Club 80-90 Forums

Its a full rear arch panel,i was gonna use some self tapping screws to hold it in place once ive cut the old metal out. I just want to take it easy cant afford to buy a new panel if it warps.

Felt pen is a good idea didnt think of that

The info on this page might be of interest:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/thin-metal.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tony

notice on the video that when he tacks he doesnt wait too long before the next and that the end of the wire is glowing all the time...this is good because if it is left to cool down it tends to spit but when its glowing even tho you have done a stop/start weld it continues to flow..but the lengh of the weld is about right for your panels but do one then do another away from there so you distribute the heat in different areas

Yes I agree with most of that although I have done all the bad things and survived so far....
I would advise buying one of those automatic welding masks as a decent dose of Arc Eye is worth a week off work in excruciating pain. Tape up the lace holes in your boots or you will be doing that riduculous dancing thing the Irish pepes do on tele!. And if you are welding indoors in the calm use a fan to dilute the smoke before you breath it in. And one other thing - before going to bed have one last look around for smouldering rag etc. But most important don't forget to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors when you finish for the night.
Cheers
Wolfie
(Only caught one car on fire welding)

worst case cenario would be burnt nuts.burnt ear.arc eye and welders flu at 2 in the morning and your shed alight too

your first job is to rip all that interior out,if you cant buy the inner arches then as you say,youll have to get some sheet and make your own but you need to see the extent of the rot the other side of the inner wing.i can see from your photos its gone along the bottom of your inner wing,if you have a window above it make sure you seal it to make sure it dont get in there any more.i might be wrong but it looks like the water has run down the inside of the outer wing and settled in the bottom or soaked into the insulation and rotted it from the inside out.you could try the galv but its not the easiest stuff to weld,youll find it will blow a hole in it rather than do a run(i know i weld galv evryday and if your settings are for mild steel itll be too hot ,and remember youll be welding galv to mild steel.if its just galv coated then grind the galv off first).also you can get welders flu from it so make sure theres a draft to blow the fairies away.good luck but make sure you know exactly what your going to do before you start

yours...dave

Thanks for the reply weldore,

Im gonna take the interior carpet out etc before i do any welding, dont want it setting on fire!

Do you mean look at the other side of the inner wing from inside the van, under the floor carpet?

Yes it looks like water has got in from the outer and settled ontop of the inner wing, the inner doesnt look great but could be worse!

The steel sheeting my mate has is coated with galv, though i was thinking maybe i could use some of the arch ive just cut off? Most of it looks rust free, its only round the edge that is rusty

Would you overlap the new panel over the new one at the top, or have the new panel inline with where its being welded to?

Cheers

get cracking with the patchwork first,get yourself some practice welding that together,make sure up the other seams is ok to so when you come to weld the new panel on its good steel.yes you want to find out the extent of the damage so look under the carpet in the engine compartment,your makeshift inner wing might have to go in further than you think(trying to remember what it looks like )thing is too theres no point really in leaving really thin corroded steel in there .if you want to keep the van then make 1 job a good one.i would proberbly try and fit the panel as a whole but i dont know how far up the new panel goes,if its concealed behind the runner cover ,take it up there.
i think your biggest problem is gonna be lining up the inner arch to the outer arch,unless you can use the original as a template(does the new panel have an inner arch?)
we are all just learning,i managed to patch my panel up as it was mainly surface rust but a couple of places had gone.im not sure how long i will keep the van as im just starting my camping life this year,if i find i like it ill be replacing dodgy panels like you.
dave.

fix wrote:

weldore wrote:

Have i amused you?

Yes fairly amused
I used to ask questions like that and with good advice I managed to survive
So there is hope for you yet

Where abouts are you if you'r near Aldershot Hants
I have a 15x10 ft market traders frame and tarp you could borrow
but the long poles for the roof are 11 ft long so you may need a roof rack to carry them ?


Andy

Thanks for the offer Andy, unfortunately im along way from you!

Im gonna pull up the carpet and see how the inner arch looks under there,if i have to cut most of it out then thats what ill have to do! Like you say weldore do a decent job once.

I might struggle to fit the inner panel as one piece,its gonna be hard to size up and shape the new piece/s needed. Ill get my tape measure out!

The new panel goes upto where the runner slides along,where the recess is.

Im not sure whether to cut the old panel upto the recess is and weld the new panel inline, or leave abit of the old panel and put the new one ontop (say just below where the runner is)

Also i think im gonna have to take the sliding door off to weld the new panel in on the right


Sorry for asking all these questions, I'm certainly benefiting from all the advice!

Right things are slowly getting there.ive cut out all of the inner arch as it had seen better days, havent managed any welding yet but will hopefully start making a new inner tomorrow.

One thing im worried about is the back corner panel of the van thats next to the rear arch,its in the 3rd picture and i think its best replacing it.

Ive had a look on the Schofields website and think the panel i need is number 32 rear lower corner,can anyone confirm that please?

Thanks

I have read most of the comments ..can i add to check for wires behind the panels before you start welding...i have seen so many cars that have had the loom cooked by welding...normally all is well at first but a few weeks/months later at best the electris fail..at worst the car catches fire as the exposed wires touch the body.
Top tip to prevent damage to surrounding areas like glass, electrics, fuel pipes etc..get a kitchen fire blanket...something like this..

They are cheap and are great for preventing weld splatter damage...also handy if things go wrong.

Hi fix,

I feel your pain. Just finished a similar operation on "Patchy" (you now have an idea of how good my welding is) PS tried to PM you about your interior as I am interested and live in Wildsen but it's sitting in my outbox. PM me if you want to do a deal

saabdub wrote:I have read most of the comments ..can i add to check for wires behind the panels before you start welding...i have seen so many cars that have had the loom cooked by welding...normally all is well at first but a few weeks/months later at best the electris fail..at worst the car catches fire as the exposed wires touch the body.
Top tip to prevent damage to surrounding areas like glass, electrics, fuel pipes etc..get a kitchen fire blanket...something like this..

They are cheap and are great for preventing weld splatter damage...also handy if things go wrong.

I beat you to it, ordered one off ebay along with a fire extinguisher the other day. Ive got the extinguisher now im just waiting for the blanket to be delivered!

Yes wiring is something to look out for though i hadnt thought about it, havent seen any wires around where im grinding.

I had an old nova where the rear lights kept on coming off and on,after a few few weeks driving home after work with no lights i followed the wires to the front of the car where i found them all burnt,someone had welded the car previously and not taken much care.

fix wrote:Right things are slowly getting there.ive cut out all of the inner arch as it had seen better days, havent managed any welding yet but will hopefully start making a new inner tomorrow.

One thing im worried about is the back corner panel of the van thats next to the rear arch,its in the 3rd picture and i think its best replacing it.

Ive had a look on the Schofields website and think the panel i need is number 32 rear lower corner,can anyone confirm that please?

Thanks

Can anyone tell me if the panel is correct for what i need please?