Welder needed North West Wigan

[Jonnyb416]

I need a welder with T25 experience to take on:

An inner/outer sill replacement.
Repair sliding door.
Replace rear arch.

On a 1983 RHD n/s

I will have all panels just currently looking for an inner sill.

I live in Wigan and the van does not have an engine. Could look at transporting to a workshop or weld on site. (There is plenty of room and reasonably well sheltered)

p.m. me if you could or know anyone that could take this on at anytime within the next few months or so.

Thanks, Jon.

[jimpainter]

Its a shame your not nearer i could have possibly done it for you.

[Jonnyb416]

No worries, got someone repairing an inner and outer sill and jacking point next week. I will see how he does, post some pics and take it from there.
Let me know what you think please if you see the pics.

Cheers, Jon.

[jimpainter]

Not a problem. What sort of repairs are needed on your sills etc. Have you cleaned the areas up as you will normally find a lot more rust/holes than you first thought. I have just done an outer sill for a friend and that turned into fabricating a new inner sill top lip (not what i wanted to do but he didnt have funds at the min and the mot is due, will be putting in a proper sill very very soon.) I see he quoted you £80 for some work. Thats dirt cheap and if he as good as you say i would rip his hand off .
jim

[Jonnyb416]

It sounded quite cheap to me too but he's a welder with 25 years experience, lives local and not long started on his own and seems keen to help me out.

He is repairing the inner sill. I mentioned replacing it but he says he can repair it fine and will suit the MOT man no problem.
Then he is repairing the jacking point and fitting the bottom B post I already have from schofields.
Then finally put the new inner sill on. The sliding grove for the door hinge seems OK.

He seemed happy to help me finish all the work on the van this summer as it is my aim to have it solid by September.

I can only give him the job and see how it turns out. A shop called Wigan Auto Paints near me recommended him so hoefully he will be good.

If I post some pics I would welcome and appreciated your opinion.

Is it adviseable to repair the inner sill if you have the skills?

Jon.

[Jonnyb416]

Oh and I've had a good check of the area and so has the welder. Surely he couldn't weld to rust anyway?

I am off tomorrow so hoping to spend more time preping this area and other areas if the weather holds out.

Jon.

[jimpainter]

Inner sill repairs are fine as long as the right thickness metal is used. 1.7mm is about right although i would use 2mm as i can get hold of it easy enough. If the sill just needs a patch thats ok but where do you draw the line between patching and replacing. Everybody is different i suppose, I wouldnt fancy doing too much repair work to a sill myself as i think it would be better to replace it as a hole unit. That said i have just done an outer sill for a mate and ended up sorting his inner sill with a new top lip. Its again not what i would have liked as the sill has been repaired before and i do know he will be having as new sill soonish. I only did it as a favour as his van is his daily, mot is up and he is strapped for cash at the min hence the pics i will be putting up soon arnt to original spec on the floor inside. It was just what he could afford to get him by.

[Jonnyb416]

Cheers mate, I will be sure to take a look at your pics. I will too metion the thickness of steel and see what he's planning on using.

The floor above the sill has had a repair or 2 but hey, I will trust this guy for now and ensure I protect the repairs fully afterwards.

Heres the pic of the sill as it is now, if you haven't already seen them.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa4 ... NY0023.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa4 ... NY0012.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

password = jonnyb

[jimpainter]

Thats the first time i have seen those. I have seen the rear arch pics. To be honest from what i see from the pics you would need the sill replacing and definatly some beefing up of the b post. There is a lot of rust around the areas in the photo and the inner b post needs reinforcements above the jacking points. Im guessing you have the schofeilds outer repair panel. When you jack the van up it lifts on the sill and up the b post(hope that makes sense, search the wiki i think there is a bit on there.) with no reinforcement you risk the sill collapsing and doing more damage. I would see what he is going to do but i dont see how he can do that for 80 notes. Honestly if it was me i would say just go for a new sill with how bad that looks. Obviously im only seeing a couple of pics but that is the way i would suggest. My two peneth

[jimpainter]

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ar ... ing_points" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not including the sill as such but it may give you an idea

[Plasticman]

Hey Jim, I been to see jon on the weekend and believe me those pickies make it look 20 times Better than it is, which is why it was suggested that a side of a donor was used as the whole lot is shot /missing, sill runner etc all of it. jon's there though, Hi Fella! your up late
this wigan welder is sounding like some bloke, but I think jon has the job weighed up, he knows whats needed and why so all should be well
mike

[jimpainter]

They say pics speak a thousand words.
Yeah right.
Hope he can get it sorted, I think the donor would be the best way to go but its getting a good one that i think would be the problem, This welder sounds like he knows what he is doing and if he can do it for £80 kudos to him

[Jonnyb416]

Hey Mike, on a late shift tomorrow so keeping myself up, won't be enjoying the kids waking me at around 8am though but sod it

I did mention a new sill and this guy hasn't done much work on VW campers but something tells me he could do a good job. Thing is I make mostly sound decisions in life except for my choice of cars.

He is a classic car restorer, having worked on M1 Cortinas amongst many others. He reckons he can repair the jacking point. Mike, I mentioned the part you make that goes up inside the B post and he says he can make one too. Bit worried about the sliding door lower runner. Anyone have a pic of one that looks good?

Worst case; I waste £80 and start again. Got to be worth a punt, if it comes off (not the sill ) I could have the bus solid sooner and cheaper than I first thought.

Spoke to Volksheaven and they said most vans they have, have rusty sills too.

Jon.

[jimpainter]

Go for it. Not knocking it at 80 notes. Its not a great loss if it fails and its an even better gain if its spot on. Its got a chance of going either way. Just see what happens. Keep us up to date with pics though i will be keeping a keen eye on this one.
jim

[Plasticman]

Nowt wrong with your choice of car, the reason you gave me was sound enough and your end desires are sane enough, and as you say for £80 you cant loose , well I might rephrase that but I doubt you will loose, cant help with picks of the good sill, got some but cant find them.
did you get the other engine bar of the fella?
kids waking you up, I thought thats what the wench I saw on sunday is for,
mike