Bo-man
Boise
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Joined: 01/11/2011
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I admire you for taking on such a large project. Hope it turns out better than you think, keep up the good work...
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Kevbarlas
Scotland
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Joined: 07/05/2010
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I havent actually done anythign to the van this weekend but, i did buy the donor vehicle for it.
Check it out, 1994 LS400 with all the goodies. 107,000 miles which isnt much on this V8. The cars good but it has a bit of slight damage to the front drivers side and a bit of a crack in the windshield. The idea is i will drive it until i need the engine so i can get used to the power and see if there is any niggles with the engine.
Heres the damage, apparantly during the winter the guy couldnt get it up a hill so he left it at the bottom and someone hit it and drove off with out leaving detail. Its not bad, just need to bolt the bumper back in place. It does have a crack in the windshield though, which i hope wont get worse.
And the reason i bought it.
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Isn't that a rather more powerfull engine than orginally came with the Camper van?
_________________________________________________________
2008 F-250 CrewCab 5.4L,
2004 21' Forest River Surveyor
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Kevbarlas
Scotland
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Joined: 07/05/2010
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yeah, 202bhp more than the standard 48bhp, so 250bhp all in.
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Silber Igel
Texas
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Joined: 09/18/2010
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I've got to stay tuned to this thread!!!! This is gonna be interesting!!! Keeping the Lexus FWD??? are we???
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Escargot
California
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Joined: 10/05/2009
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Tvov wrote:Whew! I'm tired just reading that post, keep going!
X2 !!
Great work! Yes, keep going. I am in awe!
New to me as of May 2013 (WOOT!!):
2006 Pleasure Way Plateau TS, MBE Sprinter
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Anything new?
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Silber Igel
Texas
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I think its time for an update.... Kevin... are you able to respond???
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Tvov
CT
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Yes! It has been awhile.
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Kevbarlas
Scotland
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sorry its been a while
August 2011
Its been a very long time since my last update. I have had a busy past 2 months and that has meant not a lot has been happening with the van. First thing I done was get engaged to my beautiful fiance, which meant working more to get a bit extra cash. I then also had a holiday for 2 weeks which meant working even more to get more cash. In the mean time i have scrapped my Fiat Punto. I would need to have spent about £200 getting it through its next MOT so it wasnt really economically sound. I bought it for £70 and managed to get £190 for it from the scrappy. Im now using the Lexus as my daily driver and my pocket is feeling it. £60 a week in petrol just to go to work and back and a couple of other trips is not fun. Driving it with one silencer and side pipes does make up for it though. The sound is amazing, thats probably why im going through so much petrol. So if you afre in Edinburgh and see a silver ls400 being driven loud and hard you know its me.
So, back to the van. The last time i wrote i had just finished doing the side and rear of the upper channels. I now have the front to do. Its been a little bit of a challenge doing this part. Its hard to see in the photos but the part i need to re-create curves down slightly and to the back. I started on the nearside corner last weekend.
The way i went about making the panel wasnt the best. I took a while thinking about it and decided to break the panel down into its parts and weld it all back together instead of trying to form the panel before hand. The welding looks very messy here but eh, dont worry about that, im good with the angle grinder  .
I left it like that and went home. I had grinded it but I wasnt really too happy with how i had approched it. This weekend i decided that I really should see if i can form the panel instead of welding a lot of strips together.
I put a clamp onto one of the wheel drums then stuck it in the vice to act as a form.
I traced around my templatre and cut it out.
Then hammering over the brake drum i started to form a lip.
I forgot to take a photo of the panel on its own but i felt a lot happier with it. Ive tacked it in place for now.
I then repeated the process twice to get the majority of the front done
I started on the offside corner, the rust has been cut out.
I then made a template and cut out the inner panel repair first and tacked it in.
By this time it was 5:15pm and as luck would have it, It was also the time i ran out of mig wire, 15 mins after machine-mart closed. I was a bit miffed as it meant i couldnt get more done so i decided to wash the Lexus. The good thing is i will be back at the garage a lot more now as im taking a break from extra work to get back into the swing of things.
Another thing that im having to do is sell the Consul. I really really really dont want to but im finding it harder and harder to find the time to fix it and drive it like it deserves. The past few months i havent done much to it at all and its starting to resemble more of a statue than a car. I could also actually do with the money. I want to buy a TIG welder and also a cheap run around so im not spending so much on petrol. If anyones interested in the Consul then you can PM me.
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