Plans Plans Plans

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Mick

Tuesday, 21 April 2009

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Well, my intention of a post a day is taking up a fair bit of time (see previous blog post) - the posting itself doesn't, but I now remember why i don't frequent forums much - you lose hours from your life :)

For example - I've just spent about 2 hours reading this whole thread - http://www.ssvc.org.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=39870 which was linked from the DSK forums as a motivation booster. Well all I can say is mad skills, this guy makes my bus resto look like a walk in the park, in fact I don't know why mine isn't finished already. :) If you're restoring or planning on restoring a splitty, this is an excellent resource, for both reference and inspiration.

Another amusing thing is that revisiting old forums, shows my age (and lack of progress on the Ghia). For example I joined VZI in 2003 and only had 6 posts. Joined The Samba at the same time, although got a few more posts there as that's where I used to hang out most of the time. So that's basically 6 years and NO progress on the Ghia - lol (I will say in my defence that for most of that time I was in Australia and my Ghia was in the UK though).

This leads me on to the main reason that my bus isn't finished - there are a few jobs higher up the list. One of them being the Ghia. but now I've finished with building renovations (for the imminent birth of our first child) I now have some time to do other stuff (although this may be shorte lived - see previous comment RE first child).

First up is an extension to the garage. i need more room - both for the cars and for storing stuff from the house during our planned extension build. So first job up is choosing and erecting a garage. The choosing stage is actually finished, I've got a load of quotes in and have chosen a supplier. I'm basically adding a 6metre x 9metre steel framed, steel cladded garage on to the back of my existing 6 x 6 brick garage and then knocking out the rear wall - this should give me room for 4 cars and still have enough space left for storage and a workshop area.

First purchase for the new workshop is a lathe - this will allow me to make the remaining parts required for the suspension for the Ghia. Then, I can finally fit the engine. With the engine in I just need to hook everything up and I can get the damn thing on the road (it sounds so easy - lol).

Then, and only then... I can start on the Bus.

Need to wait until i pay myself before I can start with the garage. So first thing next month I will be placing an order for the garage and then submitting the plans to local council (they won't give you the pans until you paid a deposit )

In the mean time, I'm gonna prepare the site for the garage by levelling it out and moving the existing shed. I'll also be looking out for parts for the splitty.

Do something every day seems to be the often repeated rule - so that's what I'm now gonna aim for - a post a day, and a step forward with the resto's every day.