Club 80-90 Forums

Quick question...

The area under the engine hatch, at the very back of the van, has some tinworm. Nothing mega serious, but it's failed an MOT because it is within 30cm of a chassis leg. It's about an inch from the van's side, total area I would cut is about 5" x 12".

A few questions though, can I argue that it's not structural therefore a harsh fail?

Is this area acceptable to remove completely if I were playing with alternative engines (thinking air boxes) or water or other large tanks etc?

Are there pressed panels available for this area (look under engine hatch, rear and outermost left and right, pressed with a cross shape)?

It will be repaired properly, but getting a panel before I go away again will be impossible and I have run out of cash t have the work done. Smashed my welding mask after dropping it today so can't DIY it until I replace the glass.

Just thinking forwards to the future of the van.

30 cm from a chassis leg? What is the fail number on the VT30? Has it got a towbar, I'm guessing not coz then the corrison would be within 30 cm of it. Could do with seeing pictures really. Saying that if there is a rotten hole there you may as well get it welding up.
If its not there they can't fail it, especially as its not structural. I remember on my last testers course the trainer said to us...'what would you do if you found a rotten hole as big as a penny within 30cm of a shocker mount on an inner wing?' we all said 'its a fail' then he said 'what happens if it comes back for retest and the owner has drilled the rotten hole out, so now its just a drilled hole?' we said 'fail', he said 'no its a pass and advise'
I think you may as well just get it done and get it back for a retest. Remember if you do appeal, don't repair it first
IAN

Gonna see them tomorrow and see if they will give me break.

No tow bar fitted, the tester argued it was a body mount being the chassis leg.

It needs a new rear valance (behind the bumper) too so will do the lot.

It will get welded up, but it did occur to me that I could just cut it out since the only job it appears to do is keep the hot and cold areas of the engine bay seperate. If you look under the engine hatch, literally it's just the area to the left (passenger side) 1" from the edge of the body. As I said I would cut an area 5" x 12" and plate it because there are three holes in the area. There is a hole drilled in the middle of the panel from the factory too.

fall-apart-dave wrote:Gonna see them tomorrow and see if they will give me break.

No tow bar fitted, the tester argued it was a body mount being the chassis leg.

It needs a new rear valance (behind the bumper) too so will do the lot.

It will get welded up, but it did occur to me that I could just cut it out since the only job it appears to do is keep the hot and cold areas of the engine bay seperate. If you look under the engine hatch, literally it's just the area to the left (passenger side) 1" from the edge of the body. As I said I would cut an area 5" x 12" and plate it because there are three holes in the area. There is a hole drilled in the middle of the panel from the factory too.

TBH I really need to look see but sounds more like a pass and advise to me....

the computer will not allow you to fail for corrosion within 30 cm of a chassis leg so that cant be written on the vt30 fail sheet.

corrosion needs to be both excessive and in a prescribed area, that is an area that is within 30cm of a steering, suspension, brakes or seatbelt mounting point. it also has to be on a load bearing structure or supporting panneling to that structure.

if you cut the hole out then it is deamed as a modification and can only fail if it significantly reduces the original strength and stiffness of that structure.

Pics to come tomorrow, but it's nowhere near anything aside from a chassis leg.

I'm gonna cut the whole area out and find the panel that fits.

dont touch it. if its been failed incorrectly make a fuss. we are all human and make mistakes but if you are confronted the first thing he should have done is go back and double check if he then sticks to his guns and is clearly wrong he deserves the kick in that his vosa area manage will give him.

Just go back to the testing station and ask for a VT17, that should do the trick