Job for the faint hearted?

[Daddsie]

My van has had the audacity to fail its MOT, rear o/s chassis above spring hanger is pepperpotting. There is a repair section available from Bull Motiff. My question is, as a bit of a welding novice, and the complexity of the job, remove van body etc, should I attempt it or let and expert do it?

[Cam]

If you have the time to do the job, then I recommend that you attempt it.

Usually, these types of jobs are OK once you get going, they just seem daunting until you get in there.

Plus you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself, not to mention saving a considerable amount of money.

If you are still not sure, then jack the thing up and have a poke about and see how bad the actual job would be, then make the decision.

If time is no object then you can grind, weld and grind, in order to make a decent job of it.

[rayofleamington]

I agree with Cam that once the job is underway it is much less daunting. I've done body repairs for the rear spring mounts but it was only on a saloon body, not a chassis so I can't comment on the extra difficulties.
It may be worth checking with the 'experts' (ie a Minor specialist who has done this type of repair before). Their cost will depend on how much dissassembly of the van body they will do and how they will make sure everything stays straight.
They may have some good ideas how to do the job in the least time - and those suggestions may make it much easier to DIY

On the other hand, If the quotes you get are reasonable, compare that to the risk of taking the van to bits only to give up on it if things don't go according to plan.

[Daddsie]

Thanks for the advice, had a good look at the job today and as the body has been welded to the chassis, and the floor is in poor condition I shall cut the floor out and get at the chassis that way.

[fweddy]

Here in New Zealand we aren't ment to touch our own chassis. It is ment to be done by a certified welder, unless the weld is taken and certified later at an expense.

I had work done on my chassis by a non cert welder (it was very minor work) and took it to the testing station to have it looked at as I didn't want to have my vehicle finished then have to have the chassis redone so although its not certified they know the chap and say its fine.

[rayofleamington]

Wow - New Zealand has some tough rules!
I guess sales of DIY welding equipment are pretty low.

I'd be very poor if I had to pay for all my repairs (or maybe I'd buy better cars!! )

Having said that, the rules on weld repairs in Britain have been tightened in the last few years (fully seam weld within 6" of structural areas), but they only get looked at for the annual MOT.
Having seen some terrible / dangerous repairs on cars over the last 15 years I'm glad they improved things.
I know a few people over here that do their own welding and as they do a very good job they've not come a cropper on the 'fully seamwelded' rule with either button welding or spot welding.

[Arfron]

I bought a MM 1000 about 12 months ago , there was a lot of welding to be done . It would have cost a serious amount of cash to have the work done by a welder . SOLUTION : enrolled at Coleg Gwent and I am in the process of learning how to weld correctly. The course certainly puts you on the right lines . I didn't have a clue before I started . I can now understand why you see so many new mig . welders in the Freeads. The main problem I still face is upside - down welding. Hot metal hurts !!!!

[Cam]

Actually welding is not as difficult as it looks, and although college courses will help you to start, practice is invaluable to develop the skill.

With regard to upside down welding, I don't much care for it either, and I still have a few red blotches and scars from molten drips, although I think that the worst place is the elbow crease - the drips head there every time!!!

[Arfron]

I agree welding is not difficult, but good welding without inclusions is fairly difficult to achieve without a lot of practice . I agree with the scars in the elbow joint . Have you ever tried knicker elastic around you cuffs ?
Cheers John

[Cam]

In my experience it does not enter via the cuffs, it lands on the elbow joint from above and burns through the overalls and into your skin.

Owwww!!

[Arfron]

Yup !! I agree , my overalls look as if they have had a plague of moths !! I notice that Dickies sell red welding overalls . They sell them in the builders' merchants ' where I work. ( they are fire proofed ?? )

[Cam]

I notice that Dickies sell red welding overalls . They sell them in the builders' merchants ' where I work.

What a fantastic idea!

But I don't have an excuse to buy knicker elastic now......Damn.....