GPA 430 Finally on its way to being restored !!!

[gpa430]

Finally started restoration on my GPA. And I have met with my 'first problem' !

Here is a picture of the wheel arch - the area in question. As you can see it is all rusty and I cannot see whether the wheel arch continues in one piece with the rear bottom. Or whether the rear bottom is made out of another panel and then welded to the wheel arch (where there is the reinforcement plate). Area is marked on the photo. Would you have a picture of this area from your GPAs, what do you know about this? My GPA is the early type (GPA430).

All help and advice appreciated.




Some restoration pictures

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/gpa430/

Thanks

[leo verhagen]

Hello Stephen,

Great that you have started your restoration, thanks for sharing the photos with us.

As for your question: I took some detailed photos at Luc Coesens place at one of my visits to him. I hope these photos show what you mean. The attachement of the sheet metal plates is different on early and late models, but I believe this hull was from an early version GPA, but I'm not shure. Maybe Jan Roelse or Bob Asselbergs can tell you more about it?

[Cees]

Stephen this is better. See you at Amphib Italy.



Cees

[Jan Roelse]

Dear Stephen,

As far as I remember, the plate is in one piece, wheel housing plate (half circle), rear bottom plate, / - plate and vertical plate untill the edge.
The L-brackets are in the early type hulls outside the body and in the late type inside. Spot welded. So .....for your GPA outside.
It is maybe a modification to control the rust between the sheetmetal pieces outside the hull (and also maybe!?) to make it less weak hooking rocks or else in water or terrain.
Best regards, Jan Roelse

[gpa430]

Some more progress in the hull restoration. Bit by bit more work is being done!

Click here to see progress..... :shock:

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/gpa430/

[Jan Roelse]

Dear Stephen,

You did a fantastic job already with your early GPA hull!
A perfect masterpiece in sheetmetalwork and welding.
I nearly can,t wait to see the end of this project after the last detailed photo's.
It,s a go and sure a plus for other GPA starters with a very bad GPA hull.
Cees Witte and me will sure try to get you in Holland forever because of your craftmanship in this! :-) We talk about it ( again) in the Amphib meeting in Holland next year. Thanks for the nice days in Italy with the Dutch Amphib GPA-owners and the welding lessons!
Best regards,
Jan

[gpa430]

Got to to do some more progress on the hull, posted a few pictures on link : http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/gpa430/

[bobassel]

Fantastic Stephen
Hell of a job!
You have "Golden hands".

Bob

[leo verhagen]

Hello Stephen,

Thanks for the photo update. :thanks:
You are a great crafstman, your gpa becomes a true work of art :!:

[gpa430]

Just posted some more pictures of my GPA restoration on the following link : http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/gpa430/?
Progress is slow as things take longer to restore than one thinks. Leo knows what I mean as he is doing the same job, however his progress is further than mine. Maybe one day we can swim our GPA's together.

Also saw Richard Sanders' complete restoration of his GP on the G503 forum. Very nice work Richard.

Thanks Peter for providing us with more valuable space!

[leo verhagen]

Hello Stephen,

Thanks for your photo update, you did a very great job :!:
The quality of your work is outstanding, I wish I was half the craftsman as you are.
It true is a lot of work, but all credits for my hull repairs are for Peter and not for me. Peter is doing all the great work, I only help him now and then, mostly polishing and primering parts.
I consider myself very lucky with his help, ortherwise I would never have come this far.......

I see you repaired the deck panels as well, they look super!
Keep up the good work, its is time consuming, yes, but one day we both will be able to go for a drive and a swim together, that's for shure :D

[Donovan]

Stephen,

Great job!

I see the damage and the repairs that you have made and it is impressive. Best of luck and I will try and post some pictures soon.

Donovan.

[gpa430]

Thks guys

Luc remember you were one of the first persons from whom I started to get the much needed parts!

Great work Donovan, keep us updated with your progress.

[richardfs]

Hi Stephen
You really are working some miracles with that hull.
The photos are great.
I look forward to seeing it when I visit you.

Keep up the good work. I will keep looking for the parts you need.

(Sure see why you needed that peice of chassis.)

Best regards Richard Sanders

[gpa430]

Slowly but in process and in progress!!! hull is now complete, some minor finishing touches to hull and deck, added some more pictures to photobucket.

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c83/gpa430