Off to paint

Got the body work done.
The small warp I put in the panel.  Couple dings that needed taking care of and the flue vent that was welded up.

The rear quarter needed some light body filling.  These are large flat panels that will show every single flaw.  Its a good thing that it is a light color, that will help.  But a good solid blocking will be necessary for a quality paint finish.













Coated with Metalok to bind up the bodywork.  Next will be a coat of the gray high build primer that can be blocked out nicely.

Multiple pictures of blocking out a van are not very blog worthy.

So after blocking out the panels I had prepared, I coated it again with the high build primer for the delivery to the shop where it will be painted.

In the booth we did the final seam sealing and taped up the body exposing the jambs for paint as well.  We needed a solid base, one that could withstand a beating from multiple kids and many trips.

Next stop - painted and pretty.

So the panel got welded.  It was slow and tedious.  Small weld and cool, small weld and cool - all in efforts of lessening any warpage on the Bus Depot 22ga panel. 

 

The panel did sustain some warping, I think from the grinding but it was minimal.  The manufacturers of the panel should really consider making this from a thicker gauge metal.  The smaller pieces with compound angles are fine in the thinner gauge, but a long straight panel like this really needs a thicker gauge.

After the panel was welded up, I got to working on the floor inside.  I first needed to see what I was working with and the extent of the rust damage.  I took the sandblaster to the interior wall and floor panel.

I needed to reconstruct some support for the floor.  Two 18ga panels creased in the correct angle tack welded and then panel glued. 
A second set of panels was knocked up to clean up some perforations in the floor under the galley.
Also seen in this picture is the smallish panel welded in to remove the unnecessary flue hole.
Now the panel needed to be protected.  Coated with Metalok and allowed to cure overnight.






The following day I seam sealed all the welded edges and seams with the Sikaflex.

I then painted the interior panels with the correct color in Imron.

Now the interior is as strong and well protected as the exterior.