What shall I do first? - pics of rust and quote 1

[LittleMissSunshine]

Morning everyone

I hope you all had a good Christmas. Have been thinking ahead to our first year with out T25 - and was wondering if you had any advice on what I should do first with the van...

There are some rust patches which the previous owner sanded back, filled and repainted - do you think, for long term investment in my van, I would be better:

1. Continuing to patch / make do and mend

2. Replace panel by panel?

3. Save up and have complete respray of current panels with rust work done before?

4. Save up even longer for full works??

I am new to this forum and campervanning, I have no experience really and DIY but have garages I trust that could help.

How much would it cost? I can upload pics of worst bits if you like?

Any advice would be gratefully received. The starter problem I reported earlier is now ok - I think we are starting to understand just some of the ways she is different to a modern car!!!

We are also saving for LPG so need to prioritise, what would you do first???

Finally, the catch that holds the wardrobe closed has also gone, is there somewhere to get replacement catches??

Many thanks in advance, Helen xx

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Change all the fuel lines and have the brakes gone over by an expert eye.

Then, get some wire wheel attachments for your cordless drill and a bottle of Vactan (from eBay) and get the areas of rust sorted that don't need panel replacement.

A H Schofield for replacement panels and then get them welded on.

Steam clean the chassis, inspect, repair and seal (dintranol or waxoyle)

Check behind cabinets for corrosion, repair, Vactan and seal.

Roller paint or respray.

Above all, have fun between jobs and priorities will present themselves.

[LittleMissSunshine]

These are the pictures of the worst of the rust/seal problems - the rest of the panels appear fine.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Change all the fuel lines and have the brakes gone over by an expert eye.

Then, get some wire wheel attachments for your cordless drill and a bottle of Vactan (from eBay) and get the areas of rust sorted that don't need panel replacement.

A H Schofield for replacement panels and then get them welded on.

Steam clean the chassis, inspect, repair and seal (dintranol or waxoyle)

Check behind cabinets for corrosion, repair, Vactan and seal.

Roller paint or respray.

Above all, have fun between jobs and priorities will present themselves.

Thanks for the reply - have ordered some Vactan. I have had the breaks checked, but yes, will go back for the fuel lines to be done having read about the one on fire last week. Need to find someone trustworthy who can respray in the north east next !

[Plasticman]

ooo err, I think its a little more than a touch up and vactan,,,
got a picky of the whole van , I would sort brakes and such first, then lpg as that bwill soon pay for itself and you wont feel so guilty driving when it dont cost a fortune
whereabouts in Nth yorks are you
mm

[LittleMissSunshine]

For some reason the same wheel arch appears 3 times! We are just outside Castleton - between whitby and Guisborough.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Will add some pics of the whole van later, as soon as I can get on my laptop.

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Looks like alot of filler on your van. I would make sure that the mechanics are safe and save up for the LPG, that bodywork is not catestrophic, but will be more than a piece by piece job once the lid is off the can of worms.

[Plasticman]

YGM
mm

[LittleMissSunshine]

really wierd - have edited in photo bucket to remove my reg plate but when I upload here it is back! Grr....

[jimpainter]

Sort your mechanicals, brakes etc first. Get the van rolling safe. I think your going to be in for a few surprises with that when you start cleaning it up to vactan it. It looks like rust has been fillered over before. Not good as it just festers away and makes it worse. Not good news im afraid.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Thanks Jim, thought as much.

I have just edited the pics to remove my reg plate. I now need to find an honest body shop in the north east where I can take it for an assessment. Hopefully somewhere that has had dealings with vans like mine before.

All the help and advice is very much appreciated - I am sure some more experienced members must sigh when the forum gets flooded with no-knowledge newbies like me

[Plasticman]

All the help and advice is very much appreciated - I am sure some more experienced members must sigh when the forum gets flooded with no-knowledge newbies like me
Nonsense, nothing worse than buying without knowledge, and repairing without same, it can sour the whole experience.advice on here can be opinionated but will never be to your detriment,if you dont ask you will never find out.
mm

[LittleMissSunshine]

Thanks MM - I am on this forum 3/4 times a day now - soaking up people's highs and lows like a sponge, this morning I wanted to take it to Switzerland - now Berlin!

Every time I take it out or I look on the drive I grin, just want to win the lottery and make it the happiest van in the world!!!

Have friends coming over tonight - cant wait till they go tomorrow and I can be out again in the van!!!!

* although I will like seeing my friends ... Honest!!!!

[Ralf85]

Helen

I agree. Get all the important safety/mechanical stuff checked first.

I recently had a restoration job done on my van. It had less rust than you have (under that paint). When mine was sandblasted a number of holes appeared where the rust was. So you can expect the same. I also needed several panels in the front and on the sliding door replaced. My advice would be that if you are not a DIY bod with a garage to work in and want this work done properly, it will be cheaper to have it all done in one go (and don't forget the respray needs to be done in one go to ensure the colour shade remains consistent).

Done properly it will cost you several thousand pounds. I would say between £3K and £5K depending upon where in the country you get the work done. So get some quotes for the work. Once you have the cash cash get the work done in the Spring/Summer. Also remember your van could be away for a couple of months while the work is being done.

Good luck.

Patrick