1960 Split Window Resto/Rebuild

[Cam Biscuit]

Two blokes will be all you'll need to tip it over

[VRSenator065]

Two blokes will be all you'll need to tip it over

Great thanks for that, I wasn't sure. Will probably have 4 of us just for the first time, just to be on the safe side.

[VRSenator065]

That's really neat and I like the way the whole thing is the same size as the bus...great for small garages

Thanks, yea that's why I went this way. Looking at it I don't think it will take up any more room on its side or upright. I considered a rotisserie but you need a lot more room at the front and back for the mechanism and I didn't want to take up the room in the shed.

[VRSenator065]

One Dolley done and dusted. Had a couple of friends from up the road come over and help me tilt it over. Only issue I had was that the weight is actually quite concentrated at the bottom of the car, so I needed to re-position the casters on that side out further out to keep it balanced. Got that done and I can comfortably move it around on my own. So that's that done, now I can actually start getting stuck back into the actual build. A few pics for posterity.

[Leroy]

Awesome!! Let the games begin!!

[Cam Biscuit]

If its any help I used to use my trolley jack to get it up about the first foot and a half.

Makes it easier to tip from there.

Cheers

[VRSenator065]

Cheers for that, yea we weren't sure what to expect. I actually used my engine crane at one stage more or less just as an anchor so it wouldn't get away from us. Ended up a little less dramatic than I imagined and was relatively easy. Planning on using cutting the floor panels out alongside each of the the rails just so i can work out where the spot welds are easier.

Also do you guys know what the material they used to lag around the heater tube? Is it asbestos or anything sinister or be wary of?

[splitthis]

Don't bother drilling out the spot welds on the floor. Cut it all out, leaving strips on the I-beams and top hats and then use an air chisel to "scrape" the strips off. It will be much quicker than drilling out all the spot welds just make sure you wear earmuffs.

Matt

[VRSenator065]

Don't bother drilling out the spot welds on the floor. Cut it all out, leaving strips on the I-beams and top hats and then use an air chisel to "scrape" the strips off. It will be much quicker than drilling out all the spot welds just make sure you wear earmuffs.

Matt

Cheers for that, sounds like a good tip.

[VRSenator065]

So yesterday got a great day in removing all the underside stuff. So got the steering, clutch, brakes, brake lines and heater tube out. The heater tube was wrapped in something that looked a little suspiciously like asbestos sheeting. A good mate of mines wife is a bit of an expert in it, and said the way to do it was soak it in water, wear a mask, and carefully remove it and double bag it in plastic which is what i did. She is going to analyze if for me just to see what it actually is. But all of it was so much easier with it up on it side. Yep its got rust, but I am guessing you guys on here are used to that!! But going to be a lot of fun rebuilding it and proving the doubters wrong

Few pics of the work

Before



After

[gaz]

Thats great mate, now you can really get stuck into it... your chassis rails look to be quite solid?

[VRSenator065]

Thats great mate, now you can really get stuck into it... your chassis rails look to be quite solid?

Yea I think so, I guess once ts blasted i will really know. There is a fair bit of rust on the inside boxed section at the front where the suspension bolts up.

[VRSenator065]

Fun day today. Gotta say I am starting to get the same buzz as building the Senator. Totally different builds but just satisfying plodding along and making progress. Got the boys to come over and help me tilt it back right way up. Then had the idea of using the hoist but under the Dolley, works a bloody treat, gets it a great working height

Had Cooper kindly come over and give me a couple of pointers. Took him for a spin round the block in the Senator afterwards. I am guessing by the amount of giggles he enjoyed it. Cut off the stuffed front guards, also made start to the inside floor which I think I have sort of worked out a bit of a system for. Really enjoying this, tons of work of course, but just a cool project to work on. A few pics for posterity.

[red hot bus]

Glad I could help, and had a blast in the senator not use to that much power hahah

[Zimblewinder]

Wow, sorry I haven't been paying attention to this thread. I could have saved you a bit of trouble here and there. That's my rotisserie design. Its cool to see yours and other peoples mods from the original, like your variation to the side support mechanism and wheels on the side arms too. My original i lift up with the trolley jack too. then its a gentle roll to the 45 and then I can lower it down from there by myself with the trolley jack as a catch. The side support bar on mine is straight and so I can use it on either side of the vehicle. The other thing, the pipe wrap Ive alwqys heard, is fibreglass.

Looks like youre having fun.

cheers
Dale