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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:31 am
by RangerD
Thanks a lot Sean. Really enjoying it and making the most of being on Furlough!

That's exactly what I used Swanfiend, certainly sticks well and heat actually cures it. If I wasn't going to insulate it as well I might spend a bit more on sound deadening products though. Interestingly, have found some online that are Butyl based, same as Flashband. The principle is the same; a heavy, dense but flexible material, like mass-loaded vinyl.

I have no doubt that some of the specific sound deadening products are more effective than flashing tape. It's just that I have read a lot of comments saying that it is useless, which is simply not true. For me, the tape and insulation in combination were the best option and I'm really happy with the results. I try to do a bit of myth busting based on my experiences if I can, but I am new to it all.

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:16 am
by RangerD
Job done. Wasn't sure if it would be too much carpet, but it has more of a luxury feel now and I think it looks nice the way the carpet carries through to the cab. Photos make it look a bit fluffier than it actually is.

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There was loads of non-slip matting in the BG racking when I bought the van, so I used some to line the trays in the overhead storage. It's the little things...

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:19 am
by RangerD
Also fitted some VanX blackout curtains. I actually did this ages ago but didn't get round to uploading photos. Only a tiny bit of light coming in around the edges but pretty good I'd say. I was surprised by how much you can bend the rails to conform to the window recess and how the curtains still function well and stay taught. A really good product. I bent the rails in a vice and didn't cushion the first couple enough, so I ended up with a couple of small creases to the metal, which was a bit annoying. Maybe it'll annoy me enough to replace a rail or two in future but not yet!

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Not sure if you can see from the photos but I have some work to do to tidy up the paintwork and holes in the back doors.

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 3:23 pm
by Briskham
RangerD wrote:Got my bumpers and spoiler back from the sprayshop. happy with how they look. Still need to fit the spoiler.

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Bumpers look sweet mate! Did you have the textured bumpers rubbed back to remove the dimples or did you go for primed bumpers? Also i cannot tell from the photo, are the grills sprayed black or left textured?

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:38 pm
by RangerD
@Briskam: Thanks mate. The textured plastic bumpers were sanded down and then high build primer and painted. The grills I left textured black. Gloss black would look nice but more expense. Also, I can't imagine it would be easy to sand those bits, so was worried that would mean excessive high build primer was used, leading to cracking or peeling. I don't know much about painting but I know it needs to be able to flex with the plastic

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:33 am
by Anton
Lovely job! 👌👍

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:54 am
by Stedlocks
I have used the latest plastidip products and they are amazing..... I wonder whether they would be suitable for gloss blacking the inserts? I know the finish is brilliant as I've had my wheels dipped for a few months now, with no bad defects. Thats what im thinking of doing to one until do a suitable bumper mod!

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:34 pm
by RangerD
Might be worth a try. I have a mate who sprayed his textured bumpers with Plasticoat I think, but it doesn't have a gloss finish. Hasn't peeled off though! I'm pretty happy with the way mine look for now. That said, I have a pretty rad looking rear bumper with a gloss back diffuser that I'm going to fit soon, so I may need gloss black on the grills to match :D

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:15 pm
by RangerD
Realised just how many chips and scratches there are on this van, particularly on the sills. Typical mistreated fleet van! I've spent days sanding, rust treating and touching them up. Thankfully, I am able to hide my hideous touch up jobs with sill guards. The rear ones were labelled for the wrong sides, lucky I checked!

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:31 pm
by RangerD
Also set to cleaning and sound deadening the cab floor.

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I made panels of insulation foam to cover the rear footwells and edged them with sticky backed foam. I had to cut them to half the thickness with a panel saw so that everything fit back on top again! Unfortunately I couldn't fit the leisure battery under the passenger one with the foam there, so I put a few cork tiles under there in the hope that it would add a bit of deadening and a tiny bit of insulation.

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:36 pm
by RangerD
Found some pretty nasty rust. There was mud encrusted around the base of the throttle pedal. The rust has actually worked it's way under the paintwork on the floor, so I'm going to have to have it up again, rub the area down, rust treat and re-paint. What a pain...

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:43 pm
by RangerD
Getting there with the leisure battery install. It's strapped to a piece of ply, which is attached to the seat base, so it shouldn't go anywhere! I've since made a hinged, carpeted lid for the box.

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:55 pm
by RangerD
Done some nice upgrades to the lighting as well. Black sweeping led repeaters and mk4 smoked tail lights. Thanks to @Sean1066 for the tip to get around errors on the repeaters and thanks to @GsiJimbo for your help with the tail lights. Well chuffed 8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5q1j0HZyJo (no affiliation and not and ad!)


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Before...


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After!

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Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:57 pm
by RangerD
Found some nice white error free led drls as well

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I wonder if anyone has managed to install fogs of a different shape to the standard round ones? I think if you could fit a more modern shape in there it would change the appearance of the front dramatically

Re: "The Bluebird" My ex BG maxi conversion

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2020 10:22 am
by Anton
Looking good pal, keep up the nice work on this 👌👍😎