Project 1982 Mercedes 508d LWB. Going green for the future.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I didn't tip it on its side to do the work by the way. On my phone so dunno whats going on there.

[Spottedlaurel]

Good luck with it.

 

Saw a few different versions on this year's French holiday.

 

Was surprised to see Whip Street Motors carting one down the A140 a week or so ago. Looked to be a rough old thing that appeared to have been off-road for a long time, don't know if it'll be going straight for scrap or whether they'll put it aside for a van banger meet (people there are involved with racing).

[DodgeRover]

don't know if it'll be going straight for scrap or whether they'll put it aside for a van banger meet (people there are involved with racing).

More likely straight to export

[cms206]

I've just found this in my garage...

 

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[Talbot]

I didn't tip it on its side to do the work by the way. On my phone so dunno whats going on there.

Your phone knows which way up it was when the photo was taken (because of it's accelerometer), and knows which way up the screen is, so turns the image to match and hence it's always displayed correctly.

 

When you put that image on a different device, sometimes the orientation information is available, sometimes it isn't. If not, it often defaults to landscape.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I've just found this in my garage...

 

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P.M Incoming.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I stripped out the majority of the rest of the interior on Sunday and discovered the worst of the rot so far. As expected, the rest of the gutter and surrounding area was rotten to hell. Fibreglass roof definitely needs to come off.

 

 

 

 

The other side for comparison, needs minimal repair.

 

 

I have generator that'll run my welder now so I'm intending on sticking some new metal in this weekend.

[Zelandeth]

Ouch... that's not been weather proof for a while has it...

[Arthur Foxhake]

Any German speakers willing or able to help me out please?

I've found a German website offering repair panels for sale for my Dùdo but I have next to no German writing skills.

I would rather not use Google translate as I would like to be taken seriously.

Is anybody willing to speak to these people on my behalf please?

 

http://www.basiscampberlin-onlineshop.de/Radlaeufe_1

[Arthur Foxhake]

Ouch... that's not been weather proof for a while has it...

No. It had a leak in the gutter area before the previous owner had it and was temporarily repaired about 15 years ago.

Cant wait to put some new metal in this weekend.

[Noel Tidybeard]

herr junkman to the beige courtesy phone please

[N Dentressangle]

Any German speakers willing or able to help me out please?

I've found a German website offering repair panels for sale for my Dùdo but I have next to no German writing skills.

I would rather not use Google translate as I would like to be taken seriously.

Is anybody willing to speak to these people on my behalf please?

 

http://www.basiscampberlin-onlineshop.de/Radlaeufe_1

 

 

I can do Deutsch.

 

Let me know what you need, by PM if that's easier.

[Guest Hooli]

herr junkman to the beige courtesy phone please

 

He can't answer as he's on a plane...

[mat_the_cat]

John F as well, if he sees this.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Excellent. Thanks for the responses. I'll take one of you up on your offer of forrin speaking soon.

 

In the meantime, have some weldy type pics of an old shitheap.

 

 

 

 

 

[wuvvum]

You missed a bit.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Some more done today.

 

Ignore all the runs, its zinc primer and I was spraying into all the holes and crevices from behind.

I have realised this won't get done in a reasonable time if I only spend Saturday and Sunday on it, some 4 day weekends are going to be needed to break the back of the welding.

 

 

 

 

A small amount to show for 2 days really, hoped I could do more but there you go. Kinda making it all up as I go along and discover what needs doing.

Maybe a list would help and a plan for the weekend.

[JJ0063]

Looking forward to seeing more progress on this mate, awesome project!

[Arthur Foxhake]

Looking forward to seeing more progress on this mate, awesome project!

I didn't take many pics this weekend but I did a couple of days on it until the welder stopped feeding wire Sunday afternoon. Have a spare welder, should be able to cobble something out of the 2.

 

 

Did a few small patches inside, this is the only one I took a pic of.

 

Big patch. Not finished but partly filled and zinc primered.

I spoke to a good mate who has a 608d the other day and he spent a fortune on his, loads of welding, rust prevention and a grands wort of paint that was supposed to be awesome. He still has bits bubbling through here and there.

With this in mind and my previous statement that I wasn't restoring it, I've decided to do as little as possible welding but as much as is needed to make it solid. Perfection is not possible so I'll be patching in with joddled spot welded pieces and filling, sealing and painting. It needs to get done, not turn into a never never search of all unobtainable bits and trinkets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously it's far from finished, just a coat of filler and primer to keep the weather out.

Im beginning to think I should just make the wheel arches myself, aesthetics are not my priority and ot would be a good learning curve. No pun intended.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I had a day off due to rain today, fixed both welders, had a long overdue haircut (grade 1 had grown to about 35mm) and bought some consumables

Was looking for a leather welders apron but no joy.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Any German speakers willing or able to help me out please?

I've found a German website offering repair panels for sale for my Dùdo but I have next to no German writing skills.

I would rather not use Google translate as I would like to be taken seriously.

Is anybody willing to speak to these people on my behalf please?

 

http://www.basiscampberlin-onlineshop.de/Radlaeufe_1

 

 

 

I would email them and just ask Kannst Du English spreche bitte? Ich bin eine English kunde und ich brauchen 508D teile. Or something along those lines. They'll understand. And it's Berlin which means they speak better English than someone from Dudley.

[Dan_ZTT]

To be honest I'd just email them in English with what you need, and keep the language plain and simple. Always works fine for me whenever I need to contact foreign companies in my job.

[wuvvum]

I papped this beauty in a driveway just up the road from me earlier.

 

[Arthur Foxhake]

Oof. Thats nice.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Order placed.

Both rear outer arches and both front outer wing repair panels.

Have the whole weekend on it with plenty of supplies. Just need to buy milk, bacon and some rolls on the way.

[DodgeRover]

The cooker is still in place then for pre/ post welding fry ups?

[wuvvum]

Otherwise just drape the bacon over the welding torch as you're working - that'll soon have it nice and crispy.

[Arthur Foxhake]

The cooker is still in place then for pre/ post welding fry ups?

No its completely bare inside now.

I have a shipping container next to it with a portable gas stove.

Or what Wuv says if the gas runs out.

[Arthur Foxhake]

Had a good day today.

The gutter section has been constantly on my thoughts and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.

Almost all of my projects involve "Stuff I have laying about the place" as the sole base of supplies.

Today I had to buy some "New stuff"!

I pondered the job for a while, looked at my pile of random shit and went to the most expensive place to buy a few bits of metal from, Wickes.

Happily, a chap I used to employ as a hoddy a few years back, still works in Wickes, handy, as he's pretty stupid.

He scanned it all wrong and I ended up about £15 better off. Awesome.

Went back with my new metal but still no idea how I would attach it.

After a brew and a bacon roll, a plan emerged,I climbed a ladder, clamped some shit, welded some shit, grinded some shit and attached more metal.

Now I have a solid top to the bus and a decent fixing for the fibreglass roof and the new gutter rail that's on its way.

It feels like a massive achievement, I only got about 1m welded but now I know where I'm going with it and have the materials I'm so much happier.

I can see there will be an end to it now.

 

Although if this rain continues I'm going to need to be inventive with some weatherproof work areas.

Have heavy canvas, wood and scaffold tubes at my disposal so I hope I can make something to keep the water out while I work.

Pics tomorrow as I barely had any light when I'd finished and I didn't take many today due to being In The Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

[Arthur Foxhake]

Pics added.