Project Beach Hut :: '89 Talbot Express Pilote Motorhome

On to the long side as I call it.

The driver side had the most of the remaining vinyl stripes:



Nice from far but far from nice.



After some considerable wire wheeling & brushing it was all gone.



Then prepped, masked up and painted.



In case I want to re-apply the leisure stripes and stay original, I've sourced the stuff that matches the graphics on the cab:



Doing some research it appears as if the silver stripes & silver portion of the graphics on the cab may not be an original colour. On what I can find, and what's evident from the painted stripes on the shell, is that the colour combo for the time on various models was red and burgandy.

As I'm going to be replacing the NS left hand wing due the rot on the lower A-pillar, I'm going to need to recreate the original graphics anyway - I don't want the bare cab which is often indicative of one having been resprayed.

Haha yes indeed strikey, but we are doing the retro thing which often means cheesy (I mean classic eighties) graphics.

Funnily enough I found this Talbot motorhome online.



That's a bit too far for us but did get me thinking...

Made some more progress on the motorhome.

On the rear were two air vents painted with black hammerite - they stuck out like a sore thumb, especially now on the tidied up paint.

Before all the tidying up:



Time for more wire wheeling back to bare metal, primed and painted body colour.



So much better now that they blend in.

On the bonnet was a red vinyl stripe. Stuck over a thick grey one. Thick like duck tape. It did make me wonder if it was covering rust or more body filler but looking in through the underside of the bonnet it appeared solid.



(Spot the brush painted hammerite bumper, bumper ends and front grille).

The challenge was going to be removing that thick tape because it wasn't coming off. I felt lazy so looked on google for a miracle cure...

The red tape pulled off easily revealing this thick grey stripe:



Then I started to apply my miracle cure. The best drill attachment ever!
Besides a drill bit of course...



It's a rubber wheel and just removes the vinyl so easily. Brilliant.

After about 15 minutes all I had left was the residue:



After a wipe down with panel cleaner I was well pleased!



Just needs a buff out once all the other body work on the cab is sorted.

With it safe to go outside and not suffer hyperthermia it was time to continue fixing bits on the motorhome.

Last weekend I primed the water pump and found the boiler spilling a cascade of water...after being trouble free through the winter it was rather annoying. It appeared to be leaking from the top section - the heat exchanger, so off came the cover:



I mate of mine's a plumber so I asked him to see if the unit could be repaired. Turns out there was a split in a pipe and the u bend had come adrift...



Easy fix for him and back in it went. No more leak. Jubbly.

Time to turn my attention to the gearbox mount that I reckoned was beyond its best , effecting the gear change too I reckon. So off it came:



Sure enough it was fubarred...the centre rubber section was completely loose...



On with the new one from Coastal Motorhomes:



A bit more body work tidying up. The underside of the bonnet was verging on nasty so it had to get some attention - degreaser then wire wheeled & rust treated with Kurust.



Then a coat of rust preventative primer before a respray on another day.



I love new bits - next up was a new coolant expansion tank cap - that's got to be worth 3bhp eh?



Turned the key started the Beach Hut up and drove it up and down the driveway - no more slop in the gears and goes into reverse smoothly now! Happy days.

Next week it's off to my mates body shop for a new wing and os wheel arch.

I'm happy to say after all the rain, snow and hail it's still bone dry inside.

Thanks @tommygoldy - this is quite fun to work on!

Hi there

the red tube is the bleed point for the heater.

cheers - mike

Some more progress on the cab. I'm glad I've sent this over to my mates body repair shop as my Landy has needed gearbox shifting attention.

We decided to look a little closer at what was going on with the scuttle - we'd been hoping to tidy it up with the windscreen in place but...







So the windscreen is coming out to be replaced and a new scuttle panel is going in, along with a complete new NS fender and OS wheel arch. No point in holding back on the new metal.

Despite the rust in places the cab is bone dry.

The water heater is often referred to as the "Geyser" a brilliant item as they heat the water so fast, but sadly outlawed due to the naked flame inside in later years with different gas regulations .

There should be a drain point to stop them freezing over winter.

Good progress! Where'd you get the repair panels?

Oh, have a look at the leaf spring bushes and shackles, and the bolt on chassis piece the shackle goes onto, notorious for rotting.

Slow but steady progress on the Beach Hut.

More rotten metal being cut out and replaced with fresh new tin.

Below the windscreen and hidden beneath filler & cream paint lurked much rust - just look at this scuttle panel and washer arm mounts...



Good thing there's more rust underneath the old scuttle - how this cab didn't leak is beyond reason but I'm glad it's bone dry.





No scuttle, no left fender, no windscreen and slowly diminishing rust



New metal going in!



Getting there!