BT van rebuild

[mrmorrisminor]

Hi there, just introducing myself and the latest resto project. I'm in no way a professional so if anything seems not the way it should be done its because I've taught myself. That said I hope you enjoy the project so far .[frame][/frame]
So this is how it arrived..... Not much left of the chassis so I'm cheating and buying a new one[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

So off to work stripping.......[frame][/frame]

Started with the easy bits whilst saving pennies for the floors and inner wings

First the doors[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Now for the other side.....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[mrmorrisminor]

Now for the cab doors.....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Other side gets the same treatment......[frame][/frame]
Not quite as much to do in here [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[mrmorrisminor]

Now for the cab....... First the rear valance, taking care to keep everything in line [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Mate it up against the loading bay to check for hole alignment.

[mrmorrisminor]

Now the cab lines up with the rear and has something to attach a floor to the floors can go in [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
And now for the other side.....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[mrmorrisminor]

Now for the boxing panels and floor edges.......[frame] seat belt anchorage to go in....[/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

And the B post[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Other side needs similar treatment.....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame] And another B post...not forgetting the captive nut for attaching the rear section[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[mrmorrisminor]

Now onto the front end.... First I took plenty of measurements and braced the whole thing before cutting....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Now onto the inner wing....[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[jaekl]

Well, that was a good days work. What are you doing tomorrow? No need to tell you anything, apparently very skilled. Assuming you are maintaining alignments. Nice work.

[mrmorrisminor]

Thank you, this was about 2 months of weekends! Been meaning to start a thread on here.... I've been hanging doors, bonnet and front panel as I've been going. Also made sure that the cab and loading bay line up and been measuring against the new chassis religiously![frame][/frame]

As is say I'm cheating with that bit

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Great work! Coming along very well

[George Smathers]

Great progress. Do you know much about the vehicles early life?

George

[MarkyB]

Really nice work, how do you find those clamps you are using?
I bought some years ago but never got round to actually using them

[1098]

Great work. Keep it up.

[mrmorrisminor]

Mark, I found them on ebay and they weren't too expensive, very handy little claps

So a little more progress this weekend......[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

The into the engine bay for bumper irons, inner wing supports and wiper motor mounting...[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

And now to seam weld the floor edge panels and neaten up the underside....[frame][/frame]

Unfortunately then the gas bottle ran out on the mig so there she rests until next weekend

[les]

Took me 10 years to do what you've done in a couple of months! I exaggerate a bit but I was working in a phone box compared to your workspace. Hope it all fits together in the end, that bit is not as easy as people tend to think. I recall someone saying lcv's are easy to restore!! Bless them. Good luck, coming on well.

[mrmorrisminor]

Hi, thank you. I am very lucky to have had a father who built an amazing workshop! I am slightly nervous of the assembly process. My plan is to have a trial fit in a few weeks. I've been taking measurements and hanging doors etc as I go but I'm under no illusions!!

[les]

There are some packing pieces that will alter the fit of the front cab, make sure you have them,( they fit between the chassis and rear of the cab) as they assist in keeping the mating vertical faces of cab and cargo back parallel, as they bolt together.

[mrmorrisminor]

Hi, thank you..... I will make sure I have the offending articles for the trial fit

[old.bodger]

A bit of History on the van....you may or may not know.

Westdene Nurserys - Elmbridge Road Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8UJ - no longer there was built on a few years ago - now Westdene Meadows.

They specialised in Chrysanthemums and later became a small 'garden centre'.

Family owned business _ owner was a Bob Finley (died some years back).

Doesn't tell you much about the van ......but fills in a little gap!

Amazed its still about - great job you are doing.

[mrmorrisminor]

A bit of History on the van....you may or may not know.

Westdene Nurserys - Elmbridge Road Cranleigh Surrey GU6 8UJ - no longer there was built on a few years ago - now Westdene Meadows.

They specialised in Chrysanthemums and later became a small 'garden centre'.

Family owned business _ owner was a Bob Finley (died some years back).

Doesn't tell you much about the van ......but fills in a little gap!

Amazed its still about - great job you are doing.

Wow! Thank you, I have to say I've done a little research but drew a blank with the name of the nursery, I'm guessing it was parked up straight after being sold from the nursery as the last taxdisc was 1984 and I've found plant labels (Chrysanthemums) in the glove box! Does anyone on here know how long BT would have kept it going? Although the thing is as rotten as the proverbial pear, I can't find any evidence of prior welding, but it it was only on the road for 12/13 years this could explain why.

Many Thanks, Colin

[POMMReg]

Let me have the regn,cab & engine nos. and I'll look it up
on my records.