Man this is rotten as a pear, we will rebuild

[John A. Ross]

After giving up on the dust polluting lung killing ship to clean off brought out the big guns as I would rather be wet than coughing a lung up again. Underbelly in places white with salt and crap, no wonder my eyes were stinging.

Anyway 150 Deg and mega pressure, first pass done. Not going to be welding until all the shit is off. No more chances on health

Downside is when you point it at bits that look OK, it just dissapears, I reckon I blew more rust holes and lumps off than in that pile above

The holes that appeared at bottom line below opening, most were actually what looked like good paint and sound, oh no, soon as the heat gets that chip coating ford put on it all falls away.



Anyway holding that lance is too painful after a very short time so few sessions to clean it off I reckon

[John A. Ross]

Well amazing how much 100 bar and 150 deg water jetting can remove. Very impressed. Might not soda blast the MK 1, think I will use this approach.

So thats the front of van and first 3 bays on the ladder chassis all welded up now, zinc phospated and primed, coated and stone chipped, even got the stone chip and waxoyl in.
loads to go but I need

Even got first two heat shields coated and re-fitted, well thats after I order the 18mm fat head rivets. I ordered some last week and ended up getting 18mm long ones.

I mean WTF, who drills an 18mm hole in something and used a rivet ?

Need more welding to move now, the spring hangers are OK but I am going to re-enforce the plating so I dont need to go back again. So 2mm sheet now .

Still, finished from front to past fuel tank now and looking fine.





Downside is you get soaked and have to waddle about like a fish in a puddle on the gorund and its surprising how cold you get without realising !

[John A. Ross]

Van now back on all 4s and running.

Time to find the oil leak so turned around and front in the air



Think we see the problem after getting soaked steam washing



Note to self, NEVER POKE THE BEAR !

Guess that tap with the screw driver has made a definitive diagnosis of rotted sump as it decided to take a wee wee on me and all over the place






I missed a lot of stuff out but this thing has been worse than any imp I have ever took a welding rod to.

That started as a small spot on back corner, ended up cutting it all off as when I steam blasted it it fell apart like a string vest





So new sump ordered, then new windscreen as it cracked when jacking it up that high due to the body flex which is no surprise as it had bugger all chassis holding it together