TheDrunks - Ex-BT Van project

[MarkM]

still dont think its gone but if it has the battery tray isn't an expensive part and it bolts on - easy job

and those arches look way better than mine

Still more costs and it wouldn't be the first MOT failure because of a battery tray
I have two arches needing some attention but it is 'some' not lots but even if they were falling apart the rest of my van is solid. It is 6 of one 6 of another so what is acceptable to one person isn't to another.
I wouldn't have even bought this particular van as a look around would have said big £'s to fix. To be honest some of the areas I wouldn't have known to check before I saw some of the horrors people have posted on here, but that rear valance would have been enough for me to walk away. The fact it is a Transit doesn't come into it rot that bad on any vehicle should set off warning bells to back away.
Each to their own but the van is currently a wreck. Until now I have been polite about it but it is only fit for wieghing in...after you strip anything that hasn't rotted and sold on ebay, might even find that in bits it is worth more than the price paid which hasn't been disclosed (probably and it is only a guess as rather a high price was given for it )

[Luke]

sometimes a little bit of welding is as much of a problem as a complete panel - like that valance - replacing the lot will be job done
to look at it it looks bad- if it had one tiny hole in you would look and think thats not as bad, and plate it but next mot there will prolly be a new hole at the side of it wheras if you'd done the lot there wouldnt

[MarkM]

Like I said 6 of one 6 of the other. There is no right answer to this subject.
But as far as this van is concerned deep pockets IS the answer.
Then down the line you have the other possible issue of trying to sell it and a potential buyer sees the plates and thinks ok they ARE solid but what about what it is welded to? You can't win then. The valance wouldn't be obvious since it would be replaced totally.
In a perfect world you would need to be like Sundowner, then again there is that Norwiegen? poster who has done amazing things on his flatbed. Sundowner creates new panels and makes them look like they were meant to be there, the other stitches it all together (very well) then we have others who plate next to plates and on top of plates well extending the vehicles life but wouldn't get anything other than scrap value for them if they were ever sold

[TheDrunk]

I paid 300 for the van but the real costs are higher (getting it moved to present location etc).

I've comitted myself and at the very least, I'm going to get a year out of it for my money.

[dangeeeeerousss]

well this is it . it depends on what the van means to you really and if you are intending on keeping it or not
its like i said to my misses when she gets fed up because im working on the van all the time. we bought a ford galaxy for £13000 coz we have 5 kids it was a nice drive when it was running
we were cramped and no boot space we had it 5 years it was on the road about 1 and a half years in total. the engine blew so i wouldnt sell it coz its not worth anything with a duff engine it was then off the road 3 years before i found a decent engine for £225 everyone were quoting £1000 upwards i got it all done a few weeks later that one went to then it was stolen i got £4000 back off the insurance.
now i would sooner of piled that £13000 into rebuilding the van that is spacious and then some also knowing ive built it and it aint gonna rot in the next 20 years now fingers crossed chassis and flooor anyway and build it to my spec with more mod cons than any car company can offer and to my taste because i aint intending on getting rid of it in the next 10 years at least if i ever do

[MarkM]

I paid 300 for the van but the real costs are higher (getting it moved to present location etc).

I've comitted myself and at the very least, I'm going to get a year out of it for my money.

Well condition wise you paid too much, but then I think you knew I would say that

Where is it located now that means big costs to you? AA or RAC membership would make for a cheaper relay unless you are on one the countries many islands, though if you are other than perhaps the Isle of Wight or Isle of Man they are all pretty windsweapt with loads of sea salt so that body is going to get worse very quickly.

[dangeeeeerousss]

i cant really knock the van though im the second owner it was serviced regular (well it went in to fords regular to be serviced and parts but from what i can see everything is original and never been touched) it had 4 new tyres 2 new cats 12mth mot 12 mnth tax for £500 i had 2 years trouble free motoring its only when i decided to project it that ive come across the problems i have

the galaxy was mint. and i put that down to the oil the first time it blew.
i always service regular and swore by magnatex oil until the engine blew and to our suprise found the oil had solidified and its still a mystery now but you live and learn

[Transit-Tricky]

Not much to do with welding but...

coz we have 5 kids

5 Kids - Blimey
Actually, we've got 5 kids too
5 kids will drive you mad. And in both our cases... drove us to Transits

[TheDrunk]

300 probably was too much but then it was an ebay job and I went out on a limb.

At least the engine is sound, should get another 100K out of it, in this van - or another.

In a couple of weeks I will get it piled into the local garage for all the work required to get the MOT.

[dangeeeeerousss]

Not much to do with welding but...


5 Kids - Blimey
Actually, we've got 5 kids too
5 kids will drive you mad. And in both our cases... drove us to Transits

i went mad after the 1st

how much have you been quoted to put it through its mot buy your local garage ???

[gemini]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-TRANSIT-120- ... 0129222406

[TheDrunk]

Thats the one

[gemini]

tbh that shouldnt have passed the mot last year with the rear cross member in that state

[TheDrunk]

That is exactly what I and my mate said. There is no way it got passed by a legit garage last time. Still, things could have been a lot worse.

[TheDrunk]

I might be about to make a grand on a hardware sale. How much of this van do you think that would take care of?