ned wrote:The cost soon add up, I was thinking more what you have invested in welding (ok so you did it but if you hadn’t how much would it have cost)
Staring to look sharp now.
Did all the front brakes and control arms before the welding at about £200 plus 2 days working on it.I reckon panels and parts for the welding came to about £1k with all the welding. Add on the gas, wire, tools, sundries and easily another £500. Maybe more. Wouldn't surprise me if it was nearer £2k all together. Downside of doing it myself was that I had to do it. Upside was that I got to take the time to deal with surface rust, zinc prime and top coat everything and get rid of the Ford foam. I think a welder for hire would have got it done in a couple of days and it would look prettier but it wouldn't last as long. Took me about 3 weeks full-time and then some.
After the MOT it was £200 for the rear drums that popped a cylinder, followed by another £500 and a week of work on the gearbox, driveshafts and rear main seal. Then that shocker of a bill for the elastic timing chain about 6 months later at £1600. Work on the leaky power steering and turbo cartridge replacement was maybe another £400. I'm not going to add all those numbers together because I will end up just walking into the sea. Hard to imagine all that horror show when today I'm looking for cushions to put in it :lol Let's not also mention the Mk.7 dash conversion, wood paneling, insulating, installing electric windows, stereo, new seats, new doors, window blinds bla bla bla. Stupid van thought it was going to get a rest in the scrapheap in the sky but now it'll have to keep going forever and ever and ever because I can't stop even though it's just a bloody duff low roof SWB Mk.6 with tiny wheels, the wrong ratio gearbox and wonky panels... I am a clown.