Jennings restoration
- Thread starter colinthefox
- Start date
Worse than that..........failed to stop, and I had to go and find them!
Anyway, I caught up with the culprit. Very apologetic. All sorted in B&Q carpark, as you do. Nice and friendly (ish). End of story.
Today I've been playing "spot the spotweld". Four of the outriggers cut back to good metal. Thanks for the link Panky, that was a great help.
More bodywork pics tomorrow.
Commer PB Jennings
Anyway, I caught up with the culprit. Very apologetic. All sorted in B&Q carpark, as you do. Nice and friendly (ish). End of story.
Today I've been playing "spot the spotweld". Four of the outriggers cut back to good metal. Thanks for the link Panky, that was a great help.
More bodywork pics tomorrow.
Commer PB Jennings
Right, so now I've got 4 outriggers stripped and cleaned, ready to weld
Plus sundry other holes. As I understand it, in many of the usual places.
Did the first little bit of welding, but don't have any sheet steel yet, so couldn't do anything serious.
It all looks so much more do-able with the grot cut out.
Happily, I redsicovered my welding Mojo here. Long may it continue.
Commer PB Jennings
Plus sundry other holes. As I understand it, in many of the usual places.
Did the first little bit of welding, but don't have any sheet steel yet, so couldn't do anything serious.
It all looks so much more do-able with the grot cut out.
Happily, I redsicovered my welding Mojo here. Long may it continue.
Commer PB Jennings
Yes indeed. I wouldn't fancy doing that lot from underneath!
I took the opportunity to do the rear crossmember today. The old one was obviously well rotten so needed to come out.
...........and a close up of one end with it's stay.
I don't think I'm going to keep the stays, as I'll probably drive away with them down and rip the back end to shreds. It's obviously happened before.
Found a nice piece of air dried larch in the stack.
Then build it up with some timber offcuts left over from building work, and some new angle brackets for the rear folding step.
A bit of chopping here and there, then a trial fit to make sure it lines up with the bodywork, the floor line, and that the brackets and gas bottle store all fit OK.
and here's what it looks like from the outside.
Then pulled it off again, and gve it a soak in wood preserver, and I can leave it to dry overnight. I need to get it fitted, as it's key to lining up the plywood floor, and getting the rear doors to fit properly.
Commer PB Jennings
I took the opportunity to do the rear crossmember today. The old one was obviously well rotten so needed to come out.
...........and a close up of one end with it's stay.
I don't think I'm going to keep the stays, as I'll probably drive away with them down and rip the back end to shreds. It's obviously happened before.
Found a nice piece of air dried larch in the stack.
Then build it up with some timber offcuts left over from building work, and some new angle brackets for the rear folding step.
A bit of chopping here and there, then a trial fit to make sure it lines up with the bodywork, the floor line, and that the brackets and gas bottle store all fit OK.
and here's what it looks like from the outside.
Then pulled it off again, and gve it a soak in wood preserver, and I can leave it to dry overnight. I need to get it fitted, as it's key to lining up the plywood floor, and getting the rear doors to fit properly.
Commer PB Jennings
Nice work. If you wanted to keep the stays, could you rig up a warning light on the dash using a plunger switch to let you know when they are down?
'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'
'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'
Renaultvation: The switches are fitted, but all rusted up, and obviously not effective, as the stays have been welded back on at least twice. In any case the bodywork isn't really suitable at that point.
Panky: Is your Jennings fitted with water and waste tanks? If so could you give me some details or pics so I can order them? And what does an original sink tap look like? The hand pump version I've got is obviously not original, and there's original wiring for a switched type tap. I'm guessing there may have been a small basin in the toilet compartment too?
Commer PB Jennings
Panky: Is your Jennings fitted with water and waste tanks? If so could you give me some details or pics so I can order them? And what does an original sink tap look like? The hand pump version I've got is obviously not original, and there's original wiring for a switched type tap. I'm guessing there may have been a small basin in the toilet compartment too?
Commer PB Jennings
Bonnie does have 'fresh' and waste water tanks under the seats on the off side
To be honest we hardly use the 'fresh' water tank (big one at top of pic) but the waste tank does come in handy - they do take up a lot of locker space too.
No electric water pump or toilet hand basin just a Whale foot pump, in the cupboard under the sink, and a simple tap.
I have seen the hand operated taps you describe fitted to Jennings'.
To be honest we hardly use the 'fresh' water tank (big one at top of pic) but the waste tank does come in handy - they do take up a lot of locker space too.
No electric water pump or toilet hand basin just a Whale foot pump, in the cupboard under the sink, and a simple tap.
I have seen the hand operated taps you describe fitted to Jennings'.
Panky: Thanks for the info and pictures. I was thinking more of underslung tanks which would leave us with the locker space. Hmmmm. Food for thought!
Andrew: Thanks for the encouragement.
Well, today I bought a big cylinder of welding gas mix, and some steel. So I did a bit of welding.
I find that fretwork clamps are good for holding the layers together. The plates are plug welded onto the outriggers. A good tip I stole from MetalMick8y on the "dark side" was to use a flap wheel, not grinding disc to clean up the metal.
And now I've got four of these, ready to put the crinkly tin floor on.
I've given the old MIG welder a good going over today, making sure the connections were OK, and spent some time getting the gas and wire feed right. Oh, and I used some different glasses which are stronger than my reading glasses. The combined effect of all the changes plus better lighting has been most encouraging. I've never been much of a welder, but it is improving with practice.
Commer PB Jennings
Andrew: Thanks for the encouragement.
Well, today I bought a big cylinder of welding gas mix, and some steel. So I did a bit of welding.
I find that fretwork clamps are good for holding the layers together. The plates are plug welded onto the outriggers. A good tip I stole from MetalMick8y on the "dark side" was to use a flap wheel, not grinding disc to clean up the metal.
And now I've got four of these, ready to put the crinkly tin floor on.
I've given the old MIG welder a good going over today, making sure the connections were OK, and spent some time getting the gas and wire feed right. Oh, and I used some different glasses which are stronger than my reading glasses. The combined effect of all the changes plus better lighting has been most encouraging. I've never been much of a welder, but it is improving with practice.
Commer PB Jennings
Managed to fit the first major floor plate today, plus a few sundry patches on the rear mudguards.
It took more time to shape the plate all in one piece, but saved at least 2 feet of welding in an awkward place doing it this way, as I couldn't take out the wardrobe partition and had to work around it. It's even in the way of taking the photo!
Commer PB Jennings
It took more time to shape the plate all in one piece, but saved at least 2 feet of welding in an awkward place doing it this way, as I couldn't take out the wardrobe partition and had to work around it. It's even in the way of taking the photo!
Commer PB Jennings
I made a die set out of scrap metal looking something like a big waffle maker.
Then hit it once with a sledgehammer, producing this
Move to the next crinkle, and do it again.....
It distorts the metal a bit, due to gathering up one edge, but nothing that won't bash out.
Commer PB Jennings
Then hit it once with a sledgehammer, producing this
Move to the next crinkle, and do it again.....
It distorts the metal a bit, due to gathering up one edge, but nothing that won't bash out.
Commer PB Jennings
Wow, what a great and simple and VERY effective method, thanks for sharing 