beginners like yourself the basics if somone would like to volenteer PM me or post in the transitmania section - we will have power there so all we'd need is a welder some gloves masks etc. i'm sure as a group we could get all the required bits there

NOW that's a proper KOOL idea.Just check the health and safety on this,otherwise a great idea may stop a few Transit's getting thrown away this year?

[Nadjenka]

NOW that's a proper KOOL idea.Just check the health and safety on this,otherwise a great idea may stop a few Transit's getting thrown away this year?

He shouldn't have a big problem with that if the owners of the place don't object (and if it isn't in breach of their insurance policy). From H&S he'll need fireproofed tent, not just those plastic ones, notice and officer for that.

Jono, how are you getting on?

[Nadjenka]

BTW I read about rustoleum in threads here, and I am unsure - what does "rubbing it" mean really? Dry cloth, or wet one, or drill buffer, or...? I'm confused

[MattBlackMinibus]

That would be using fine wet'n'dry paper to sand down the slightly bumpy finish of the paint (like an orange-peel).
I don't know what grade would be best for this. Maybe a 1200 or 1500.

Half a bucket of warm water with a dash of car wash in,
soak the paper, and get sanding - gently. Keep wetting the paper to wash the paint out of it.

It will need a good polishing afterwards with polishing compound I imagine.