HZ panelvan resto

[DuncanM]

So the rear tailgate opening.... Fun times on that one!! So I stripped it back and found about three previous rust repairs... all minor and done fine, but one area isn't "factory look" which will irritate me so I'm pondering redoing it... However, I'll just put it in etch for now and worry about it later... THe other ones were in the lower beaver/valence area and done pretty well, even if a little wobbly... (you can make them out in the picture in the etch primer)... Not a big deal to fix, but another little job...

Takes a LONG while to strip this section... lots of nooks and little areas to get into (the taillight sections being obvious).

So stripped...

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And in etch...

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Hoping to get the front section done by tomorrow, or Monday at latest...

[Valencia]

Duncan you are doing a great job
But when you’re finished any chance you can come and do my body work on my van
Im just lacking you’re skills with metal lol

[DuncanM]

Thanks Valencia... like all of us (who aren't qualified), it's simply trial and error over lots of years Always a good thing to remember - it's just metal - it can be repaired....

Anyway onto the front. Again, used the strip disc for the flat sections and the wire wheel on the grinder. Fairly straight-forward but a couple of points to be aware of. The main issue was that you need to be super careful around the windscreen trim clip points - they can burn out very quickly, so don't use a strip disc or wire wheel for that - use a wire wheel on a drill as it allows you to strip the paint away but leave the windscreen trim clip points untouched. The second is that the previous owner has replaced the cowl panel, not the plenum as that is original, no rust and untouched - so not sure why the plenum didn't rust but the cowl did but anyway... Front stripped:

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Then in etch primer....

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So the front done... one last door jamb and the lower rear quarters to go....

[Sandaro]

Hi Duncan. Great work. You mentioned that it is an aftermarket tailgate, just a heads up that quite a few have found the replica tailgate to be bowed out in the centre (air gap under), wondering whether you have trial fitted?

[DuncanM]

Thanks mate. Can you define what you mean by "air gap? You mean at the lower edge where the bottom of the tailgate meets the body of the van?? I just want to check now...

[Innuendo]

Imagine a bow (banana shape) in the rear inner panel of the tailgate inner lower edge. When the tailgate is closed, from the inside you can place your fingers/hand in the centre and get through to outside. Doesn't effect the outer skin shape just the sealing of the inner.

[HZSM50]

Looking fantastic. You’re doing a great job. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

[DuncanM]

Thanks Inneundo. I'll check it out!

[DuncanM]

So... onto the last door jamb. Forgot to take a pic of it stripped, but you get the drill now...

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So.... now onto doing the rear windows and filling them in... I'm pondering using panel bond, but when I check it out in more detail I'll make a call...

[DuncanM]

Very minor update this time.... Before I got into the rear quarters I forgot that I hadn't stripped the underside of the bonnet. So spent a couple of days doing that... so many high and low spots in it that it just takes a lot of time. I used paint stripper for starters, after masking up all the holes and areas around the upper and lower panel joins. That got rid of the primer and paint, but once again, the red oxide sticks on that metal more than crap on a rabbit's arse... So it was strip disc and wire wheel once more... So all stripped...

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And in etch primer

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