Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 11:53:03 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject: Re: '81 Window seal & weather stripping kits?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Lee Wood wrote:
>
> I'm having my '81 Westy painted before too long, and planning to have it
> done through a trusted body shop in San Carlos (SF Peninsula), not one of
> those $199 quickie-joints. I've budgeted about $2,000 for a quality
> urethane job, including:
>
> - fixing all the minor dings (no major damage or major rust, thank goodness)
> - a new windshield (old one is cracked) and new seal
> - R&R rear window, repair minor cancer on rear hatch, and new seal
> - prep and repaint "fuzzy" top and luggage rack
> - R&R bumpers, wipers, lights, etc. myself to save several hundred dollars
Do the rust repair and bondo work yourself. It is not hard, and you
will do a better job. It is time consuming, and your $2000 won't go
very far if you pay someone else to do this. Go to
http://motorbooks.com and find a couple of good restoration books in
their Classic Motorbooks section.
>
> Lately I've started to think -- if I'm investing that much in a 19-year-old
> bus, why not spend what's required to do a fairly complete exterior
> restoration now? That is, have all the windows stripped out and paint the
> thing with absolute minimum masking, re-install what's still good and
> replace the rapidly deteriorating weatherstripping and window seals in the
> front doors? I'll probably have to do it in another three years or so, and
> the parts will be more scarce and expensive then.
Do it now, when you replace window gaskets later there will be an
unpainted area that will show. Removing all the windows is not
difficult, and most likely only the front and rear seals will need to be
replace.
>
> But I have no idea where to find sets of weather stripping for the wind-up
> windows and seals for the other windows that might be required.
Bus Depot has these, but the windup channels are expensive.
>
> Anybody done this recently and can give me an idea of where to start
> shopping? Any recommendations on a paint shop in my area?
Stop by a couple of auto paint stores that supply the trade and check
their coffee pot bulletin board. You will find freelancers who do work
on the side. Best bang for the buck, just check their references. The
one you choose can advise you on the materials to use for prepping.
>
> Thanks for your help. You guys are such a great resource!
>
> Lee
--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208
Getting your share of the Net yet?
http://www.cobaltgroup.com
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http://www.caseihdealer.com/demo
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