Club 80-90 Forums

The other day I noticed a spot of rust so I poked it and guess what it turned into a small hole no surprises there then !

Today I had a good look and discovered that the two small holes had indeed gone through...so I stuck my hand in the void inside and discovered sopping wet insulation. I have removed all the wet stuff and dried and vactaned from the front and back, now Im left with two small holes. No other rust or holes in that area.

Whats the best way to fill ? Filler or spot weld or some other way I don't know ?



Many thanks

cut it out and weld if you want it right and want it to last well

I should have said I cant weld !

Whats a job like that likely to cost ?

Id rather patch use the van over the summer and then get repaired with some other stuff in the Autumn but obviously it needs to be water tight !

If its a cheap job id get it done though...

If you can weld you can't weld it....fibreglass filler is your only option really but it would be best with a new bit let in...you can't fill a hole with a spot weld by the way..

Oh...that's an MOT fail right there...and if you use fiber glass paste it still will be...unless its undectable by eye..

Good advice cheers...my filling skills aren't that great so it would stick out like a saw thumb !

What sort of price roughly am I looking at for it to be cut out etc ?

just cut out the rot and then attach the plate with seam sealer till you can get it welded

use a dinner plate !!!

Im a complete novice how do I cut it out ? Shape etc ? cut out with what tool ? make the plate up with/shape ? Seam sealer I do own !

Happy to give it a go...

metalmick8y ? what's your take on my holes ?

sternal wrote:metalmick8y ? what's your take on my holes ?

While you're at it why not post photos of all the rust issues on your van to give him an overall picture and he can then advise more thoroughly. Just a close up like this doesn't give a true picture.

As stated there is no other rust issue in that area and the rest if the van as far as rust is concerned (as far as I know ) is all under control.

Thank you for your input

what ralph says is correct, the reason being, a van rarely rots out in one specific area, and many owners have zero idea of what lurks where and why, so for that reason if you take a picky same distance on the other side and also both front jp's, and the rear lower 1/4's showing the seam above the bumper end cap, also bob one of the lower front panel under the lower grill,
so thats 6 picks, about half of one of my replies from this i can then give you a better idea of the extent of the problem
mm

Mine was like that needed a new inner sill and couple over things whole job including new sill was £600

its a LHD hope these help at the moment I'm only after repairing the two holes not any other work at present I know the van is far from perfect, far to many other projects/family to afford to do at once.

cheers


otherside


above bumper otherside


bumper same side as the two holes



side



front

ta for those, just confirms that its gone in most of the usual places and wasnt suggesting that you need to do any of it etc, but it means that the rust ius not isolated to that specific area,so for the sake of the test get someone to cut the lower part of the wing away and either remake it or get the repair panel from schofields etc, they are not preety but will do the job,
there will be rust to varyin g degrees behind that and if the heavy structural vertical one right behind is unwell then thats another issue when picks are available, also you may find that the inner arch is a bit ripe especially the outer part that has the large grommet fitted,
you could also find someone that would be happy to weld the holes up for you i suppose, your call
mm

I had a cheapy repair done in the same area on mine last year. More extensive visual sign before work commenced so your's shouldn't cost any more (with luck). A local jobbing welder who charged by the hour, job completed for £180.

Before....



Repaired...