Chopped EK Van Project(recent pics Pg23)

Thommo · Post by **Thommo** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:29 am

Sorry guys, its going under the knife

While the outside looks shiney, it is rough inside.
The frame work around the inside of the van is rusted out.
This used to be a ute

and someone has added the van roof
to it at some stage of its life.
But I dont need to destroy the whole thing, there will
still be enough car left to make a 'EK Roadster Ute'

As for sourcing panels from the graveyard Ratbox,
everything out there is very rusty.
Some of the better appering vans were in an area where he
won't let you touch them.

I dont know if this was Julious's old van Richard,
I scored it from South Coast Custom.

Cheers
Jeff

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:34 pm

let me know re: the roadster ute

that's been a plan in my head for a long time, but getting the right ute to start with is hard one thats not to good but also not to bad, my old V8 ute on here was originally purchased with this in mind

Mephious · Post by **Mephious** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:39 pm

Good to hear thommo !!!

Looking forward to seeing yours done, Streetneats was good but I didnt like how he cut the vents along the roof line out.

Hope it all goes smoothly mate !!

ek61 · Post by **ek61** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:51 pm

yeh cut it up

roadster ute the rest

killa summer cruiser
and by the time its built ya lad will have his licence so he can cut laps with ya

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:16 am

Plenty of work there Thommo.

Look forward to seeing the progress, and more so the car on the road finished.

Regards, Smooth

Thommo · Post by **Thommo** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:24 am

THOMMO wrote:there will still be enough car left to make a 'EK Roadster Ute'

Not that i'll be making a roadster ute out of it

I was just making the point that, it won't all be cut-up

It has no rego papers, or ID tags

mrs ratbox · Post by **mrs ratbox** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:25 pm

i didn't think you were i was refering to me

let me know what is there and what you want

Thommo · Post by **Thommo** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:54 pm

You'll be the first to know Ratbox

Thommo · Post by **Thommo** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:25 pm

Gday All

I have some progress pics to show.

The sparks have been flying, and the roof is taking shape.

First we replaced the upper center windscreen section with a piece from the donor van.
Tacked with mig, then finished with oxy.
This will all be smoothed off later, we are just welding it in for now.
The dip in the center will be fixed when the longer strip is replaced.

Next we cut out the square tube frame from around the large hole in the roof,
and cleaned up the edges.

Thats Len in the photo, happily chopping up my cars.
You'd love this guy Ratbox, He's an angle grinding maniac

We then marked out the donor van for the main roof section,
and cut that piece out.
You can see a picture of Ratboxs van (Photoshop Chopped Version)
in the background I'm using for inspiration, not copying

The roof piece is then propped up in its new position for tack welding into place.

Shown here from inside, fully tack welded.

Next, we replaced the upper rear roof section above the tailgate.
We did the inner section first, then we'll do the outer piece after.

This is the inner frame, which will be covered with the outer skin later.

Thats it so far, we get stuck back into it monday night after work.

Cheers
Jeff

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:51 pm

Awesome!!! Good to see some action on the old girl.....

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:25 pm

I christen the van "The Quilt" patchwork quilt!

Looking good Thommo, progress a plenty. Always good to see things taking shape. It's a great feeling washing off all the crap you get covered in when you can think of the progress being made.

Looking forward to seeing more of the progress.

Regards, Smooth

ek61 · Post by **ek61** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:33 pm

good stuff

not long now then

oldnek · Post by **oldnek** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:24 am

Still looks like your cutting up a perfectly good panno to me, nice work on the patching, although the sunroof would come in handy.

Regards John

southcoastkustom · Post by **southcoastkustom** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:58 am

Great progress Thommo

Dave and I were just saying last night that you must have been busy in the shed as we hadn't seen you on here for a few days... we were right!!

Great to see some progress, you'll finish before I do at this rate

SCK

parisian62 · Post by **parisian62** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:41 am

Hi Jeff,

should be finished very soon... Len look like he's having fun too.

regards
Stewart