1980 VW T3 Double Kab

So, first up, lets have a look at the bottom of the tent. It needs 2 rails to mount to, so I decided to fit angle iron onto the top of the side gates, and then have a couple of rails to mount the tent. Measure chop and file, and we end up with something like this.











Then out with the welder.





Quick tickle with the grinder, and throw on some gloss black (which I ran out of :



Oh, and before all that happened we took a spin out to the Retro Show at Santa Pod. Another 300 miles, averaging about 28 to the gallon, and she looked and performed perfectly

luckygti Seen your car at the weekender camping.
She is stunning in the flesh.
Well done !

Very interesting project. Actually I am only at the entry where you bought marine ply for the load-bed. First off marine ply is not that readily available. You normally get palmed off with 'water-boil-proof' and that is not marine ply.
If you intend to buy any more ply for load-beds, etc... have a look at PHENOLIC PLY. You will probably struggle to get it locally, the Internet being the only access to suppliers.
Phenolic ply comes in 10ft X 5ft sheets; 18mm thick; sealed on all sides, including the edges against water ingress.
The likes of Ifor Williams (trailer manufacturers) and coachbuilders fabricating lorry beds use it.
Phenolic ply cuts with a standard power saw, and you MUST treat the sawn edges to restore 100% waterproof.
Typed this in now, before I forget; for now back to where I got.

Haven't come across it to be honest. The Rustoleum has worked really well, but it is definitely down to the prep and taking your time. It's due a refresh now

Fitting a SVX flat 6?........

Blimey, where does the time go? So, things have been happening. First up, I had to figure out a way of getting the tent on and and off without damaging myself (or the tent or truck I guess). A quick lash up with some wood, bits of angle and the engine hoist and we have a working solution



Then it was onto the big job, fitting the lifting kit and new wheels and tyres. Before all of that, and with a buggered knee that I can’t kneel on (the surgeon did say I wouldn’t be able to kneel down, but I didn’t think he actually meant that I wouldn’t be able to actually put any weight on it at all) I decided to spend some of my hard earned compensation on a lift to bring it up to a height that I could actually work at, whilst sitting on a chair..... I know right, how freaking awesome is that? One road trip later, and a lot of swearing and muscle strain later, it was in and we could begin.

Can’t find any pictures of that, but here it is in action.



So, I had ‘the fear’ over stripping down the front suspension. In all of the strip down and rebuild I’m pretty sure I didn’t do anything at all with the front suspension so feared that everything would be seized solid but no, every bolt and nut came out without so much as a whimper, and before you know it the old stuff was out and the new stuff in. Dropped to get some idea of how it will look







The tyres are off of a Syncro, so they’re a touch on the large side, but I’ve ordered some spacers and hopefully that’ll prevent any rubbing/fouling on anything important. In the stripdown it’s also highlighted some new rust coming through on the trailing arms, so that needs treating, and eventually they’ll get Raptor’d when I redo the back. Back on it today after another knee op, the blurb says to keep mobile (it actually says ‘pottering about’!) so I’m off to do that in the workshop Oh, and to take this off (it’s supposed to be a circlip!) so I can get the new spacer on!

Looking ever more excellent

The trailing arms on my T25 had rusted through in that depression on the top, where it looks like yours are just starting to go. Some previous owner had just drilled out the rust holes so they looked like they were supposed to be there (i.e. round, not frilly), then painted over! You can get new arms but they're about three hundred quid a side, so well worth saving


Bit jealous of that lift, actually

Well, it made it’s debut voyage last night. It’s tall to say the least so, before





And after





And arriving at the East Coast Retro’s meet last night (165 cars or thereabouts last night. Well worth a drive out if you’re anywhere near Ipswich!)



So, what’s it like Pete? Well, it’s f’ing ridiculous to be honest! I need to get a tape measure but it’s gone up maybe 6 inches, drives like a truck (it was very car like lowered!), the tracking needs doing and I need to play with the shock settings as I think they’re on the hardest setting, I forgot how high it was and fell out of the back door and first gear finally actually gets you somewhere; it was pretty pointless beforehand! It’ll take some getting used to, but I love it!

The plan for the back was to have a seat, a cooker unit, space for a portaloo (strictly for emergencies!!) and storage for camping type stuff. Have a curse word picture, but it kind of achieved the aim!



I also had a load of 3mm aluminium composite sandwich sheet which I bought to build a pod on the back (very definitely a “future” project. I thought I’d have a bash at working with it so knocked up a new door card for the back. Pretty pleased with how it can put, but inevitably it will be getting changed.....







So, that was the summer! One run out really bar the local car meets, 400 mile round trip, and a list of “things” to do before the Weekender (although, I may bring the Escorts!)

Now, it’s properly winter but I’m determined to get some hours in, so I obviously need to change the seats again! Yep, I probably have a bit of a thing for seats! This time (and what I’ve wanted all along really) Porsche Tombstones. I’ve stripped them down and fitted heated seat elements, and got all of the wiring nice and tidy. Driver seat just need a couple of extra holes drilling but the passenger seat has bugged me since I put the swivel base in, so that’s now getting bolted direct to the seat box having removed the VW seat runners which just made the whole thing rattle like mad! Half way through that, but they is the last time I’m going to change them, so this time they’re getting done properly.