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Ady's van diary

ady347 said:
A crew cab with side door ideally as my boys are only little and strapping them into my van with rear seats would be too awkward.
The Astra does the job fine, it's reliable as anything and never lets me down, it looks tidy and gets lots of attention and I've enjoyed modifying it.

I was only going to run the Astra as a work horse for another year, I didn't want the signwriting to eventually get removed after being on their ages and still see it (even after trying to polish it out)
I've removed some of the signwriting I didn't like that was on it for a year and I didn't even have to polish it, their was no trace of it.

The inner arch rust hole has made me think (maybe she is not as solid as I presumed) the van has had an easy life.
I love the van but it's a work horse foremost not just my toy, I don't want to have to do jobs like this welding often, but also she is doing a lot of miles now, and as I've spent a bit on it, I don't want it clocking up the miles and being run into the ground.

Hope that makes sense. I always intended to just lock it away in a garage when I got another van, but how long before the damp and that sets in, sitting their not being used probably won't do it much good.

I can afford not to sell it, or the hassle of eBay idiots picking faults and kicking tyres haha

In 9 years she will be 30 years old, will it be worth anything? It's not a desirable motor like a gsi, gte etc.... So maybe just sell it and use that money to modify the next van
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I think it's going to be worth more in time to be honest. But at the end of the day, it's what it's worth to you that counts.
If it was me, I'd coat it in diesel and lay it up on axle stands. It won't get any worse if it's dry.
 
Job done, spot welded it then tigersealed, then undersealed. I'm self taught, only got a gas less mig! hopefully should be ok. The lip was a pain in the arse







 
I tried seam welding but was burning holes even on low setting, awkward place aswell. so just did a lot of spot welds then tiger sealed it front and back. would be harder to spot had I not gone crazy with the tigerseal, should of took a pic before the tiger seal really, once I grinded the welds it looked tidy.
Been hacking around and haven't found anymore, little bit more undersealing to do and that's another job done
 
Vans staying on road for another year I've decided, then when the time comes I will put it into long term storage.
Bought some new seats (calibra) should suit my grey interior and red bodywork.


 
Sun is out so Started stripping out the interior for its overhaul, removing seats, wet vac and Hoovered carpets and then fit the new calibra seats.
I'm having the door cards retrimmed with light grey leatherette on the cloth parts top and bottom.
My roof lining is in excellent condition but has started to sag in one place.

Could do with some advice on where to get replacement handbrake and gear gaitors and how to remove?


 
eBay for the gaitors mate, saw them seats for sale, think it was eBay, should go well in the van :)
 
Have you already picked up the seats mate? The bloke who's selling them has got some mk3's including a van that he might be persuaded to sell. Was wondering if you'd have a look at them while you're up there if your going.
My mate has a black dash for sale aswell if you're interested
 
Naaaaa what a disaster haha! Drove 400 mile round trip for them, as it was near a mate so did a visit on route, didn't bother with courier.
No fault of the seller as eBay listing said seats nothing about colour, they look grey in the pic but their not!!
Their a light beige leather, I brought them home Anyways, I tried one, their really comfy lol
 
Tbf I thought they were cream anyway, get them in :) Calibra leather is properly comfy, wire up the bum warmers and they are epic seats in the winter, wish i pulled mine out the estate before it went, hard to find now
 
I was thinking of getting the cream (Well more beige tbh)leatherette and doing the door acards but can't helping thinking it will all clash.
 
Buy flexible vinyl paint in black and spray the dash. It's really easy. Get it from Halford's. I did it in my old astra and you can't tell
 
Failing that it is a daunting job doing the dash and I was 100% going to paint it but got a black dash free so thought what's the worst that can happen, once you get the heater controls out which is the fiddliest thing, it's really not that bad
 
The seats are in, will post a daytime pic tomorrow and go from their, but rite now I can't see ever getting it to look good.
It looks bloody horrible lol
 
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