TheDrunks - Ex-BT Van project

[Luke]

without photos its very difficult to say but @£35 p/hr its 10 hrs work seems reasonable enough theres a fair few bits

and if the guy owns a transit he must be honest as the day is long

[Guy88]

£35/hr is cheap these days

[TheDrunk]

Thanks for the feedback guys, it is encouraging and I will sound it out tomorrow morning.

[MarkM]

I am sure someone dissagree but if your Transit needs £350 spending just to do the needed welding then the tidy up stuff will be at least another £350 as if it is that bad underneath where a van will corrode then the arches and wings etc will be a very poor state. Is the van really worth your purchase price plus this cost...I doubt it. Remember that the figure you have given here is a quote, once the cutting out etc starts those prices rarely stay fixed.
Unbolt and replace quotes tend to stay fixed unless the bolt shears, multiple welding never comes in cheaper or the price you start at.
Not knocking welders atall as what begins as a small hole quickly grows.

Of course a clean looking van could still have money needed to be spent on it but it isn't as if you are doing this to a MK1 for showing, even a MK2 is pushing it but then if you are happy to have plates on top of plates etc then your choice. Scrap the van is my best advice to you and look for longer before parting with your cash the next time.

[gemini]

Scrap the van is my best advice to you and look for longer before parting with your cash the next time.

he was drunk when he bought it

[TheDrunk]

Fair and reasonable points Mark.

I took it to the guy to have a look this morning with a friend of mine. Advises that the arches and body panel probably dont need doing.

What does need doing is the rear cross bar - definately.

Can anyone tell me any more about this part? I believe it is made up of two parts which run the entire length of the van, behind the bumper and the metal that forms the inside of the back. One appears to be a square section bar and between that and the bumper is a formed plate section.

They had a good prod and poke near the front shocker tops. No holes. He advised they would check it with a hammer and if it stood up, they would plate metal over the top which would get it through the MOT and keep it running safely for now. Not ideal I know but I can come back to it in the future.


I'm looking to get hold of the 'rear cross bar' so I can supply the part and just pay for the labour of cutting out the old one and afixing the new. Any pointers apreciated as a few places I've called seem to have one part of this but not the other. I really need to find part numbers etc.


End of the day, it sounds a lot but I think sorting out these areas will get the van back on the road and it will be safe for a good year.

We are also investigating getting somebody local do to the required work for around 200 - 250 but we will see. Friend of a friend job.

[TheDrunk]

It has been a very interesting exercise really.

Most people will agree, it is madness to spend money on a van of this age and this condition. IF you are using it on a daily basis for commuting or work.

The difference is, I am going to be using it for leasure, I am actually getting a lot out of doing it up (learning and time enjoyed). The van will do less than 5,000 miles a year.

It has done 117,000 miles. The engine is mint and it is a sheer joy to drive.

I will start to spend my free time cleaning up the body work and rust in any pannels / doors etc to stop the spread.

I still think this project is viable.

Discuss

[TheDrunk]

PHOTOS now taken.

I've added them in a folder and given them discriptive titles so you can tell which part of the van it is.

http://reason.imf2000.org/van/

Left and right as you stand infront of the bonnet looking at the van.

Let me know if you want some photos embedding in the thread instead.


I took the mats and covers from the shocker tops inside the cab. They really don't seem too bad to me, is this the case? I assume these could be patched up by grinding the rust from inside the arch, then sticking a new plate section in..

TIA

[Luke]

http://reason.imf2000.org/van/08rear-cross-beam5.jpg well thats a failure and its quite bad - but a complete new repair section will sort it

[Luke]

cant see the front shock top photo

[TheDrunk]

They are now all fully uploaded, try refresh?

Yeah, Someone has agreed to do the rear cross beam for around 200 including the shocker tops. Seems a bloody good price.

We will help them by removing the tow bar and bumper prior to the work...

[djswampy]

We will help them by removing the tow bar and bumper prior to the work...

That will be easy to do. Just pull it off

[TheDrunk]

cant see the front shock top photo

[TheDrunk]

We will help them by removing the tow bar and bumper prior to the work...

That will be easy to do. Just pull it off

Haha, if only. Will require cutting out the bolts!!!

[TheDrunk]

More photos embedded.