trasit welding help needed

[al1959]

cheers mr haynes, screwdrivers ready, ordered are the finger file as well as another grinder and also welding magnets to hold the plates on the floor panels.

i will be cutting into the wheel arch to get to the back od the turret, can anyone tell me what thickness of metal for the wheel arch, no good asking when i have the wheel arch open then have to wait a week for delivery.... that would be a bummer!

 

[GRW]

cheers mr haynes, screwdrivers ready, ordered are the finger file as well as another grinder and also welding magnets to hold the plates on the floor panels.

i will be cutting into the wheel arch to get to the back od the turret, can anyone tell me what thickness of metal for the wheel arch, no good asking when i have the wheel arch open then have to wait a week for delivery.... that would be a bummer!

I doubt if the arch is 1mm thick, so 1mm is what I'd probably use if it were me.
Thicker stuff like 1.2 is stronger & easier to weld, but gets more of a sod to shape.

 

[al1959]

would i be needing a new inner and outer arch for this? looking at getting a weld all around the top suspention support i would need to get to it from outside as well?
thanks

 

[GRW]

would i be needing a new inner and outer arch for this? looking at getting a weld all around the top suspention support i would need to get to it from outside as well?
thanks

I'm no expert & it's hard to tell from your top of strut pic..... but typically the inner wheelarch curves down to mate with the outer wing & outer arch
On that basis if you were welding up the area from underneath with the coil suspension strut removed - you should be able to get right around the strut mount to weld I'd have thought?
(Of course if the rot extends through the inner wheelwell arch to the outer arch & wing... then it might be easier to get at least a new wing, vos then with the old wing removed you'd have great access to do repairs?

 

[tom 748]

structural 1.6

 

[Morris]

Bit late seeing this thread. Have a look at this thread on Retro rides, it's long but full of really good information.

Making panels....... | Retro Rides

We´ve got quite a few subjects covered here in the usefull threads department but the most important one is missing ;D How to make panels.... What we need is a metalwork thread where we

forum.retro-rides.org

Also lots of rotten wrecks rebuilt to stunning standards in the build threads.

 

[al1959]

thanks morris, a lot for me and other to look through

 

[al1959]

well i am jaust about ready to start clearing the underseal in the next day or two, taking the wheel off tomorrow so i have a question on the mk5 strut which is.... do i need to compress the spring or can i just take the 3 bolts off the strut plate in the passenger footwell, don`t want to risk a spring flying about.
thanks

 

[pedrobedro]

The spring is compressed and held by the nut in the middle on the piston rod. the three nuts will not release the spring.

 

[theMenace]

well i went to the scrappy this morning and non of the transits have a floor shape like mine, the full floor panel on line which awas mentioned earlier is pick up only so that out as well.
i sanded back the floor to shiny metal which shows a lot of pitting, would i still need to cut that out and weld plates in, a few photos to show you here. View attachment 416226View attachment 416227 View attachment 416228

Don't know what you're worried about that's barely a blemish for an old transit

A good twist knot wire wheel for your grinder would make cutting that rust back much quicker, if you haven't one already.

And it's definitely a good idea to start to learn how to plug weld now - you'll be onto that soon enough!

There'll be a build thread or youtube video of someone doing up an old transit somewhere online. Always good to find one to give you some ideas.

 

[mr haynes]

Spring is separate on the smiley, only pulling shock out

 

[al1959]

hi again
so this is where i am at with the clean up, i have took loads of photos and here are the first lot of the turret, im hoping you guys can move me forward regarding how to start this off.

 

[al1959]

and this from inside

 

[al1959]

i would greatly appreciate any help on how to go about this please guys, i am looking at starting this next week so over the weekend i will practise my welding and post photos for you lot to tell me if i should go for it or if i need to practise a little more.

i also have holes in the floor which should be easy to sort out as the are not huge, in fact this is one that is near to the phots as shown above.

 

[qwakers]

pick a section of rust, cut it out and weld a new piece in. rinse, repeat. its not complicated, just labour intensive.

go at it a bit at a time.

 

[mr haynes]

Start with the floor, get your eye in.
Follow the spot welds and you will see the shape and extent of each panel.
Make templates then cut out sections as @qwakers said above.

Remember to keep checking other side when cutting/welding

 

[al1959]

thanks qwakers and mr haynes, i am looking at next week for starting, will start on the floor as you say.

thanks

 

[weldingnovice]

Rusty transit was my introduction to vehicle welding.

Personally I found it easier to replace panels than repair.

Didn't have the confidence or skills to make respectable patches.

Tbh were small but complicated panels. Sills, steps, inner and outer front archers etc.

Neigh on zero mig experience, it was a steep learning curve but not too difficult and quickly built confidence.

Start on a simple bit and take your time. Don't be afraid to cut out and start again. Replacing a panel with plug welds is as simple as it gets.

pick a section of rust, cut it out and weld a new piece in. rinse, repeat. its not complicated, just labour intensive.

go at it a bit at a time.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Work out a sensible repair order for the proceedings before you get started...factor in the various panel overlaps and also factor in limited access you might have to fix things.

A lot of my time I find goes into planning out how things will get done...sometimes the order is a bit illogical but it's necessary to do it that way to get an access window to repair another part for example.

 

[theMenace]

Oh you do have got some work ahead of you.
Bit at a time, probably easiest to start on the rear floor where there's loads of metal and loads of room to work.
Don't be tempted to try and weld patches to that old rusty stuff, cut it right back til you get to shiny metal to weld to, or you'll have a bad time.