Making progress on the XC Falcon Panel Van #10 Magnum Force

Howard Astill is building an XC falcon panel van to replace the one he had new in 1977. Howard is no stranger to building street machines with more than 17 major builds for himself and Astill Design customers.
These cars have won hundreds of trophies all over Australia including Summernats Top Judged and Grand Champion. Howard helped the Perry’s win Grand Master in 2017 and BOSSXC was a superstars Super Six winner 2023 and 2024 and Summernats people’s Choice winner.
The Van will be a restomod style build with an old school 351 Cleveland, single rail 4 speed and BW disc bake rear.
The Van was a country car from Nyngan NSW and was delivered with air-conditioning, power steering and rear lift gate. Howard Bought the car at auction in Sydney, it has a genuine 52K on the clock and had been parked outside under a tarp for over 20 years.
The series will follow the restoration and modification over the van in detail as it happens.
Website Rust Panels PDF astilldesign.c...
Panel Van Playlist: • Magnum Force Panel Van...
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/y...
License code: NEWHLMQCEYO9ZHKN
uppbeat.io/t/t...
uppbeat.io/t/p...
uppbeat.io/t/p...
uppbeat.io/t/a...

[@TooOldToCare-kl3co]

Howard, always was , always will be, one of the GOATS, of car building.

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks for the support and encouragement

[@Techbitznpcs]

the attention to detail on the smallest of sections is what makes all your builds on a level above most. this van when its finished will probably be at show car level, always good watching what you do and how you work around the factory imperfections to make them better,

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks for that!

[@dtengineering1]

Wow! The roof looks like it has a black liquid in it. Stunning!

[@AstillDesign]

Smiley face

[@peterstefanovic6818]

Sure knows how to build a car, looking forward to more, and the completion! Great work, Howard!

[@AstillDesign]

More to come!

[@watchthesky.]

And that my friends was just a small piece in a very large puzzle. Looking good Howard.

[@AstillDesign]

Cheers mate, your right there.

[@ashleydunn2628]

The trial and fitting stuff - just part of what makes the final product so good. Old enough to remember staring at the pages of street machine and admiring these fabulously built fords. The days of riding the push bike to a news agent.

[@AstillDesign]

Yes its all about the preparation, I used to know exactly what day the mags were coming out,

[@steveskrobot9496]

Excellent video mate. Ive been looking forward to this. Very complex job replacing that roof skin, but you have it all under control.

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks 👍

[@billmcintosh1242]

Good to see the you and Darren back on the panel Van, a lot more work than meets the eye! Pre fitting is King! The Boys at Ford loved that lead! Howard been an ex Chippy ""don't choke your hammer"" my dad would have said! Bill Mc

[@AstillDesign]

Yeah I know mine too, but I wanted more control and less power so the choke was applied.

[@christurner4592]

This video has made my week, so happy to see you back on the van. I have a feeling your driver may still win a few trophies.

[@AstillDesign]

We shall see, ill be just doing what I like, just like the mustang

[@8marcrara11]

Great to view the process ⚡️thank you Howard and team👍🇦🇺

[@AstillDesign]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Looking brilliant Howard, decided on a colour yet ? Have a great weekend coming 🍻🍻🇦🇺🇦🇺🤝🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🌧🌧🏔🏔

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks, you too! It will be a new version of Sherwood Green

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

@AstillDesign your welcome, and if I had the money I'd buy it and get you to paint orange the colour they come out in tha day, and OK sweet looking forward to it 🇦🇺🦘🍻👊

[@ja8020]

Nice work Howard. It will have the cleanest drip rails, window mouldings and roof panels. Better than factory.

[@AstillDesign]

That's the plan!

[@carpetsteamcleaningipswichqlda]

I love the editing

[@AstillDesign]

Louise is doing a super job

[@carpetsteamcleaningipswichqlda]

@AstillDesign it's great not watching several minutes of say sanding or grinding like a few other guy's I watch

[@chrisbenn8691]

Yeah, me too. Bloopers included.

[@1936Studebaker]

The underside of that roof skin looks amazing, will sort of be a a shame to put in a roof lining.

[@AstillDesign]

True

[@TheSuzukik5]

All in the detail, beautiful work, 😎 looking forward to the next episode 👍🤩

[@AstillDesign]

Thank you very much!

[@brunohoutwipper4225]

Great show to watch especially the window corners

[@AstillDesign]

Cheers mate

[@oldrlh]

Great show as always. the van's looking great.

[@AstillDesign]

Glad you like it

[@neilperry2224]

Great to see ya back on the van

[@AstillDesign]

Yeah when I can

[@shaneconnors757]

Fantastic Thanks Howard

[@AstillDesign]

Very welcome

[@malblack2724]

Good work mate.

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks for the visit

[@enricodigenova8112]

Coming along nicely mate 👌👌

[@AstillDesign]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@linz7172]

There is a few things wrong Howard and totally understand you are learning. The shell should be braced on a rack when removing such a big turret. The car is on a rotisserie. Now it’s welded back on in this position and the lead wipe join is also welded on. this will be hardened joins. You are better of fiberglass filling these areas like you do. The turret should have been welded on with the shell braced on a rack or on its wheels. Lead wipe areas are done for a reason from factory for the shell to flex. Hope this helps. Keep up the good work

[@AstillDesign]

the Van is a ute with a roof so I don't believe there is any need for bracing. As for the lead it was done to fill a fixed joint that has extensive spot welding. i dont believe the joints on these models move. The overall body will twist but not through the joint otherwise it would be evident when the paint and lead is removed. Thats my take on it.

[@jeffkeenan5439]

are you a proffesional Automotive restorer?

[@patrickorr813]

It's the same shell as a utility I have worked with these cars basically from new they were far stronger than today's cars.

[@BluesShed]

Great stuff Howard

[@Deano084]

Great video Howard! The details you go to is unbelievable! Keep it going! Still golfing?

[@AstillDesign]

Had my first game of Competition yesterday in over 12 months

[@michaelbyrnes7944]

Nice work love PPG products and like any welding to much heat Is your enemy as spot welding could buckle the roof skin or pull heat dent in the sides as I learnt in my apprenticeship in panel beating great video and very talented Work

[@AstillDesign]

Thanks for your input

[@drifterdrifter9558]

Love it

[@AstillDesign]

Cheers mate

[@seanbyrne-smith9889]

Did you build a masterton home I think I wired your house back in the day

[@AstillDesign]

May have been, was a GJ Gardner

[@honestpat7789]

Rookie question, but with the windscreen mouldings, why did you fit them without the glass dummy fitted. I know some of the older Holdens, the moulding, seal and glass all come out and go back in as one. I did have an old 66 Ute where the previous owner filled the gaps in with sickaflex (all hidden behind the mouldings) and it did less than nothing to keep the rain out 😂

[@AstillDesign]

I did mention that the mouldings are held on with clips. The screen is urethaned in and moulding fitted after.

[@mikealdag7309]

great work , as always . I understand your restoring this to original , curious about instead of welding the roof skin on could you have used panel bond ? I've seen guys do it on all sorts of panels , just looking for your thoughts , spot weld vs panel bond for reinstalling panels

[@AstillDesign]

Being an old school backyarder I have never used panel bond so have no reference to comment.

[@mikealdag7309]

@@AstillDesign thank you for the reply, I completely understand , I'm at a crossroads with it , lol

[@buildingandpestinspectorsa6857]

Howard, I’ve never seen the side drip rail and the rear drip rail just end like that. Aren’t they joined?

[@AstillDesign]

No mate, this is how they were

[@buildingandpestinspectorsa6857]

@@AstillDesign yes, sorry. You are right. It is the later models where they connect. My apologies

[@bazhammond633]

What brand spot welder ? I have seen a few sub $1500 ones just wondering if you have ever used the cheap brand ones

[@AstillDesign]

Have a look in this one, I give a closeup of the details of the welder Replacing Drip Gutters on XC Panel Van #9 Magnum Force kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKWpY5igeNJshtE

[@Snapppz]

how much would you sell this once it's complete

[@AstillDesign]

Not for sale!!

[@timwhalan6417]

👍🏻🍺👏

[@AstillDesign]

cheers Tim

[@bill13690]

I would love to see this panel van in the original metallic brown again. But I think from memory you said you were going to do it in a different colour ? From William. My KZbin channel is: Bill's Channel 1987

[@tonymontana897]

If I remember correctly, Howard intends to build it along a similar line to his original van, colour wise, and go with a nice green pearl metallic of some kind.

[@AstillDesign]

Yes will be a modern version of Sherwood Green

[@chrisbenn8691]

​@@AstillDesignthat's a Chrysler colour I believe. I suspect other car makers bought from the same paint supplier but changed the name.

[@michaelbyrnes7944]

Carl mills …

[@AstillDesign]

Im sure Carl gets plenty of work after the moulding don't fit and the paints all finished

[@michaelbyrnes7944]

@@AstillDesign his always flat out I drop into lismore and see him now and then nearly gotta book a appointment 🤣🤣🤣 press the button at the gate