Need someone to make a few sheet metal parts

[eche_bus]

I've tried to find good replacements for these galvanized steel trim parts used on 76-79 Westys.
I've given up and am now looking to hire someone to fabricate these from new galvanized sheet metal.

I need someone with the time, the equipment, and the skill necessary to cut and bend *exact* duplicates.
I'm willing to pay what it takes and will provide sample parts up front.
I need someone that will take the task seriously and get it done, not leave me wondering why months from now I still don't have new parts.
These should be relatively easy to make.

If you know of someone, or are that person to make these please post or PM me. If duplicates can be economically made, I will make them available for purchase.

[old DKP driver]

You should able to have those made up at a Good sheet metal shop in your area.

I found a great place where I live that will make all types of accurate bends
from just my drawings.

And, since you have the items in hand it should be easy.

Good Hunting
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V.W.owner since 1967

[SGKent]

^^^ what Chris said.


I've seen many and most get tossed. I had a nice set for sale a few years back and tossed them as I got tired of looking at them after no one was interested.

Did you check with Ken Madsen at busco, Chris at bustedbus or Avery's in Washington? You can straighten most with a dolly and body hammer, then glass bead and spray with zinc or silver paint.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[eche_bus]

The galvanized finish can neither be replaced or duplicated, unlike other industrial platings. This coating has a mottled silver/grey appearance and no paint or paint technique I've tried comes even close to that appearance.

When the original galvanized coating is intact but only oxidized, it can be readily cleaned and polished with good results. This is what I did on the pieces I restored for my rear seat lower cabinet.

Once the oxidation has cut through the galvanized coating, there is no way to bring it back. If its just a spot here and there, a little paint dab in the right place and it'll still look pretty good. When there's spots all over or large areas worn out, paint just looks obvious and bad. Trust me, I've tried.

What I've found with these pieces is that because they are in high-use areas, they just all seem too far gone to restore. I have emailed and called all the usual places and answered every parting-out ad I could find for the last many months. Most of the parting out Westy advertisers here have simply ignored repeated emails, others said "nope", and the few remainders have all had significant rust on these parts. The final straw was waiting for over a month for a set of parts that looked like they might be restorable, only to find once I'd buffed them that the plating was shot through all over. Not blaming the seller - there was no way to know.

No more fooling around. Too much time and money wasted. Should have just had them made in the first place. Just didn't know it would be this hard to buy interior metal parts with galvanized plating that wasn't all fried.

I'll check locally, but thought I'd check here first to see if someone with sheet metal bending and cutting skill would take this on. I recall one poster saying "what can I make for you?" or something like that, but a search came up empty.

[Wildthings]

Clean your old part well and then have it spray welded with zinc. Should look very close to OEM when done.

[eche_bus]

[Wildthings]

Freshly applied there would be a noticeable difference between standard galvanized sheet and spray welded zinc, but with age I think most people would have a hard time telling the difference.

[Red Fau Veh]

How can these be cleaned properly? I have the peices for you but I just don't know if they are good enough, they don't look rusty to me, just dirty.

_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[eche_bus]

[copellos]

I can do them