Club 80-90 Forums

Hi

I'm new to this forum and considering the purchase of a 1986 Autosleeper high roof which has a leaking windscreen. Now I'm not afraid of a little MIG welding, but I wanted a little sanity check before I plunge into a foolish purchase!

On checking the vehicle I noticed that the cab floor is wet under the carpet. No rot on the floor, and nothing bad behind the dashboard, but I soon found the likely source of the leak to be from the top of the windscreen pillar. It has a small hole at the side of the windscreen seal. I realise the solution is to remove the windscreen, repair the damage and refit the screen - easy!

However what concerns me is the prospect of welding metal which is close to the fiberglass roof! What do the bodywork experts think about this?

Thanks

Mark

I'd say unless you're ready for lots of work, don't buy it. Show us some photos... I'd imagine if its rusting at the top of the screen because of the hightop, then its probably going to be rusted all around the hightop?

Friend of mne had his professionally done recently, same issue. They removed a section of the fibreglass roof just above the windscreen first, dealt with the rust/welding, then made good the roof section.
Im sure you will get some sound advice from at least a couple of the folk on here that do this sort of thing for a living.
As stated, post up some pics....paints a thousand words

have a look from here
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
mm

Okay I've just looked at the post a MM's post with the roof being removed!

This is what I'm thinking about taking on:





So am I likely to be faced with a roof removal job on this van?

hmmm,i think that is poorly underneath,it will be needing work at the rear as well
mm

that will need the high top off completely and I bet you the whole front of the vans roof will be foobard!

Thanks for your replies. I've been and had another look at the van today and you are completely right the is plenty of rot in that corner!

Now I'm a competent welder so I my questions are:

- how do you remove the roof from an Autosleeper?
- before I found this rot I was working on an offer of £4000, but given this roof removal is £3000 reasonable?
- or am I better walking away and waiting for another van?
- Are auto sleepers generally worth avoiding?

Mark

Thanks for your replies. I've been and had another look at the van today and you are completely right the is plenty of rot in that corner!

Now I'm a competent welder so I my questions are:

- how do you remove the roof from an Autosleeper?
- before I found this rot I was working on an offer of £4000, but given this roof removal is £3000 reasonable?
- or am I better walking away and waiting for another van?
- Are auto sleepers generally worth avoiding?

Mark

most sleepers will maybe need that work doing to a greater or lesser degree,put it this way , i woiuldnt take it in off you and do what needs to be done "Correctly" for 1K
have you had a thorough read through Kevs thread(the linky i sent you) as this shows exactly what weas involved and if you note , the gutters on his where nowhere near as bad as those on your picky and thats without looking hard...
remember you can hide some welding under the roof but the gutters have to be 100% and pattern ones dont cut it,sorry,
as to value ?????????????????
mm

Ive read through the entire thread so I can see exactly what is involved. I have to say that's a fantastic job done.

I was so inspired that I today struck a deal and purchased the van!!!

I collect it the weekend whereupon I'll be thinking "what have I done?"....but I like a challenge.

If its of interest I can post a running progress of my restoration...

good work, yes take detail step by step and we all get something to read
mm

Hi
I had the same issue with my autosleeper
Removing the roof wasn't that bad to be honest, you can get it all ready on your own but it's a bit awkward getting it off
They are held on by a mixture of screws around the inside of the roof and sealer and pot rivets front , rear and mine was sealed along the sides
I suspended mine from the garage rafters ( its not a high top ),
When I fitted the roof back on I did away with the front and rear seals and bonded it directly to the metal roof, with a bit of tidy masking and tiger seal it looks really good, I also blasted lots of anchor wax inside the roof section as I don't want to have to do this again
It' a problem that effects autosleepers, but worth doing, they are really good conversions

you dont need to take them off, just up and a scaffold board across and let it back down, this way you can slide it fore/aft or 2 foot over the side
mm