Andy Tats Hinklevagon

[fidget]

Hi Mick

Well the plot thickened today, poke about with a sharp stick at your peril, I poked and found!

Usual place , important as well as it gives loads of support to the rear of chassis leg/upper shock mount etc, any how cut a bit out and will let in a nice piece of decent steel

When you say its important , How important ? MOT failure important? mines just starting to get crusty . But I left it as It looked like a job thats easier with the engine out, which is on my to do list when the right subaru comes my way

James

[Plasticman]

Hi James, you better now?
They would have to be good to spot it unless its really ragged?
But its within 12" of the spring turret and shock mount so recon it would count,
mike

[fidget]

Cheers mick

Finaly recovered, still got a tickly cough

Ill chance my arm I think , me first MOT is a to do list really, so see how it goes.

James

[Plasticman]

Oh heck, lets hope it a very short to do list like a blank page
mike

[fidget]

Should be

Only the welding and a few electrical gremlins and it will be time to find out


James

[Plasticman]

Well had a further look at the rear bit and added a piece in

now self etched

just tacks on the inside and puddle welded the bit that goes down the inside of the chassis leg
Seam welded the lot on the outer arch side

First rough make of the rear side deck

Trial fit

from underneath

Tacked in place


Once its welded in I will reshape the contours of the grooves to match, there is a small area in the second from last picture that requires a small support and then another piece to close the area to the wheel etc.
Bank holiday so of to the coast tommorow.
mike

[toolsntat]

Bank holiday so of to the coast tommorow.mike

Andy

[Plasticman]

Aye, I dont usually get out on BH's as theyre too bliddy busy, but worked the last one and better half also wants some me time!,
Must be odd watching things happen to ya van that you didnt know where there to be done bet you thought it was good in there eh!
Other side rear is nearly as bad so will cut the lot out and start again as it too has had a patch or two in time gone by, its not strictly body but would be a pig of a job to do on a painted van and not do damage, after this it will be attending to the rear valance and then the awkward job of remaking the top part of the lip for retaining the tailgate seal , No 1 jet methinks, very delicate hmm, then the drivers door bottom is MISSING oh and the bottom of the slider is needing some kind words,might even have to stick some lead in here and there, not to worry it will be as new and hopefully the repairs will not be obvious,
Mike

[Plasticman]

Well quick change of subject , had me day off and after scarborough went to filey, twas rough


stopped at a spot near driffield which would be a brilliant stoppie , good cafe in nearby garden centre, 5min walk into town and by a stunning clear chalky trout stream , you can watch them easy up tp 2foot long,

Ah well back to welding in the morning
mike

[Plasticman]

Well enough digression,, back to the rear end, this bit missing

lucky got skinny fingers so made and held a piece in with me right mit and migged cak handed, care taken as it got a bit hot... anyhow once held I tacked it and ran a bead of brazing down the part near the light mount as I didnt want a great thick weld showing, not the best picky

next came the lower rear panal N/S

easiest way was cut the bad out and let a nice thickish bit back in, gassed it and will planish off and touch it with the hammer, shouldnt need filler with luck

need better glasses as I could swear it was welding straight as I did it

this from the rear

Repeat the hole lot on the O/Side..
this is the bit that will need some invention

and

Making the parts wont be that much of a problem, cutting the rot out will be harder, I have given this some thought and reckon I will make a jet between a .5--.75 and use .8 mig wire as welding rod and wear my strong reading glasses to get up close and then gas the sod in. fun and games no doubt.
this picky is of one of the rear arches

factory original, but look at the ammount of sealant in there, it has over the years shrank and peeled away from the metal and allowed water etc to do its thing. this has been the cause of all the rear arch problems on this van, the sealant is still pliable but hasnt adhered as well as some.
anyhow thats it for today, rear arch and lower 1/4 ready to fit, I will get the other side to same state then fire up the grit blaster and push it outdoors and give it grief, then weld em on....
mike

[toolsntat]

Kin heck Mike you stick much more metal in it I'll have to get an HGV licence

You sure it weren't swapped with a scrapper while your back was turned

Them arches , I always thought I could feel two skins of metal that had parted

Sterling work chap

Andy

Ps that sleepy spot looks better in your pic than Googlearthstreetview

[Plasticman]

How did you find it with that? all I said was nr driff?
If you's worried about the extra metal then I can allways stick some filler over it and a good daub of underseal
thing is , there isnt really asny other way of doing it and Im not going to waste my time or yours painting crap..
your arches yes before I chopped them out I had a good grope! and thought has someone stuck a pattern one over the top of the original or whatever, I saved all the stuff for you its really sobering especially as the van didnt look as bad.
mike

[toolsntat]

How did you find it with that? all I said was nr driff?
mike

The same way I look for em on the maps, odd bumps in the road

Andy

[Plasticman]

De-ja-vu

I think whilst I was out YOU must have snuck down and swopped that scrapper that was parked as gypo bait at your mums
This side isnt quite as bad, well not the JP, I will still have to cut the back part off to get in but Im not going to unpick the seam at middle panal as it would be a major job and not needed as the floor is good.
Cut the lower arch off and drilled the spots out and cut the outer edge of the old arch back, so will make good the pattern arch and let it inbetween the old and the upper wing, should be nice and tidy,


Seen some of the wworst lumpy welding ever, not sure wehter to fire up the gas axe or get the stihl saw out

theres so much of it

Anyhow cut most of it off thats in the way,

will replicate same as N/S
Rear panal about the same

Tacked the n/s lower wing back on, spotted a support plate to the rear

which I will lead up

just the spot holes to weld up and this bit will be happy, gassed the corner as like the weld to be acurate, neat and filler free.
chopped up the pattern arches and got them ready to fit, so more fun tommorow
mike

[lloydy]

So Mike, is this your day job or a hobby? As your doing some pretty good work there.
Makes me want to buy a rusty van, just to see you weld it up