55 Dove Blue Split

[mike66]

Hi All

All new to me to post pics and what I’m up to.. but had some encouragement from someone on here .. btw this is not my day job!!
This was my starting point-May 2022

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I re kombi have 250hrs in it so far.

[mike66]

And some under seat fabrication

[braddick]

Thanks for the pics and updates
What part on the bus are u currently working on at the moment

[Kombiiknut]

Yeah you sure do have a bit of welding ahead of you mate, look forward to following the progress.

[mike66]

Here’s the under seat fabrication

[mike66]

Things that get me distracted… like the inner cabin heater tube and internal flap!!!

[mike66]

Then there’s the end of the cross member…

[mike66]

The motor “cradle” was dented in … so I cut it out.. reshaped rust treated inside and welded back in

[mike66]

Then other hanging bits … front of the rear wheel tubs and rear engine internal frame pillar and rhs engine bay plate.. did make the engine rubber guide but not up to my level of satisfaction , see you can buy them… next parts order!!

[mike66]

Then there was the chassis… and the footwell in the cabin area and the wire channel cutouts in the chassis that have all been repaired
And some other challenges along the way .. like the cargo door hinge retainer and bolt plate… this had me scratch my head but all done now.
All new guide tubes are in place and now the reconstruction of the top hats etc to get the floor structure solid and the cargo door gaps ready for the big cut!!! The roof. I have a 55 donor roof as the current one is beyond saving. My plan is to have all the structure in place before winter and this will be my “ winter project” but at this rate I think I’m ahead!!

[mike66]

Then I got distracted again.. picked this up at Barn 1890 as I don’t have one thought I would try a few things…

Just needs a lick of paint

[MID WEST DUBBER]

Awesome progress, loving the approach at making repair panels

[Gunther]

Speechless

[Kombiiknut]

Yes, getting stuck right into it.. Awesome.

[mike66]

Didn’t think I’d do it for a few months… nothing like today!!
Braced internals, checked cargo door gaps. Then bang .. roof gone!
Ground back all the spot welds on both the donor and original Roof lines . Rust treated, Sanded down all the inside and then rust treated. Slid the new roof on and that’s enough for today.
Need to buy the cargo door top catch plate and brace . At least I can clean up the back yard a bit now the roof is inside and I can cut up the old one and scrap it.
Don’t mind if the new roof sits there a while as I have a to finish off the engine bay and then weld in the section above the engine and also the engine bay lid support panel