Club 80-90 Forums

Looks like the van didn't like the previous owner and was secretly slowly dismantling itself for a quick escape......or to see what his face looked like when he came out to see a flatpacked camper.

I bought a 1988 T25 with just a small bit of rust in each foot step and 110,000 miles on the clock. I then had a nightmare six recovery scenario which turned out to be a very rare random intermittent ECU problem. I then had a gearbox failure which was fixed and then stranded me in France with a warranty covered failure. I had an engine rebuild at Xmas which let go again under warranty in August and isn't fixed yet. I have spent more time and money on that van than all my previous vehicles put together and have seen examples of German engineering design which frankly leave me bemused. I am embarassed at the number of times our cul-de-sac is blocked by the recovery vehicles - approaching a dozen recoveries in the three years I have had it. We ended a ten year unbroken Two weeks touring France this year because SWMBO doesn't trust the damned thing any more. I am however, stupidly determined to get one summers worth of holidays and trips without coming home in the cab of a breakdown truck and so am sticking with it for now.
So just now if you asked me if you bought a lemon I would say yes. It is called a T25.
Cheers
Wolfie
(OK now when is that appointment with the counciling service?)

Wolfie, I think you break down on purpose 'cos it saves fuel if you come home on the back of a truck!
Seriously though, well done for sticking with it! It's like a love affair ain't it! The buggars push you to the limit but you stick with 'em!

i reckon the title of this thread would be perfect for the name of the magazine by eatcustard

weldore wrote:i reckon the title of this thread would be perfect for the name of the magazine by eatcustard

Which is?

PUT THE WHISKEY DOWN AND STEP AWAY KEITH !!!

The whiskey is down and I still don't get it!

the title for the magazine....DID I BUY A LEMON ?

weldore wrote:the title for the magazine....DID I BUY A LEMON ?

What's lemon got to do with custard? Can you get lemon custard? Sounds nice! I'd give it a go!!! Still confused. I'm off to bed! Wife's having an early night!

murdoch wrote:is it as bad as mine ?
still waiting for a few bits before i start it.
stuff like this is new to me too, but love getting stuck in sometimes. if i do ""cock"" it up, i'll just take it to the shop.
good luck

Bloody hell! NO! is the answer to that, i have a fair bit of rust under each cap but thankfully none of it has holed the bodywork, I'm glad i found in now though cos i imagine it gets missed quite often under there (out of site and all that!) I would still love to find a the correct panels to repair it though rather than rubbing back and filling it, i did miss one on ebad the other night for that side of the van too. shame. What parts are you waiting on before you start? I'm gonna deal with it over the winter i think, i'm not sure to what extent yet though but it would make more sense to just cut it all out and start again i think (Do any other members agree??) Good luck with that though mate, i would like to see some pics of your progress if you dont mind. Just as an aside, I imagine a lot of members on this forum are bald! or soon to be cos i feel like pulling my hair out every time i find some new problem!

Rick.

i'm waiting on a local company who is folding the required metal for me, and another local company who is repairing one of my cylinder heads, so i can move the bloody thing before i start!!

will take pics when it all happens dont worry

Hi all anyone know what type and thickness of steel is used for panel repairs got a similar probem cheers mac

normal mild steel 0.3 gauge

If you get the sheet from a company that sells body panels or welding supplies they will provide you with the correct gauge mild steel. The gauge you need depends on what you are repairing and wether you need to shape or form it in any way but for most body panel repairs they will have a stock size gauge that everyone uses. Chassis repairs, etc, will need a heavier gauge than a typical body panel or section for example.

Also, the Gas versus Gasless, I use both depending on what I'm doing but its handy to have both available (especially when you run out of gas on a Sunday). You usually grind back welds anyway irrespective of wether you use gas or not. Worth masterimg the MIG if you like motors older than 5 years......

And if you own a bay, essential