Chapter 5 - Please take a seat

Since i first bought the van, my search for parts has taken me up many avenues and unfortunately a few dead ends. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the frustrations of ebay, and the "Sniping" that goes on, needless to say, i have fallen victim of this practice many, many times in my search for seats, and other parts for Project Orange.

Some people must have far more money then sense, as i witnessed one rear bench seat on ebay fetch £385 !!!

For a 30 year old seat? Was it from a Oettinger i here you cry? no, it was from a normal Caravelle !!!

Given that my pockets are not that deep, nor even if i had money to burn, would i ever consider giving such a sum, i continued my quest, until luck would have it i stumbled across a complete rear set (Middle bench 2 seater, & rear 3 seater, complete with bases and kick boards) for the princely sum of.... £50

Keith, if your reading this, thanks mate, your top bloke, and one that couldn't have been more helpful,   he's a trimmer by trade,and lives the dub life

 

Turns out these seats were destined for Spain 4 years ago, but the project vehicle went off to be dipped, and a lot less of it returned, so the vehicle was never completed, and they have been sat in his workshop ever since, awaiting a new home.

Anyway I did a 230 mile round trip last night after work to pick these up, so today was the first chance to have a play with them - however when i got home from work, a few goodies had arrived in the post!

First up is my new N/S wing, another flea bay bargain.

A O/S Sill, from A.H Schofield - Quality

Before we start putting all these panels on, I'm going to have to patch up all the holes I've cut into the van, when removing the rust, so a little bit of new steel was required ;)

I bought a mig welder over 10 years ago, and to be honest, I'd not seen it in that long, i had presumed I'd loaned it to someone who forgotten where it lived, however, as is normal in my life, while looking for some cable in my shed, i found the welder rusting away in the corner.

Once i cleaned the tip, replaced the broken plug, unbelievably the welder worked! I just need to get the gas bottle refilled, and i should be good to go! My welder has its own patina......cool :D