Kitchen out bits to sort

[waltraud]

I've finally pulled my westy 83 kitchen out and knew there was some work at the floor level, having takeen it all aprt quite sensibly i was relieved that its not bad really all things considered. I've got a few questions for the exp[erienced here, firstly can you get a repair section of the side panel strengthening T piece as mine has a couple of inches of rust but prob neds replacing completely below the water filler (old style quare).

One question i have is whether the early westy square type water inlets are less reliable or more prone to water ingress than later round ones- certainly they are more fiddly and expensive to replace! Just thought that if necessary i could weld up the old hole and cut a new circular one into the side for a more modern and simpler round filler?

I'm planning to cut out rot, weld good, use bilt hammer weld throguh primer then paint with combclour then dinax. Can't quite work out if its worth putting insultaion of any kind (have read lots of threads) but did think a few bitumen like pads on the side to keep noise down.

Anyone know whree you can get the rubber bungs/grommets to go in the holes in the top section of the inner sill? cheers. Waltraud

[waltraud]

few more pics, i always like plenty but rarely put them up so its about time.

[Plasticman]

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 2&start=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
page 4, this is the reason for the slightly raised bit as you call it,
nice wrust
mm

[waltraud]

Ahhh, yes i rememebr that one now you remind me- thanks MM. SO i'll get a cold chisel, lift that section a bit and cut it at some point perpendicular to the bulging seam so that i can lift it, clear out crud underneath-----scary, what if ther a right mess----then gently pat back down and weld up.....hmmm, i'm camping in a few weeks, work ,kids, recession- must do it and not p*ss around on computers. I reckon the amount of time i spend lookig at posts before tackling a section could have completed a full resto by now. I'll post up some pickies of the nasty section under the water inlet and floor bit.


Also occurs to me that the 'raised bit' is not too far from where there is some sort of sponge under the floor where the westy fresh water tank outlet pokes through- nice bit of design that, sponge meets water meets floor. Cheers

[Plasticman]

yep just ease it up and have a poke abouit, I doubt there will be holes or rot yet, it will be most likely just the sandwiched bit that has rustedm one of the reasons for but welding rather than sticking patches over stuff, and after you have cleaned out yep spray some zinc primer in there and bang it down and tack it...
mm
what bit of metal were you on about that may need replacing . stiffener?

[waltraud]

The bit I need to cut out and replace is about 2" wide and sits horizontally just behind the 'ply lining' wall I.e. it's between the outer skin and some silly vertical seam which runs along the floor at the rear of the base of kitchen units. In yours and others posts it looks like u've cut out any vertical seam- is that the stiffener? I was thinking that I would need a plate with a 1/2 inch vertical lip to weld to our skin and would cut out a section of the 'stiffner' wels my plate under it then back on top and tacked on. Better with pics coming soon.

[Plasticman]

I think I know what you mean, its more for affixinng the trim panal to I think, I havent bothered with it,
mm

[waltraud]

So now some pics of bad bits.

[waltraud]

So i took a morning to cut out the crud and prepare it all for welding, nothign too suprising except a bit at the base of the c post which i can't get to yet, Shoukld be doing this lot tomorrow morning. I cut all of the electrical connectors behind the kitchen block which i'm going to put back with quick release connectors just in case it needs to come out again. In the process i vactaned the dodgy bits then used etchweld primer. Taking the rear kitchen block out of a westy is a pain!

[waltraud]

Well i've welded up the holes, vactan, etch primer and then combicolour....unfortuantely i did not leave the CC lkong enough to set - takes weeks from memory and put some dynax over it a bit too soon. Oh well, still well protected but a bit cracked up looking. As part of my plan to tajke out the kitchen, weld up and re-fit i've put some flashing tape on all panels and for now have left out the bubble wrap insulation, I have however separated all of the wires running to the back of the kitchen electrical unit area and used quick release electrical connectors so that the whole thing can easily be taken out if needed without loads of fiddly wires ebverywhere. Also replacing the water hoses. At same time have put a new starter lead in from front to abck with a heavier load capcity- makes the starter spin very nicely! Next to wled B post base, sliding door lower and rear lower front sill area, have a good s/h rear hatch to go on having recently replaced the rusty front o/s door, thanks for looking!