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A new idea put forward by our first submitter Mike Jack, who has bought a bargain T4 and is currently converting it, in true bargain stylee into his ultimate T4, maybe we could all learn a thing or two about how to save our hard earned, dosh by following some of his example/s:
This month courtesy of - Mike Jack "Tea Bags Story"
Owners Bio
Mike is quite new to the world of T4's and this is his first time working with them, he like us all is still learning but getting more informed every day thanks to this forum, so he tells us! Here goes then, my name is Mike and the confusion comes with a first name for a last name, "Jack" hence the username, "mikejack" (ive always been imaginative, so i am told), i'm no spring chicken mind at 49 years old and happily divorced for the second time (think i would of learned the first time). I work as a school technician (no not a posh name for a janitor) i work in the technical department cutting wood and metal ready for the pupils projects, i also set up any machines to be used and repair any that the little darlings break!
Hobbies are working on VW's (isn't it the same for all of us), just some of mine are the older style. I currently live in Annan , part of the Dumfries and Galloway region, was born and brought up in Gretna, just 9 miles from where i live now, moved far in my time here haven't i, i have 3 grown up kids, who have their own lives, my 2 daughters have kids now, one lives with me at the moment with my eldest grandson and the other daughter lives in the same town with her husband and 3 kids, 2 girls and a boy (when i told them to get the same hobby as me i meant the VW's).
At the moment in my possesion i have an 72 VW Transporter, currently off the road for a heart transplant (audi 2.2 5cyl) i also have a Passat and i have owned various Bugs and T3's in the past, but had to thin down the fleet somewhat. Been a member of vzi ,almost from its conception, also Vwscotclub forum and our very own local club Borderdubbers !love to read as many magazines as i can (various tastes) mainly Vw Ultra and Volksworld , but i'm also partial to Fast Ford, Hot Rod and custom car mags, in general.
The Bargain Build
So to my van, my "Bargain Build" and the start of what we all hope will be a well used feature here at T4 -T5 Club UK, it is a Caravelle 2.4 diesel, 1993 vintage, it was a kind of green colour (so i was told, i'm colour blind) mileage has just reached the 150,000 mark, [just run in so i am led to believe], i bought it from a friend around January of this year, he'd bought it a few months earlier but it was needing a lot of work and he was going to break it, i bought it for the princely some of £400, just what he paid for it as an mot failure, to me an absolute bargain..
First thing i had to do was attack the rear cargo floor, it's earned the nickname of "Tea Bag" in our workshop thanks to all the perforations !!!!!! i also had to replace the 2 front inner wing panels, they seemed to have caught the rust bug too, (it was like working on a type 2 again the amount of welding, i needed to do) other things on the list included replacing the sliding door, [had to put a panel van door on for just now, but will get round to fitting the side window in soon], the both front doors were also replaced with good second hand ones, and both front wings replaced with new, still got the 2 rear arches to do, hope to get onto them soon!
A friend painted the van for me, not a show winner but good for the conditions it was painted in, its fun to drive especially in the bright sun, the metalflake just comes alive and hits you in the eyes, the paint job stands me at around £50.00, so certainly cheap enough, so far with the new wings, doors and laods of other incidentals, an new mot and initial purchase, it stands me at a little over £700.00 a real budget van, and a worthy contender for "Bargain Builds" i think you would agree.
Still got a few jobs i want to do, windows to tint, suspension to lower etc, and interior to tidy up a bit, if money was no object i'd love to fit hydraulics or air bags and a nice set of bigger alloys, i don't think you ever really finish tinkering, changing and adapting if like me you can and do, complete most tasks yourself, there is always "just one more" addition, tweak, or accessory to fit, fiddle with or construct, but the way i look at it that is the fun of it all.
If money was no object, i think i'd like to go to a T5 with full leather interior and all the toys, need as many seats as i can as i have the 4 grandkids to consider in any purchase of a daily driver, anyway that's my story so far!
Hope it may of inspired someone to take on that older T4 as a project they really are very rewarding and basically very D.I.Y able to most, go on give it a go, you will not regret it, i certainly haven't.
This just goes to show anyone can make a T4 Look great even on a limited budget, you don't need to spnd a fortume to get them to look good, Mike has graciously added his services to our Help Exchange in his local area, why don't you follow suit and help us to help you to make that dream bus come true!!!
Do you have a T4 or T5 you would class as a bargain in terms of cost to buy or convert, maybe you have converted parts from another model for use on your T4 or T5, whatever the bargain, or FREEBY advice jot it down, and send it in to us today HERE
T4 -T5 Club UK
"Where Your Say Matters"
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