- Thread starter malcolm
- Start date
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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- 9,679
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- Bedford UK
It's OK - got a new chassis ready to go on. Someone at Renault decided that expanding foam would be an ideal way to seal some holes exposed to the rear wheels. The makers of the new chassis have a different philosophy so the new one should do me until I'm well past 90 years old.
But I do have some restoration creep. The original intention was just to unbolt the old chassis and bolt a new one on. But this van has some really rare bits that I would like to preserve. The van was originally supplied to the Brittish Embassy in Cambodia and has the full set of dirty road and rough road kit. It's got every other accessory available too. So shot blasting cabinet is out from the shed.
But I do have some restoration creep. The original intention was just to unbolt the old chassis and bolt a new one on. But this van has some really rare bits that I would like to preserve. The van was originally supplied to the Brittish Embassy in Cambodia and has the full set of dirty road and rough road kit. It's got every other accessory available too. So shot blasting cabinet is out from the shed.
Matchless
I started with nothing, still have most of it left
- Messages
- 2,697
- Location
- Essex UK
When I were a lad I did Pdi's on them, worked at a Chrysler / Simca / Commer dealer in Markhouse Rd E17 until I became self employed at 18, I used to rebuild the gearboxes in them at home on the kitchen table,
Parm
Respect The Sound System
- Messages
- 17,900
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- Towcester
You know it makes sense
The_Yellow_Ardvark
https://www.death-clock.org/
- Messages
- 19,777
- Location
- Going Away.
Mind and body active, got to good for you in the long run.
Keep us all updated on the progress.
Edward Teach
pre-moderated
- Messages
- 997
- Location
- South West England
Is there an XK in the background ??
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
- Messages
- 9,679
- Location
- Bedford UK
It's an MGA. It came to me as a shell from a Texan scrapyard in 1992.
I've set up the sandblasting kit under the car tent.
Started off with some really rare brake guards - they were only supplied with the dirty road spec in places like Africa where this car started out. Came up pretty well but I found my Bilt Hamber 95% zinc primer had dried out so will need to give them another zap now I've bought thinners.
Got a cunning plan for welding up bits on the body. I've got lots of flat panels that will distort if I rush things, so planning to prepare all the patches then move around the body doing a tiny bit at a time and let everything cool down between bits of weld. I want to keep the patina so once welded the repairs will only get a bit of red oxide. I don't want to use filler.
Excellent patch.
brightspark
Member
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- 40,368
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- yarm stockton on tees
thought you said the plates were blasted . there still rusty 
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
- Messages
- 9,679
- Location
- Bedford UK
Did them last weekend then found the primer had dried up. They will need another quick going over now.thought you said the plates were blasted . there still rusty
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
- Messages
- 13,022
- Location
- France, Brittany.
Evening @malcolm
Wife has found a R4 van, which she fancies, what do I need to look at, rust wise?
Mechanically anything inparticular to be aware of?
it's blue, €500.
4L , fl4, 1982....
It's local, been for sale for a while, wife fancies it, from youtube vids she's watched she reckons the floor pans are the worst bits.
Any advice please.
Wife has found a R4 van, which she fancies, what do I need to look at, rust wise?
Mechanically anything inparticular to be aware of?
it's blue, €500.
4L , fl4, 1982....
It's local, been for sale for a while, wife fancies it, from youtube vids she's watched she reckons the floor pans are the worst bits.
Any advice please.
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
- Messages
- 13,022
- Location
- France, Brittany.
Vehicles have a lot less rot over here.
Twenty years ago, wife came over in her relatively recent clio mk 1, and they were shocked (MOT inspector), by the underside rot.
Shedendman
Member
- Messages
- 5,373
I had the car version one in that chocolate brown colour back in 85 got it for £40,well a fiver a week out my wages,it was the bosses car,with the seats folded down was amazing what i got in the back,me and a mate moved all our gear from one flat to another(moonlight flit) single base of the beds tied to the roof
.
Sold the car after 4 weeks for £100 and bought a bedford CF,oh,i left the firm i was working for the next day, then vanished into thin air
.Sold the car after 4 weeks for £100 and bought a bedford CF,oh,i left the firm i was working for the next day, then vanished into thin air
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
- Messages
- 9,679
- Location
- Bedford UK
There are photos of the usual rust spots here: https://www.renault4.co.uk/buyers-guide.htm
The rear suspension inner and outer mounts are the biggest pain to repair. Outer ones are a body off job.
There isn't much mechanical to worry about. Main thing is the head gaskets can go if people forget to put coolant in.
zeppelin builder
Member
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- 2,166
- Location
- peoples republic of scotland
i used to weld up rear propshafts for Inveralmond renault in perth scotland
they did a 4x4 conversion that was popular with gamekeepers and farmers
they were unstopable
even in 2wd form they were good
i dont know where they tapped into the drive ,werent the engines behind the g box
they did a 4x4 conversion that was popular with gamekeepers and farmers
they were unstopable
even in 2wd form they were good
i dont know where they tapped into the drive ,werent the engines behind the g box
