My Caddy so far

[davie. 0]

well, this started sometime in early 2008 when i saw a shunted 99 SDi caddy for sale on ed38 just down the road from me. I went for a venture down to check out the damage first hand. Although the front was pretty bent, it wasnt anything unrepairable. Aside from that, the van had survived its working life relatively unscathed, apart from some minor bubbling on the rear arches, and 2 small dings in the side panels the van was very straight!

We both agreed a price of 200 sheets and i set off for the workshop with my new purchase!

After removing the smashed up bits, we set to work straightening the parts that had taken a beating - onto the jig it went, and out came the arm!

After a bit of pulling/heating/beating with the hammer we were pretty straight at the front and ready for some trial fittings!

I picked up a wing, bumper, bonnet, headlights and indicator lenses for £100 which i dont think is bad going personally... The van was always going to have a fresh colour, so the colour of the parts didnt matter too much

Next came the flip. After battling with 101 seized nuts i finally managed to break the rear axle free and set about grinding the saddles off ready for the flip. I forgot my camera that day so there isnt many photos of that Next was welding the saddles back on, which was pretty straight forward

From there, it brings us to today! I got my coilovers through thursday which i bought from Al ( lightning fast delivery, you should all order from him ) so i got set about fitting them pronto!

Got them on and rushed to grab my ronals which have spent the last 6 months upstairs collecting dust waiting for their first test fitting!

I am pleased with how its looking. I am not %100 convinced that just a flip is enough, but ill come to that at a later date.. I also have yet to properly set the height on the coilovers, it was very much a case of "yea, that looks about right" haha. Next job is to tidy up a couple of niggly bits of bodywork that need attention as well as making a couple of other subtle changes.

Now.... The reason im here - looking at a VR conversion maybe? anyone done this swap on a van? Im handy enough with the spanners, just need pointing in the right direction

[The Monk 50]

Porcshe, bentley... what do you do for a living?

I've sen a caddy van in coventry sporting an R32 lump.... but I don't know how ir what he did.

Tis possible I guess, but as you say, you need pointing in the right direction.

I just thought my sighting would give you a possible yes to it being done.

[jesterwalker69 0]

Porcshe' date=' bentley... what do you do for a living?

[/quote']

3 Porsches, Aston and a Bentley!!

One of the mechs at Chelmsford Autos is currently VR6'ing a caddy. Was having a chat with him when i was down there and he seemed to think it wouldn't be too hard a job.

If you get stuck you could always give him a shout, i'm sure he'd be happy to offer some advice. His name escapes me at the mo but they are all proper sound guys.

Good luck with the conversion tho matey

[BADOIR 2]

Apparently its not a massive deal, to VR acaddy , a kiddie by me has just done one.. said the lump went in quite sweetly, good luck with it mate..

[davie. 0]

Hey guys thanks for the posts. still collecting info! Hope to get the swap underway soon though.

The workshop is somewhere i just work on my caddy, i dont actually work there yet. Hoping to be doing soon though.

Oliver6... very suprised you were able to identify the aston from the pic, im impressed! Its a beautiful car, and in top nick too!

some other photos ive taken at the shop