German 1989 L300 build

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Hi guys,
i figured i could start a thread today. This is what i bought:








Specs:
MY1989
302.000km
2.4l gasoline engine 111hp
5 speed
automatic locking hubs

Plans are:
-Remove all the rust (it`s not as bad as it looks)
-Skid plates
-Front bumper with winch, 2 8" HID lights and 4 6" HID lights
-Rear swingout with the spare tire, hilift, shovel and jerry can mount
-mild lift
-camper conversion

First thing is to get it ready for the TÜV, the german safety inspection. And i can tell you, those guys are really hardcore...

[Steinbruchsoldat]

All the lights i`m going to mount:

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Some supplies came in:





Then i started working:











Not the nicest work, but it`s the first time i`m doing bodywork, and you won`t see it anyways...

And some more:








My "shop":

[FalcoColumbarius]

Well, it appears that you have your work cut out ~ and some of your van, too. We would appreciate an illustrated essay of your work when you have the time, this is an excellent project.

Falco.

[Steinbruchsoldat]

A pic from today:



I usually take pictures of every step of work i do, but it just get`s to dark at the moment and i don`t have the time. But i`ll make sure to post lots of pictures...

[mararmeisto]

Nice welding job. Did you remove the rear window to get all the way up to the edge?

Also, if you want to avoid having to do that repair again (depending on the grade of steel you used), you should put weep 'dimples' in that same spot. Trouble is, water is trapped by the rubber seal in that one particular spot, and then it just rots away. I would suggest that the bumper sticker used to cover the initial damage only aggravated/accelerated the problem over time.

Looks like you're quite handy in the driveway - I'm looking forward to more renovations/restorations.

Tschuss!

[L300Foca]

Nice job! I cant wait to start with my Deli, she need same things! :)

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Hi,
i didn`t remove the rear window, but welded close to it. I use some galvanized steel, so it won`t rust. I`m also going to seal the rubber seal, so there`s no possibility for water to get in...

Right side welding is finished:









Looks like an incredible bad job with the flash, but it looks fine in person...

From what i`ve seen there are only one or two small spots on the left side. Then just the three spots on the rear fenders and i`m done...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Out of curiosity, how does the undercarriage look?

Falco.

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Everything else looks fine. It's just those few spots where the undercoating came loose and water was trapped...

Hope to get the left side finished today. Then it's just the three spots in the rear side panels and I'm done. Hope to get it painted on saturday...

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Made some great progress today...

One of the last few spots:



My dad fitting some metal in:



Me cutting the rust out:



Finished:



My sister sanding it:



Me wirebrushing the underside:



Result:





Then my sister and my neighbour helped me painting it:





Result:



Me thinking:



Some bondo action on the rear door:



My dad welding on the side door:



Me welding in the last piece on the underside:



Then we started masking the car:



And sprayed it with some bedliner:







A few things left and i`m ready for the TÜV on thursday...

[mararmeisto]

Really starting to come together well.

Looks like it had been sitting for quite a while. The bedliner covering is going to be a good addition - just make sure the surface is nice and dry and/or mostly rust-free before you apply it. Otherwise you just trap it underneath and it rots through the other way.

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Everything was painted with a paint similar to POR15 before i applied the bedliner. So it should be fine rustwise...

Big setback today: For some reason the bedliner didn`t stick really good to the car`s old paint and peeled off at some spots. Looks like i have to redo the paint... :Wow1:

[FalcoColumbarius]

Total bummer.

• Did you degrease the old paint finish?
• How cold was it the night after you painted it?
• What grade of glass paper did you key the surface with?

Falco.

[Steinbruchsoldat]

Same procedure as always: Sand with 240 grit, degrease with acetone and paint. Did this to a few cars without problems so far...

The night was warm, i think about 18°C. I think it was just a bad charge of bedliner that i got...

Will redo it tomorrow...