any good welders out there?

Post by **koo** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 2:39 pm

As you have probably guessed i need someone who can weld like a dream. Trying to sell the mog but its just too much work, buyers want something they have to do minimal stuff to. i know mine needs a new floor. Its a big job and although i can weld i wouldn't know where or how to start. If its not worth bothering please tell me. I would gladly do it myself if i had someone to give me advice, but i don't to waste mine, or anyone elses time. I have come to the end of my tether with this car. don't fancy calling the scrap yard but feel i dont have a choice!!

Post by **Cam** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:31 pm

Koo, send me a PM if you like. I can always come round and give you a (really non-professional) opinion!!

Nice to hear from you again!!

Post by **les** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:40 pm

If you do have a go, remove one side of the floor and fit new one before cutting out the other side, otherwise you are in danger of loosing alignment and datum points, especially if it includes the step cill. I'm in the middle of this now, and it's a big big job if you want it right.

Post by **Chris Morley** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:55 pm

Koo, I think it's decision time. The car's been off-road for about a year I guess? You can't sell it because in truth a normal 1000 saloon with a rotten floor is worthless. There are a lot of similar cars out there, all needing an enthusiast to restore them - but there aren't many individuals willing or able to do so. Even giving it away may be difficult.

Or...you could take out a loan for £1000 ((maybe £50 a month for two years?)

and get a new floor. I know it's a lot of money in one go (and possibly more than the car's worth) but then you get a sound Minor which will need no welding for many years and it will be easy to sell on if necessary.

If you do keep it, within 10 years the money you save on road tax will pay for the welding. Well worth it if you want to drive a Minor for years to come.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:12 pm

You can't sell it because in truth a normal 1000 saloon with a rotten floor is worthless.

yes and no - if the paintwork is half presentable and you can make a woolly nice sounding description, it may sell on e-bay. At easter they fetched reasonable money but many seem to be close to given away at the moment, and one or 2 didn't reach their £10 starting bids.
I think you are going down the right route by trying to get a second opinion from a Minor DIY'er as it does take a bit of experience to know a scrapper from a saver.
Any and every moggy can be fixed but some are not worth it. For a first project I would advise not to take on a major resto for sentimental reasons as usually a lot of work goes in taking a long time and often the car never gets finished.
If it can be done in smaller amounts with a couple of panls and a handful of timesaving (bodged) patches to get the first MOT then you have a year to go before you need to do a few more panels and a few more permanent repairs etc..

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:16 pm

Ask around your local garages.

A well known Reading specialist quoted me a silly figure for getting my car welded in the boot area. I found a local farmer whose welding is absoutely top notch and who came highly recommended. I also ordered the parts I needed from C.Ware, and there I had it! Welding for 100 quid, parts for 60 quid...

Farmers are known for their ability to weld well.. or rather, the farming profession is known for having some really good welding wizzes. I was brought up on a farm and remember watching one of the old boys on there fix many "beyond hope" cases back to health.

And of course, with the farming situation as it is at the moment, many farm workers who "can" weld well will be more than willing to give you a half decent affordable price because they won't pass up the extra money!

Nikki

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:00 pm

And of course, with the farming situation as it is at the moment, many farm workers who "can" weld well will be more than willing to give you a half decent affordable price because they won't pass up the extra money!

Thats a really good point Nikki not thought of it before I dont suppose they have excellent paint sprayers as well

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:17 pm

I don't know Kevin, but they probably have all the tools...

It's quite common for farmers who have gone away from the traditional farming and into "stabling horses" on their land to branch out in automotive stuff... May be worth a try

Nikki

Post by **Cam** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:25 pm

That's how Staffordshire Minors started I think. That's based on a farm in Market Drayton (or near to)

Post by **Chris Morley** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:07 am

I'm sure many farmers are good at welding and this could be a good way to replace individual panels cheaply , but a whole floor is a very difficult thing to get right (as Les pointed out). I wouldn't want my car being rebuilt by someone who hadn't done it before.

Post by **britab1967** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:28 am

Coming from a farming family, I have to agree with Chris. Farmers are excellent at welding to get things working again and replacing broken bits but taking the time to align a complete floor without the car turning into a bannana is a different thing.
My brother (an ex-farmer) is a welder but he has said that there is no way that he would tackle a complete floor replacement.
I'm nearly half way through replacing the floor and sills on Molly, one bit at a time, and it's very easy to get things wrong especially when the pattern parts don't quite match the bits you're taking off.
If you can weld though, and have the time and patience for a long drawn out job, you can try it yourself but don't try it if you are going to give up half way through. I should think a car with a flintstone type floor would'nt fetch much.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Post by **les** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:03 pm

especially when the pattern parts don't quite match the bits you're taking off.

You've been there as well then!

Post by **britab1967** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:51 pm

Very much so Les.
I'm not sure where they get some of the patterns from, but I sometimes wonder if they're the right car.

The front inner wheel arch needed some serious persuasion to fit correctly.

It wouldn't be as much fun if was easy though would it.