Broken down with a bang!

[Smosh]

Thanks for the advice all! Having a look Saturday.

We got given a car back in October, its been sitting since with a couple of runs. Anyway, we were keeping it as a back up car for if the van broke down, or was off the roads for repairs. Went to retrieve it today; flat battery and 4" of water in the footwell. Went to bump start her... and the bloody exhaust fell off.
Got home and went to have a cuddle with my 7 week old daughter! She was clearly doing a poo, went to change her, she distracted me with a smile and pee'd everywhere. Fortunately my wife came home 5 minutes later and took over everything!

[Oldiebut goodie]

It's worse with boys it goes up in the air then showers you!

[what2do]

Thanks for the advice all! Having a look Saturday.

We got given a car back in October, its been sitting since with a couple of runs. Anyway, we were keeping it as a back up car for if the van broke down, or was off the roads for repairs. Went to retrieve it today; flat battery and 4" of water in the footwell. Went to bump start her... and the bloody exhaust fell off.
Got home and went to have a cuddle with my 7 week old daughter! She was clearly doing a poo, went to change her, she distracted me with a smile and pee'd everywhere. Fortunately my wife came home 5 minutes later and took over everything!

Hahahaha, what a day to remember.

Guess what I bought as a replacement IF/when my van breaks down or needs repairs? You guessed correct - another T 25!

[Smosh]

Sure has been! Also, slowly being tempted towards a T4!

But today has made me think I need a Syncro, just for incase I break down and need to tow my van!

[what2do]

Wash your mouth out and stop being irrational. A T4, for heaven 's sake. Get a T 25 working and all is well in life. I can't imagine having anything so modern that only requires pimping rather than fixing. What on earth do they talk about on T 4 forums? Levels of newness and shininess? Not for me, and I'm sure Fred Dibnah would agree. Not sure how he got dragged into this but hey ho........

[Smosh]

I know, but I dont know if I can justify all this! I may just need a new van.

Drive shafts £200.00
tyres £200.00
Battery (Leisure) £80.00
Headlight upgrade £30.00
headlights £14.00
inner headlights £100.00
Exhaust £400.00
Fuel tank £120.00
Fuel hoses replace £50.00
roof hinges £150.00
Main Oil seal £350.00
SS exhaust £400.00
Body Work £3,500.00
smart charger £40.00

LPG £900.00
Eberspacher £200.00

£6734

[what2do]

I know, but I dont know if I can justify all this! I may just need a new van.

Drive shafts £200.00
tyres £200.00
Battery (Leisure) £80.00
Headlight upgrade £30.00
headlights £14.00
inner headlights £100.00
Exhaust £400.00
Fuel tank £120.00
Fuel hoses replace £50.00
roof hinges £150.00
Main Oil seal £350.00
SS exhaust £400.00
Body Work £3,500.00
smart charger £40.00

LPG £900.00
Eberspacher £200.00

£6734

Why do you want two exhausts There you go, I've saved you hundreds of pounds already.

[what2do]

Tyres, and other wearing parts aren't unique to your current van. Put enough miles on a T 4 and it will need the same. Do T 4's come with an Eberspacher? No, well then I've just saved you more dosh in a roundabout way as that's a luxury not a necessity required for all variants of van. I prefer to think that T25's are deviants rather than variants!!

[Smosh]

I need an exhaust as my vans is rusting into pieces.

The eber is a either/or jobby! Likewise the lpg conversion. The list was me working out how much to spend on a new van. I also think the heads are shot on my van. I may actually need an engine so another 2k?

[itchyfeet]

inner headlights £100.00 luxury
Main Oil seal £350.00 get real
Body Work £3,500.00 whats that an entire new body shell?
LPG £900.00 luxary, need to do high mileage just to break even
Eberspacher £200.00 luxury

now recalculate

[CovKid]

Back to broken bolts.

Worst case scenario is that one or more bolts have sheared off in the stub end (ie assembly that goes through your wheel and held by that big castellated nut). If thats the case (and its common), there are couple of ways to deal with them:

Try turning whats left of bolt ends with the end of a screwdriver (friction alone may give you enough to turn them and unscrew them). If they won't budge whatever you do, the only other option is undo castellated nut, knock stub end back through and get them out on a bench. Getting the stub back through again can be challenging....

I have to say I've done that job more times than I can count (on mine and others campers). I run with good quality bolts and I make damned sure they're tight. Its not a hard job but its just a filthy job and I highly advise you have a box of rubber gloves from the off. Then theres the annoyance of getting an earfull full of grease and/or joint swivelling and falling apart.

Keep the swear box handy.

Oh and there are a few alternatives to some of the items on your 'to do' list that won't cost the earth. When you've got a young family you have to cut your cloth. I'm a single working Dad so I know all the shortcuts.

[Smosh]

inner headlights £100.00 luxury
Main Oil seal £350.00 get real
Body Work £3,500.00 whats that an entire new body shell?
LPG £900.00 luxary, need to do high mileage just to break even
Eberspacher £200.00 luxury

now recalculate

Unfortunately I only have one working inner headlight so it's only really a matter of time before I get stopped for it.

That's what I've been quoted for the bodywork. I can't weld not find workshop space. Metalmickey won't do the work, so I don't really no what else to try.

Lpg and eber, are as I explained previously in for the comparison of other vans, under separate things in my excel sheet.

As for the main oil seal, I'm not sure what's involved so pulled a number out my ass... days labour approximately.

[Smosh]

Back to broken bolts.

Worst case scenario is that one or more bolts have sheared off in the stub end (ie assembly that goes through your wheel and held by that big castellated nut). If thats the case (and its common), there are couple of ways to deal with them:

Try turning whats left of bolt ends with the end of a screwdriver (friction alone may give you enough to turn them and unscrew them). If they won't budge whatever you do, the only other option is undo castellated nut, knock stub end back through and get them out on a bench. Getting the stub back through again can be challenging....

I have to say I've done that job more times than I can count (on mine and others campers). I run with good quality bolts and I make damned sure they're tight. Its not a hard job but its just a filthy job and I highly advise you have a box of rubber gloves from the off. Then theres the annoyance of getting an earfull full of grease and/or joint swivelling and falling apart.

Keep the swear box handy.

Oh and there are a few alternatives to some of the items on your 'to do' list that won't cost the earth. When you've got a young family you have to cut your cloth. I'm a single working Dad so I know all the shortcuts.

Thanks for the advice!

As for the shortcuts, I'm trying to figure them out. Not telling the wife seems the most effective though.

[what2do]

I see your in Guernsey, does that limit your choice of garages to do the welding? I'm guessing not as you've approached MM. I know a great guy that really doesn't charge enough but does love his vw's and is in Salisbury which us a much shorter trek if you decided to leave your van with him - just a thought.

[what2do]

Also, he'd do the rest of the mechanicals to - one stop shop!