Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,

I know this has to be one of the most asked questions but I thought I'd get some up to date advice. Ive recently purchased a T25 which needs a little rusk work. I'd really like to give it a go myself but I have a very little knowledge of what to do or product to use. Any advice, guides, products or even "dont bother" would be appreciated. I would like to give it a go so help would be appreciated.

As you can see from the pics it looks like someone had a go at it before and looks liek a pretty bad job. Ideally id like to sand out the dodgy paint job and rust and then treat prime and possibly paint and blend? Is white easier to get away with?

Thoughts appreciated.

Whoever did that has made a right mess, looks like satin emulsion . At the very least you are gonna need angle grinder with wire brush to get as deep as you can to clean it out, them vactan, seam sealer, primer and rattle can of your choice. The problem is, the rot will come back, as they tend to go from the inside. Have you had any panels off on the inside to check the state of it. Daz

Oh dear. what reason/excuse did the vendor give for that little lot?
can i assume that lots of other areas are the same
i wouldnt normally suggest getting in there with an angle grinder as you will clean crap out yes, also though you will remove loads more metal (yes there will be some left) and remember the guy that was responsible for that well he no doubt did the same,
you will end up with a few holes i fear, sorry i cant be of more use but cant/dont do temp repairs like that.others will be along that can
post up a few more picks of the van so folk can get a better idea.
and welcome
mm

Dazco wrote:Whoever did that has made a right mess, looks like satin emulsion . At the very least you are gonna need angle grinder with wire brush to get as deep as you can to clean it out, them vactan, seam sealer, primer and rattle can of your choice. The problem is, the rot will come back, as they tend to go from the inside. Have you had any panels off on the inside to check the state of it. Daz

Thanks for the advice,

Do you have any recommendations for seam sealer & primer?

Also do you know of any guides for this process?

What metalmickey is trying to say is that although you CAN do temporary repairs on that sort of damage, you're wasting your time, as the rot comes from within. If you're going to do it properly, then it's a fairly big job, and almost always reveals more damage.

post up m ore picks , it may throw a different light on the problem and its size and how much effort to put in
mm

metalmick8y wrote:post up m ore picks , it may throw a different light on the problem and its size and how much effort to put in
mm

OK will do when i get home today. Basically its the same on all the joints.

All the seams are like that? If you start rubbing that back your going to end up with a very holey van. Leave it 'til it can be cut out and fixed properly. Thats rusted from the inside, so whatever you do will not fix it, you'll just make it look worse. Maybe use paint stripper to take the paint off and then spray with rust converter.
Have a read of the bodywork threads, you will then see what lurks beneath......

aye, were not killjoys , just want to save you from possibly unnessecary work that wont acheive much
mm

metalmick8y wrote:post up m ore picks , it may throw a different light on the problem and its size and how much effort to put in
mm

More pics as requested

Thanks for your opinions, its a great little van and such a shame that this bodge on the seals brings it down. I just going to find it really hard not to do something. Im assuming that this would cost a fortune to get prfessionally done, and perhaps I would never recoup this outlay. Which makes me want to give it go.

Whats my options chaps? is it really not worth it?? I dont care if it takes me months, just to learn would be an experience (maybe one that I wouldn't try again) i feel.

But thats why I am asking at the end of the day, just what would the worse case scenario be.

well it could be a lot worse, it does need doing right in an ideal world, but,
the dulux does make it look worse than it is, i wouldnt be worried about damage removing the gloss, try thinners /acetone whatever works, taper it and stip it, most things are better than a grinder.
do a seam at a time, once the paint stuff is off then get a stanley knife and a 1/2" wood chisel and scrape the seams out,. this method will get an awfull lot out, when youve had enough then daub it with vactan or simmilar(to protect) and carry on another day.
to do right then rear wings/arches, lower rear 1/4's, floor inside rear 1/4''s,fridge panal and sill plus floor inside,
all van gutted here to get access.
important thin g if you go this route is to make sure the person doing the welding does it the right way. then if money isd tight , see the roller thread and roller it,
but whatever you you do for final finnish iot will only ever be as good as the welding prep
mm

metalmick8y wrote:well it could be a lot worse, it does need doing right in an ideal world, but,
the dulux does make it look worse than it is, i wouldnt be worried about damage removing the gloss, try thinners /acetone whatever works, taper it and stip it, most things are better than a grinder.
do a seam at a time, once the paint stuff is off then get a stanley knife and a 1/2" wood chisel and scrape the seams out,. this method will get an awfull lot out, when youve had enough then daub it with vactan or simmilar(to protect) and carry on another day.
to do right then rear wings/arches, lower rear 1/4's, floor inside rear 1/4''s,fridge panal and sill plus floor inside,
all van gutted here to get access.
important thin g if you go this route is to make sure the person doing the welding does it the right way. then if money isd tight , see the roller thread and roller it,
but whatever you you do for final finnish iot will only ever be as good as the welding prep
mm

Thanks mm thats a great help, I will do as you say and try a little at a time. I think I can definitely improve the hideous gloss at least.

girls have nailvarnish so nick there varnish remover and you should find it takes the paint off.
oh and stick a few picks of the van so we see the overall look
mm

Hello, sorry to jump on the thread but I'm currently doing a similar job and have already raked out the seams. They go much deeper than expected. What would you fill the seams with after vacant and prior to painting?