Back to Front / Vice Versa

Oh dear.

This morning, Nina was meant to be having both of her rear side windows fitted, then after 'Rustgate' yesterday, I had resigned myself to just having the one fitted then the rusty frame repaired.

What actually happened, was that the day started off drizzly and wet and dark, and Dave called first thing to cancel, which was fair enough, but Orange decided not to tell me until almost an hour and a half after he left the message, meaning I was out turning Nina around on the drive to make it easier for him, them waiting, for him not to turn up, apparently.

Once my despair of the whole situation subsided a bit (:S), I realised that actually, this might not be a bad thing, maybe, I should get the window frame fixed first, then get Dave to fit both windows in one go, as planned originally.

So thats what I did, I've now taken Nina in to Bedford Street Motors, where Malcolm is going to strip the bad metal off, treat it, make good, then paint ready for the window to be bonded to at the end of the week, or weekend, hopefully.

The rust will most likely rear its head again in a few years, but the only way to stop that is to change the whole quarter panel for a new one, and I just dont have the money to do that right now. Maybe if and when it needs it in the future, I'll get it done.

So, thats where we are with it at the moment. Just a waiting game until Malc and Jon say I can go pick her up again.

Going to be so glad when these windows are done and dusted ! :).


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Location:Gloucester

Window Work....

Been a while since an update, with lots of inside stuff having to wait until things were watertight, I got a bit demotivated. Been busy with other things too, but hopefully thats going to change over the winter.

I finally got around to ordering the rear 2 side windows. As I said in a previous post, Vehicle Leisure Windows would not quote for them, so I ended up going to a company called Vanbitz in Barnsley. He had the solid (non vented) windows for the back side windows, and could supply them for £246 delivered, including the fixing/bonding kit.

So, I ordered them, 28th September, hoping to have them in time for the following weekend. I got an email saying that his supplier didn't have stock, and they were trying to source some more. Got a little worried, until a couple of hours later I got another email saying that they had managed to source them, and I would receive them in 7-10 days.

Well, three weeks after paying, I still didnt have my windows. When I emailed asking why on the monday, I got an email on Tuesday saying he had only got the windows the day before, and I should receive them that day, or tomorrow, tomorrow being Wednesday. Despite asking for tracking details a couple of times, none were forthcoming.

No windows turned up tuesday or wednesday, so he had lied to me making me think that the windows were on the way. Not happy.

However, I got an email, late on on the wednesday, from Vehicle Leisure Windows, the original company that wouldnt quote me, saying my order had been dispatched, with a tracking link to Interlink Express.

How odd :S. Hadn't been quoted, let alone ordered and paid for windows from them.

Well, it turns out Vanbitz 'supplier' was Vehicle Leisure Windows, I was actually quite happy about this, as I had lost all confidence in Vanbitz, especially after reading a review for them online saying they sell inferior products. I have to say though, it was one review, on the whole net, so I cant judge them just by that, all the same I was happy Vehicle Leisure Windows were actually supplying them, as they have lots of good reviews on the Self Builders forums, I just dont understand why it was so difficult getting them to give me a price on the windows.

Anyway, from there on in, Interlink's tracking process was second to none, even telling me what hour slot the windows would be delivered in making it easier for one of us to be home to sign for them. They arrived Thursday dinnertime :)

They came with a double fixing kit for two windows, AND the internal trim for the metal edge of the frame.

For the next windows, I hope I can get a quote direct from VLW, will save so much hassle !

So, now I had them, I CHICKENED OUT of actually fitting them, I just didnt want anything else to go wrong. So I called Dave at Five Valleys Windscreens, and asked him, if I took the old windows out, cleaned up the frames ready, would he actually come fit the windows, he offered to do just that for a very good price. The plan was for me to remove the windows and do the clean up over the weekend, and he would come and fit the windows Monday. Brill !

SATURDAY -
Well, today was the day, so I took my knife, and started cutting in to the rubber seal on the passenger side window, I had now passed the point of no return !



It turns out the seal had the window stuck in there pretty good ! With some very determined cutting, finally, the window came out, thankfully, in one piece, I intend to sell the windows I remove to help out with the cost of the new windows.





Once I pulled the large rubber seal off, I was left with this unsightly mess, I knew I was in for a tough time cleaning that up !

But clean it up I did, sharp knife and my brake and clutch cleaner with a non scratch scourer. Took at least a couple of hours, and I ached quite a bit afterwards.





It was starting to get dark, so decided to leave the second window until Sunday. I cut some tarpaulin up to slightly bigger than the window aperature, and sealed it all up with Fabric Tape.



SUNDAY -
After yesterdays success, I started today with high hopes, knowing what you are dealing with really helps the old confidence, and within about 10 minutes, I had the second window out, in one piece again !

Pulled the large rubber seal away.

Then I saw it.

The frame was eaten away by rust :(.

Instead of sorting out the leaks properly as they happened, the NHS mechanics just kept sealing it, which, unlike the other side, which was letting the water flow inside quite freely, it held the water and caused the frame to bubble and rust :(. When I took the the seal off from the top of the frame, lots of water dripped down :(.











As you can see, totally different to the opposite side, no amount of cleaning up will get this side ready for a new window glass. :(

But I did clean it up, the best I could get was this.


Not good :(.

Will see what Dave says tomorrow, if its not possible to fit this side tomorrow, Nina is provisionally booked in for Tuesday at Bedford Street Motors to see what they can do. If they can make it all solid again, I can get the window put on. In an ideal world.

So now Ive sealed up that side too, its a waiting game until tomorrow morning, when Dave is coming out to fit them.

Everybody cross your fingers for Nina, and hope she can get fixed as quickly, and cheaply as possible !

Hopefully, come bak and see a pic tomorrow of at least one window fitted :).






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Location:Gloucester

Post 72 - Milestone

This post equals the number of posts I made for Scooby's blog in total ! Also, its just over a year since Nina came in to our lives.

The difference on this blog, is that there are likely to be at least 72 MORE posts before it reaches a conclusion ! :).

So to mark it, and make the post a little more special, I have put together a video slideshow of the past year in photos for you to see in around 6 minutes, the changes, all in one place.

There is something else special about this video too !

Any of you attending festivals and VW meets around the country, ie VanWest back in September etc, you may have been treated to some live music. One of the artists playing to you would have been Kludo White performing tracks from his album Camper Van Radio with his band.

I have just ordered the album through their website via Paypal, its only £7.99 plus postage, and here is the thing, the profits from the album are being donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Kludo hopes to raise £20,000 in 2012, and I hope that many of you reading this blog, will pop over to www.campervanradio.com and order one too. If you are self building a VW camper, or any other camper, like Nina, you will find the songs relevant, fun, catchy, brilliant !, and all while helping charity. What better way is there ?
The song playing in the video is Camper Van Driver, one of the tracks from the album. The album is also available through iTunes.

Go buy it ! You wont regret it :).

In the words of Del, 'you know it makes sense...' ;).

So, without further ado, crank the volume up, sit back, and click play below :).




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Gloucester