My Westy Project...

[ScottyK]

Also, for a camper van, don't do white wheels. They'll just get filthy. I'd go with black steelies and chrome caps, or just silver wheels.

Maybe I missed it, but will you be painting the van mustard yellow or a lame color?

So far I haven't been able to sell the Bretytons, so no money for different wheels for the westy... so the steelies stay on for now. I'll likely just be painting em black until I can get a different better set for the van.

I'll hopefully be painting the van the original color... kinda rusty orangeish. I was gonna go with White or black to save money. But I found a place that supplies paint a little more resonable so i may be able to do the original color now.

[aaronmjr]

A neighbor of our family's growing up had one the same color as your van's original color. I think it had the turbine hub caps. I thought it was ugly as sin, and hated the color. 20 years later I love vanagons and can't remember seeing a westy in that color since. I think it's a fabulous color, go for it.

[natehack5]

This is one of my favorite threads.

I vote for as original as possible in regards to paint.

[ScottyK]

This is one of my favorite threads..

Thanks. I'm jealour u have a previa. Should install a pop-up camper on that sucker. Those are awesome.

more progress...

[ScottyK]

So,

I'm getting ready to paint the entire vehicle. I am shopping around at Walmart, Menards, Home Depot for a paint gun kist and a air sander. It seems to me that Walmart had the best air paint gun kit for the best price... CH brand. They also have a decent air sander. Menards and Home Depot are both about $30 more per item.

What do u guys think? okay to get the tools at Walmart?

I also need a 30+ gallon air compressor. I don't really want to buy one for $300+ so I will prob try to find a friend around here to borrow from.

I'm gonna try to find an omni 2 stage original color paint withclear coat.. But if it's over $300 for the paint alone, I might be more apt to considering painting the van white or black instead.

Thoughts on where to get painting supplies and what to get? thanks fellas.

[boardrider247]

I personally like buying paint guns at harbor freight. They are so cheap I don't even clean them, because really most of us never get them clean enough to work right again. I've gotten them on sale there for 10 bux each.

Having helped and watched some pretty skilled garage painters, be realistic about your expectations. While there are those that can get a great finish with minimal tools and no spray booth you aren't going to get it the first try.

Another option a friend of mine recommends is doing the prep work yourself and then taking the vehicle to maaco or similar. Most of those really cheap places will use better paints if you pay them for it, and alot of the corners they cut are in the prep. So by doing the prep yourself and paying for better paint you can get a reasonable quality paint job for less then you may think.

[superhero]

Scotty, I "got a guy" who paints out of his garage in hibbing. He has a full booth set up, etc and has done some great work. PM for some more details, but I've got quotes from him that are going to be close to what you're paying after you invest in all the air/stuff. He can show you some of his work too.

[boardrider247]

Scotty, I "got a guy" who paints out of his garage in hibbing. He has a full booth set up, etc and has done some great work. PM for some more details, but I've got quotes from him that are going to be close to what you're paying after you invest in all the air/stuff. He can show you some of his work too.

I highly recommend going this route. You would be amazed how fast supplies add up to paint a vehicle, and you will not get nearly as good a result as someone who does it often.

[ScottyK]

Scotty, I "got a guy" who paints out of his garage in hibbing. He has a full booth set up, etc and has done some great work. PM for some more details, but I've got quotes from him that are going to be close to what you're paying after you invest in all the air/stuff. He can show you some of his work too.

Pm'ed...

[ScottyK]

Found some stock 14" alloys for the westy... hopefully the deal works out!

these are tougher to find than one would think.

[ScottyK]

This is prob what it will look like for EW6.. I hope thats okay. I might sand and prime the tailgate. And I'll swap in these wheels I picked up. But sorry it looks so ghetto for the show. This is the progress as of today at about 3:00PM. I'll be going out to start refinishing those wheels tonight after some dinner.












Some seats I got with the guys trade for my bmw wheels. extra headrests too. Not sure if I'll swap these in for mine yet or not.. We'll see.



Thats the update for now!!

[Sven7]

No rust is always beautiful. The orangish will look great.

Can't wait to see it at the show!

[ScottyK]

some more updates

refinished the wheels. they turned out okay...





new steering wheel center. Got this one from the salvage yard.



new center ash tray thing. same salvage yard. no more big square hole in my dash!!



got the sun visors up with some more parts from the salvage yard...



new wiper roller dealio. came out of a two door jetta at the salvage yard.



took it in to get a wheel bearing done and put on the refinshed alloys and bigger tires and found this out. my right front caliper and brake are shot. Ne caliper is $300 for ONE. gonna see if the vanagon has it at the salvage yard tomorrow at 8AM and gonna try to take it off and apply it to mine... all tomorrow. Wish me luck!!! i'll need it.




i think thats it for now. If i cant get this brake problem fixed tomorrow, i may not make it to EW6. I really really want to come. so seriously please wish me luck or pray for me...

[ScottyK]

Scotty, I "got a guy" who paints out of his garage in hibbing. He has a full booth set up, etc and has done some great work. PM for some more details, but I've got quotes from him that are going to be close to what you're paying after you invest in all the air/stuff. He can show you some of his work too.

Just checking in... havent heard back from you. Did you check with your guy in hibbing?? Thx.

[palmer]

Ugh, brake problems suck.

Stuck caliper it looks like?