![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.overlandrover-westafrica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/DSC033431.jpg\" "\\"DSC03343\\"")
<\/a>Stripped down to gain access to bulkhead and footwells<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>New footwell on passenger side, note A\/C distributor is out<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some before and after pictures are particularly instructive in this case.\u00c2\u00a0 The one immediately below is of the footwell on the passenger side which was so rusted I could see the road through the left hand side under my feet as I drove.\u00c2\u00a0 When it rained my feet got wet.\u00c2\u00a0 I had purchased replacements for both the right and left had side footwells\u00c2\u00a0 from Famous Four in the UK and had Paani install these.\u00c2\u00a0 I learned after I had imported mine that Paani also makes these, but the material cost would have been about the same.\u00c2\u00a0 I think Paani would have preferred I not buy my own because they are harder to install, but they fit well and are a heavier grade of galvanized aluminum than what he has.<\/p>\n
<\/a>New driver's side footwell, in the proces of being installed\u00c2 \u00c2 <\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Driver side footwell, before<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A big part of what Paani had to do was restore the bottom of the door frames.\u00c2\u00a0 A classic issue with Land Rovers is rust that appears where the aluminum body sheets come into contact with the steel door frames, especially at the bottom because that is more exposed to wet conditions.\u00c2\u00a0 He cut out the entire bottom of all the door frames and replaced this with galvanized pieces he makes.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Paani the welder with a restored door, note the new metal at the bottom<\/p><\/div>\n
The rear “safari door” got special treatment.\u00c2\u00a0 Paani advised me that where the spare tire is mounted on the rear door it is not uncommon for the door frame to bend or break, particularly if the vehicle has been driven on lots of bad roads.\u00c2\u00a0 Ours is a good example of this, when the rear door closed with the tire on it shook as if it were going to fall off.\u00c2\u00a0 Not any more, Paani repaired and re-inforced the door and it now closes very smoothly.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Repaired and reinforced rear safari door<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The door work included taking all the doors off and remounting them.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Paani showed me if you open a door and stand at the end and move the door up and down you can notice a bit of wiggle, which indicates wear in the hings and mountings. That wiggle is now gone.\u00c2\u00a0 He also replaced all the exterior door hinge screws, using a replacement set I had imported with my second shipment from\u00c2\u00a0 Famous Four in the UK.\u00c2\u00a0 This is as much appearance as anything, it will pay off when it comes time for repainting as many of the screw heads were showing signs of rust.<\/p>\n
One of the delights of this phase of the restoration has been working with Paani\u00c2\u00a0 He fulfilled all the terms of his contract and surpassed these in several ways.\u00c2\u00a0 Our contract did say he had to replace all rusted metal, but when I wrote that I did not realize how much there was to replace and which I only notice as I go around and see all the new metal in the bulkhead, doors and elsewhere he has put in.\u00c2\u00a0 He also straightened a bend in the front bumper that I had not even noticed until he showed me he had straightened it.\u00c2\u00a0 He also reseated the side door sills that 15 years of abuse had left a bit loose and\u00c2\u00a0 off-kilter.\u00c2\u00a0 Not in the contract at all was the removal of all the door panels and roof lining that he had to do to complete the work.\u00c2\u00a0 He has all the pieces neatly stored in a corner of a shed at Opere’s Shop under the tree; perhaps I should be nervous something is going to get lost, but I’m not.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Paani is a charming, consientious young man who takes great pride in his work.\u00c2\u00a0 It is a pleasure to work with him and he is certainly going to benefit from a good “dash” for the work he has done for me.<\/p>\n