R4 GTL 1985 Restoration

[JdeW]

Update concerning the chassis repairs.
Lucky me my wife still let me spent some time on the Renault although it isn't much. After all the new house needs loads of attention

Further with the front center floor piece repair.
Cutting out the bad piece and preparing the replacement.


Then the welding proces follows and grinding and zinc protection.


Finally the floor can be closed.

Step by step the following actions are taken, fitting the repair piece, cleaning and applying weld thru primer, again drilling the holes for plug welding and tacking.


Plug and seam welding, grinding, and the well known zinc protection.


The chassis repairs are almost done. What's left is finalising the last bits on both the outside and inside of the chassis.
Here the chassis is flipped vertically so I can work on both sides.


Here a nice view on what welding on the outside does with the inside.


Some closer views, here the inside front section.


And the aft section


Surprisingly the aft section was welded some 6 months ago and still no sings of rust forming on the inside.

That's it for now and let us all hope that my wife will let me spent (more) time on the Renault

Cheers
Joop.

 

[Jurjenz]

No pictures?

 

[JdeW]

No pictures?

??? Pictures are attached, do you need my pair of glasses?

 

[Jurjenz]

It worked! Trouble with an Chrome extention thingie

Good work on the chassis, almost done with the chassis!

 

[petak]

like Swiss cheese with holes!

 

[JdeW]

It has been a while but now a small update concerning a completely different restoration and renovation.
Our house has precedence over the R4 and I assure you all that I will do this type of update only once, after all this is a R4 forum and not the TV-show Property Ladder

Last july we moved to our new old house just 3 doors further. Our old house was build in 1910 and now we purchached a "newer" one which was delivered in 1947. It was rebuild on the old foundations of the original house which collapsed in WW2 after the German army blew the bridge over the river "Aa" that runs just 100 meters away.
In the last 35 years hardly any maintenance was performed on the house so we bought it fairly cheap knowing a lot had to be done.
In short, all electricity has to be replaced, nothing is isolated, there's no central heating, etc. etc. overall a nice challenge which can be compared doing a full R4 restoration.

Our new old house


And the backyard jungle


Overall on the 370 sq yd property there are several outbuildings, enough space to do the R4 restoration at home.

Removing all the old brick wall grouts.


Working at the attic revealing an old wasp nest, I discovered 3 in total, some repairs are carried out on old rotten wood from the roof beams.
Beside wasp nests, I revealed plenty of old birds nests and replacing the 2 attic roof windows


I installed a new switchboard and adding more electricity pipes


Installed a new attic ladder

Replaced the lintel beam of the dormer window and started isolating.


Isolating the attic.


One room ready with isolating and 5 more to do.


More removing of WW2 plastering


The oldest son (who is a carpenter) is helping a hand on demolishing an unsafe outbuilding.


And that's it for now.
I think we will still be busy for the next 2 to 3 months and then I will move the R4 to the large outbuilding and completing the restoration.

Regards, Joop

 

[Jurjenz]

That's a serious home make-over! Would be a wonderful moment once the R4 is at your home!

 

[mojobaby]

I've read that 80% of heat loss in a house is through the roof, so insulating the roof, like you're doing, is a good idea, especially before winter! Do you know what the "R" rating is of the panels? Great attic space, I've always loved Dormer windows

 

[JdeW]

I've read that 80% of heat loss in a house is through the roof, so insulating the roof, like you're doing, is a good idea, especially before winter! Do you know what the "R" rating is of the panels? Great attic space, I've always loved Dormer windows

The PIR-panels are 80mm thick and have a R-rating of 4 (R4 rating ) and they are only used were there are roof tiles so the first floor and attic.
Further I use 120mm rockwool in every ceiling as an extra buffer to keep most of the heat in de living and dining room, kitchen and the new build utility room.
The main floor area is 72m2 (or 86 yd2) and will be totally rebuild with underfloor heating as main heating, allthough I still will be using the high performance wood stove.
And yes dormer windows are great, as well as old characteristic houses and the R4

 

[JdeW]

That's a serious home make-over! Would be a wonderful moment once the R4 is at your home!

Yes, once the house is finished, can't wait to finish the Renault so work never stops

 

[harbourseal]

Man what a job.

 

[petak]

You have been busy so far....

 

[JdeW]

9 Months ago the restoration changed from R4 to new old house.
The house is almost finished (still the last 1001 tiny things) and my wife and I decided to build even further, the new garage and new R4 restoration spot will start in a couple of weeks. Finally my mancave will be build by myself measuring 3,5 meters by 8 meters and 4 meters in height.
This means that the R4 still has to wait for further TLC, advantage is that the final phases will be done at home.

Here the new garage will be build.


Meanwhile my R4 spot in the shed, everything still as I left it 9 months ago.




On the opposite side of the shed @harbourseal is slowly taking over with his Vagabund project.


Today I just missed harbourseal as he was there with the Sinpar. The whistling roof rack really must drive him crazy as he left it in the shed. Maybe the roof rack will whistle a tune for the cows next door .

Anyway, you all have to be a bit more patient, especially me because my hands are itching to work on the R4 again and then I will spoil you all again with the pictures and stories.

Best regards, Joop

 

[harbourseal]

Tomorrow I'll be there again. This morning the headwind almost stopped me on the highway.
So depending on the wind Ill be taking the roof rack back to Breda.

 

[JdeW]

Hello all,
15 months ago I last put hands on my R4 restoration and still 500 small things to be done at our restored house .
But there's light at the end of the tunnel, the garage build is started.
All the conifers are out and man that was a hell of a job as some trunks were 60 cm (23 inches) in diameter.
Sorry Robert I still remember when we were sitting in my backyard and you named all those conifers in their Latin meaning but hey they just had to go .

The concrete pile foundation is placed and aligned.


The excess soil 6 m3 (7,8 cb.yd.) is digged out, EPS insulation boards will be placed and then a 12 cm (4,6 inches) reinforced concrete floor will be poured. After that the timber frames will be build etc. etc.
And keep in mind that the garage is a 100% self build, not in the hands of a contractor or some prefab thingy.

In a couple of months I will do the next update here.
Regards, Joop

 

[Jurjenz]

Keep it going Joop!!

 

[mojobaby]

The garage looks like it's going to be quite long, pretty sure you'll be able to fit at least 3 R4's.

 

[JdeW]

The garage looks like it's going to be quite long, pretty sure you'll be able to fit at least 3 R4's.

Yes Mojo, 3 R4's will fit but 1 R4 in full restoration (like mine) takes 3 times the space.

 

[JdeW]

Yesterdag I've paid a visit to @Jurjenz mancave together with my youngest son, a small roundtrip of 500 kilometers.
I'd still had to collect several leftover welding profiles and old Louise body donorparts we'd agreed I'll take over, the agreement was done 2 years ago . All that time Jurjen kept them on a shelf collecting garage dust.

The other reason was to finally see restored Louise in real live, and what a beauty she is.
A full restoration very well done, the engine ran immediately in just 1 turn of the ignition key and what a joy was it to drive a couple of rounds.
Job very well done Jurjen

 

[Iain]

Ha ha hopefully that won't be needed. Yes two years for an evening and weekend project sounds right. Mine was similar timeframe. You're making smart progress . Tie on labels are a good idea by the way. I used masking tape and felt tip pen. Most of it dried up and fell off!

I've been using masking & felt-tip. Will change and follow your suggestion pronto, staring with replacements tomorrow. Thanks, Jonathan!