Club 80-90 Forums

Crankin-wagen wrote:In addition to what has been said above, it is worth inspecting the window rubber itself & the metal it conceals, It is unclear from the pictures if your van has factory windows, or is a cut panel van with aftermarket windows. Both types of rubber seal deteriorate & can conceal rustholes which will allow water inside.

I don't know if you can tell from this pic? I think this was a minibus originally, I don't think it's a panel van conversion. It's a 1984, so would that make it a caravelle? I'm still not totally clear what I've actually got! I tried to get some info from that sticker under the steering wheel, but it's in bits, so I'm no wiser! I'm still waiting for my reg document through the post, so maybe that'll give me a bit more info.
Anyway, I'll have a proper look at the window seals tomorrow, thanks for the tip!

It could be bad when you poke about like this one:


In the picture the slider rail has been removed it was quite easy with the damage that the rust had done. Options then are to get a panel cut from a donor, looking closely at the pictures yours is a caravelle with factory windows. Alternatively you could get the panel made up. my folder is only small so i have to do it in sections like this:


Then refit the slider rail. Best thing to do would be show that to your dad and see what he thinks.

PS if you get stuck i have a pair of window frames probably with enough on the bottom of them to repair yours and they came off a twin slider also, although i have removed one of the slider rails for the above job.

Damien's words of encouragement should cheer you up. You can weld almost anything on the T25 and they're still holding their value. Just shop around and don't rule out garden-shed welders, theres many good welders around that don't have fancy names over their doors.

Thanks for the pics Damien! You've made a good job of that panel (oh for a nice warm garage to work in!). It's good to know it can be rescued after being in such a state!