New Van Front End !

[freckvan1]

Well here goes .

Had new Front Upper and Lower Panels, plus new paint
including N/S and O/S wings done earlier this year .
Windscreen has been leaking from both corners since above work done ,so sought advice .

Now been advised by three professional Body Shops it all needs replacing again .
Reasons given include lack of prep,misaligned panels , panels not flush ,poor paint adhesion
corrosion coming through seams and panels and windscreen leaking .

I would welcome opinions and comments . I've got a stack of pics and will include more if you want
and a lack of will to live .











ihgb ytfv 7tfc 6rdc 6rc 6tfcv

[freckvan1]

Big thanks to Itchy for explaining how to upload pics ! Bliddy great !

Right here's some more in a bit more order , b....y depressing seeing them ......

[Plasticman]

Ahh i looked at the picks and thought ,that lot needs doing then i read your words dont suppose you have picks prior anfd during past works
mm

[silverbullet]

Made me think of an old radiator or maybe seaside promenade railings... shocking.

[freckvan1]

have pics of van prior to new front end , unfortunately none provided of work undertaken .
I can send you pics of before , do I do this by PM or on here ?
Bear in mind without Itchy's help I'd still be cussin at the computer, so will do this tomorrow ok..
Appreciate this Mike
Atb,
Chris

[freckvan1]

have pics of van prior to new front end , unfortunately none provided of work undertaken .
I can send you pics of before , do I do this by PM or on here ?
Bear in mind without Itchy's help I'd still be cussin at the computer, so will do this tomorrow ok..
Appreciate this Mike
Atb,
Chris

[Aidan]

looks like the replacement panels have been rivetted or tacked in place and the fixings ground back and then it's the seam sealer holding it together it's certainly not been properly prepped and all rot removed prior to new panels fitting, I'm guessing they quoted x then realised as they were traking it to bits to do it properly would be twice or three times as much so did it to price, the paint and bog only cover it up and it's likely it will come back through worse than if it hadn't been messed with as it will move in the sun and cold and the seams will open and the corrosion grow

[freckvan1]

Thanks Aidan , for your assessment .Mulling over my options , feeling "cheesed off " and let down .
What a mess this is .

[freckvan1]

Apologies .
Having a bit of a problem up loading again b''''y ell !
I'll have another mind numbing bash tomorrow
Atb,
Chris

[New Kentish Campers]

I've just come across this post via the sad story on Lloyd 's van. This really is dire work. I really hope you manage to get some sort of redress from the 'restoration' expert.

On a more positive note, just be thankful that you hadn't employed this shower to do a structural repair, like a chassis rail. .... you might well not be here to write and tell us about it

[what2do]

What astonishes me is that most van owners I would have thought have reasonable eye sight, at least sufficient to be driving on public highways and yet these shysters fail to understand that their shoddy work is visible. At what point do they consider it acceptable enough to be charging for it? A lot more effort could have been made to hide the bodges by covering in filler, extremely bad practice but you'd be none the wiser until further down the line.

You're fortunate (I use the term loosely) that your chosen 'specialist' is a total xxxxxxx and made no efforts to conceal his work, thus, you've picked up on it straight away. What was he thinking? Did he genuinely look upon it with pride and mutter to himself 'another quality job if I do say so myself'??? Beggars belief but sadly more common that it ought to be.

Good luck with the future proceedings.

Ps. He's got some nerve pulling that stunt on a van with a para sticker in the windscreen!

[lloydy]

Ouch, that does not look good.

[clift_d]

On a more positive note, just be thankful that you hadn't employed this shower to do a structural repair, like a chassis rail.

I'm not so sure. Aren't some of those pictures the joint between the front valence (?) and the bumper that constitutes the front crumple zone? It's difficult to tell as the images are taken so close to the van.

[Ant-t]

What a mess, hope that you get it sorted. So much for "restoration experts".

[AlandAnn]

Apologies .
Having a bit of a problem up loading again b''''y ell !
I'll have another mind numbing bash tomorrow
Atb,
Chris

Absolutely Shocking Pictures mate....Makes me more intent on doing my own work in slow time.

Noticed you have a Para Reg Badge on the windscreen Does that explain the difficulty downloading Phots? Not enough thumbs!