So it started with this:
Completely revising the front axle. It's not my daily job, but luckily all the necessary tools and expertise are just a shout away. All parts for this job are available in the surrounding shops. Some parts are must be made from scratch on the lathe like the brass innerrings of the spindles. The operator also makes the bearings fitting again which had some play. Working at Ernesto Hug's place is a real treat. We have the key and we can sleep in the car. The guys working there are thoroughly brainwashed in the Swiss orderly way. The place is tidy you wouldn't believe. Not a drop is spilled and you could eat from the floor. A nice contrast with the neighboring workplaces which makes me remind India or Pakistan.
The front axle job almost completed. My Belgium friend Ben comes to have a look.
When the front axle is done, we decide to do something that we should have done from the start, seven years ago; a complete build up of the car. We find a good place to live, the body shop has a roof and seems to deliver good work, the price is right and more over parts are available in Bolivia. The decision is the easy part. Let the hard work begin. In one day we clean out our belongings and store them in our appartement. Now its time to disassemble the woodwork.
The benches and the ceiling are easy, I constructed them with Marc's father seven years ago, so I still remember how it is all fitted together. A piece of cake.
The biggest challenge now are the side walls. They were there when we bought the car, and I have no idea how they are fitted, or let alone know how to take them out. Screws are hidden under several layers of paint and we first have to find them. Sikaflex has been my good friend these last seven years, but now I curse the damn stuff.
Then these nice little camping windows. How do they come off? The whole is stuffed with Sikaflex and nothing budges. We decide to force the parts that would be easiest to replace, no other choice. I hope we can find the parts somewhere.
The side walls have gone now only the upper cabinet and we are ready to move to the 'Chaperio' [body shop] for the more bigger parts. On this image you can clearly see what damage the water has done over the years. Look on the lef side, the woodwork has completely decomposed. This must clear up some rattles in the back I hope.
My worst enemy! Electricity. Now I have the opportunity to study once and for all where all those wires are going and to draw up a scheme. Maybe replace some wires in bad shape and lead them all through a thick pipe to the front.
I'm telling the guys about Sikaflex that has been used between the roof rack and the roof, and between the roof and the extension and between the extension and the side walls. We discuss the best way to take apart the top section without damaging the original rubber seals between the parts.
Very carefully and with a lot of patience a thin screwdriver and a plasters knife we cut the roof rack away from the roof.
Pretty heavy with all those thick aluminium sheets on top.
Next up, the roof. Again very carefully with the right tools trying to cut trough the Sikaflex. Jeeesss, what is that stuff the guys keep asking me. So strong, not like normal silicone. Later they will get more of this stuff to work on when they set on the wooden beams in the side walls.
After an hour the roof comes off and we can cruise bikini style at last!
The guys are happy, the roof is gone and the heavy work can begin.
The original windows have been replaced by aluminium sheets and camping windows. All put in with a lot of Sikaflex. You can imagine the work.
This is how the body shop looks like with a nice view over La Paz, Bolivia. Working at 4.000 meters!
till later
Adventurous greetings,
Coen
Should not be any more hazards than doing this in, oh, say Malawi 
as I did. Just take lots and lots of pics, bag and tag everything, and have fun.
