Club 80-90 Forums

Perhaps you are going to the wrong people. Mainstream body-shops are more geared toward fast moving crash repair and dont/wont want to do rust repairs. Apart from the unknown issues that invariably come with doing rust repair, there's also the question of a guarantee, or lack of one.

Instead, look for somebody who is more geared to restoration work and will expect the norm of finding more work, etc. And it can be sucesfully repaired, yes as I've done a couple myself, as have a few others, notably MM

New Kentish Campers wrote:Perhaps you are going to the wrong people. Mainstream body-shops are more geared toward fast moving crash repair and dont/wont want to do rust repairs. Apart from the unknown issues that invariably come with doing rust repair, there's also the question of a guarantee, or lack of one.

Instead, look for somebody who is more geared to restoration work and will expect the norm of finding more work, etc. And it can be sucesfully repaired, yes as I've done a couple myself, as have a few others, notably MM

Yes I agree with that and I am going to the right people in as much as I learnt very early on that mainstream bodyshops dont want to know.
Unfortunately the independent people doing resto work around where I live are more interested in exotic classics, rather than what they see as rusty old vans.

Will be very interested to hear who Covkid recommends, he stated the £150 ball park price and he is Midlands based.................................

I've done three. Sadly I don't seem to have the spare hours I once had but to be honest you just need to find someone who could do with a little extra cash and likes a challenge. Its not often the whole front panel needs replacing unless its a total rust bucket. Usually if its that rotted up front, the vehicle has way bigger problems elsewhere anyway. Midlands a good place for welders and mechanics. I think we're known for it.

Generally if you've got a new seal, don't mind removing screen (which takes about ten minutes if you cut rubbers). theres usually someone local who can make good the rot. It never gets better certainly and no amount of sealant will put right the damage beneath the rubber. I tell you what though, faced with swapping a trailing arm or patching a windscreen lip, I'd go for the windscreen every time.

Cov Kid ["Midlands a good place for welders and mechanics. I think we're known for it."]

Maybe Coventry is good if you know where to look.
Telford is OK for mechanics, and Nottingham seems to be uncovering a few bodywork guys who will do some stuff.
Staffordshire, regretfully seems full of lease cars and bodyshops only interested in knocking dents out of Justins rented Corsa.

You need 'old school' rather than body shops. It might be that this way theres a glut of ex-engineers but essentially you need to work along the neighbourhood grapevine rather than the commercial one.

Think you are probably right.
I have found one paintless dent removal guy that way, not much good for the van though.
Ex Rover factory, does it almost as a hobby.
£25 per dent.
Coventry could be full of ex car plant tin men.
Count yourself lucky

I had the same problem water underneath the rubber mats in the footwells, could not work out why until I investigated my loose window washers and wipers did not have a seal at the bottom stem.

Solution sealing the window washer jets with a clear mastic and halving a squash ball cutting a hole in the middle setting these at the base of the window wipers then screwing on the bolt.....

Result no water under the matts, try this quick and very cheap fix first.

Trying to upload a picture so you don't think I'm completely wacko.......

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx74 ... 317273.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best

Reuben

halving a squash ball cutting a hole in the middle setting these at the base of the window wipers then screwing on the bolt.....

Genius!!!