Club 80-90 Forums

Given the choice engine or body work what would you go for.

I have just found westfalia with newly recon engine, brakes, disks, water pump, starter motor that drives like a dream pulls 75 easy.

Only downside is it has some bubbles around rear arches and right across the the front behind the bumper.

I don't know whether to await a better body if I can find it or take this as it has excellent mechanics?

I would always say buy the best bodywork you can, unless you do it for a living! (or can get a great job done at the right price). Is the price right to allow the bodywork to be done properly?

Everything else is just nuts and bolts, but bodywork is a specialist job to do it right IMHO. If there is a bit of bubbling now, give it 12 months and there will be a lot more Has it been painted in the past? If so, expect some problems to show up. A proper bodywork sort and paint will be £2000 minimum.

Thanks. It is pretty much a straightforward vehicle. original paintwork never resprayed. I guess you can see what you are getting. around £5k for a 84 with just 7000 miles on new engine etc.

I wanted reliability being prepared for some expenditure on the body

If it were me and thats all the rust on the origional paintwork then I would go for it. Its when ts been covered by a respray and you don't know what your getting is the problem.

My bodywork isn't the best but the mechanics have been reasonably great since buying it. I prefer to camp more than admire it

Best bodywork everytime. As Westy.Club.Joker said, it's just basically nuts and bolts. We got lucky because ours has brilliant mechanics and the bodywork isn't too bad (which is why it's spending the next few weeks at a VW bodyshop having some work done ). Unfortunately I can't get any pics of the work until the end because we've given the workshop a disposabe camera and not a digi, but when I sneak in with seals and a new windscreen (which I'm yet to sort), I'll sneak a few pictures. Apparently, at the moment it's likely to be in bits at the workshop.

Thanks for all the comments. Choice is no longer body or mechanics - it is heart or head! and it is usually the heart that wins out and bear the consequences.

any one know of a good reasonably rpiced body shop in herts/beds/bucks area?

I'd go for body every time.

However, go with your heart mate - going with your head makes for dull dudes....

Ringo

Get it, doesn't sound that bad at all and a good body is no use if it doesn't go... (shall I reword that )

chris,
Just put your location and any other details you want to in your profile please. Herts, Beds, Bucks a big area, I live pretty close to where all 3 join together! Maybe you do too...
Bodywork is less specific than mechanics, so you shouldn't have a problem finding someone to freshen it up, you can do some of it yourself (a good degrease and clean beforehand, and a good scrape a round and clean underneath is always worthwhile, get to know the vehicle a bit

OK. Thats decided then I have gone for it! Picking it up tomorrow. Can't wait!

Mine had lots of bubbles and rust on it when i got it.
Had it all done and sprayed for less than a grand, its not a show van by any means,but thats all good as i wanted something to go camping in and not worry about footballs been kicked against it etc.
They are old vans so most of them will have surface rust on don,t worry about it.
Enjoy your van
Lee.

as everyone says buy on bodywork.. but if the price is right just go for it , as welding isnt that expensive.. and roller painting is cheap as cheeps.

mine had a few big holes.. but they are all sorted now except paint.

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