Windsor13

Feb 2005. As I found her. 1978 HZ Sandman, Windsor Blue with Buckskin Trim. 253 4 speed.

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In need of some TLC. Not bad for rust, beaver panel rusted but have NOS replacement. Otherwise very rust free. A few dings here and there.

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Pretty scummy under the bonnet, and an ancient gas system.

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Roadworthy in March 05. Looks rough in the back.

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Gas system upgraded in June 05. Much nicer.

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Resto starts with the removal of the original wheels. Have a spare set of GTS rims that went onto the van during the resto process. This shows them after sandblasting, priming and charcoal paint. Taped ready for silver to go on.

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Silver on.

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The final product.

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Before the bodywork begins we need to get the ride height sorted out. Much too high in the tail.

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After some very nice spring work, performed by Bairnsdale Spring Works, she now sits beautifully over the rear wheels.

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Here the big stuff starts. September 2006 she heads off to Maxs panels in Bairnsdale VIC for the bodywork and respray. Headlining was the first item to go.

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Front end removal and engine removed to be spruced up also.

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Beaver was next. A bit of cutting, pasting yet to come.

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New beaver on, notice gas filler moved from behind rear wheel to beaver behind licence plate.

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How do you pull out a scrape the entire length of a panel without warping it. Weld on hundreds of nails, pull the panel out and then grind them off. It is about now that I was starting to see what it takes to do the job properly.

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One for the old holdeners. Two resto's in the one place.

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Lower tailgate reskinned with NOS skin.

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Tailgate back on and in position.

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RH Chassis rail after being bent back to its correct location.

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Time to blast some sand onto the Sandman.

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After blasting. The larger body panels will be hand sanded.

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Max begins the gruelling sanding process.

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Dion sanding the already blasted tailgate.

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Rear interior gets a lick of paint.

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LH side after sanding and light filling.

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This is as far as the motor got pulled down to. Just a freshen up and repaint. Will do up spare motor when funds allow.

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In etch. Lines looking much sharper now.

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Motor after paint and reassembly.

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More nice lines.

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Primed up. Great weather for baking paint in December. Also good for bushfires. Very worrying times about now, for parents and panelbeaters houses. Intermittent work on van and on saving property.

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Engine bay and chassis sprayed.

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The old man Glenn helping with the motor. Without him this would not have been possible. Also an old holdener among other things. His changing stable consists of at present 2 FC's (1 original restored, 1 hotted up in build), 68 Cooper S mini, S model valiant, Triumph Herald, 1914 GWK veteran. Not hard to catch the car bug growing up here!!

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Pic of me actually doing some work!!!

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Motor back in.

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Finally we see some colour.

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Off to see Murph for the headlining.

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Looking good.

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Starting to look like a van again.

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I like this shot. Looks tough.

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Hows this for a score, all NOS for $50!!!!

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Now for the wet rubbing.

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Like waiting for a baby to be born, after 9 months we have paint. Pretty good shine straight off the gun.

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In getting blocked back. Stuffed if I could stand all day with my hand in cold water in 8 degree weather.

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Masking for blackouts.

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Black on.

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Spoiler on.

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Nearly done.

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Ready to take home!! Nothing wired up yet so on a trailer it must be.

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Most nervous time of the whole deal was getting it on the trailer. About an inch each side of the wheels spare, and the fear of tearing off the spoiler.

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Back in the shed at dads place. Talk about weather extremes during this, first there were bushfires, the day after this came the floods.

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Hooking up the wiring and the gas. She started but had no oil pressure. Needed to remove oil filter and pump and load with oil before she would agree to pick it up. Big relief when she did.

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Looks good with the plates on. Off to see Rex for some twin pipes.

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Twinnies on. A bit more difficult than expected due to the lowering and reduced clearance around diff. Also a gas tank to contend with.

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Mufflers side by side.

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GTS nuts and caps on.

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Showing nuts and caps, plus ride height.

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So much for waiting until funds allowed for the motor rebuild. We took the van back to finalise some work on the headlining and she wouldn't start. Motor was stuffed.

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Well now she is 40 thou oversize.

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Finally time to take her home.

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Now to start interior, underfelt first.