Hey guys, I've had a welder (he's a professional,) look at the Chassis on my Van , and he says ...No way it's terminal, there's nothing solid to weld onto, and the van is lucky to be still standing! So ..Plan A......Would it be possible to just lift my van off the chassis and put it on another (good one) for a reasonable price? And does anyone know anyone who could do that? Plan B...... Does anyone want to buy a perfectly good running Van (with a new Short engine, from the engine shop,newly installed electrics, oven hob, and sink (new Pod unit and appliances) great gearbox,......but sadly a really rotten chassis? I can't get photo's to wotk on this site but if anyone wants to see it email me info@autosorcerer,com Sorcerer.
I work in industry and know many professional welders, most would run a mile if asked to repair my bus, was he a vehicle restorer with knowledge of bays and the parts available for them? Post some pictures and the people on here will let you know if it's a dead loss, it really is surprising what can be fixed.
Sorry just re-read your post and saw that you can't post photos, there's a guide somewhere on how to do it, it's not difficult.
Hi I maybe able to help you but ive a lap full of life stuff atm Chuck me a pm with some photos if you can manage them
there is no separate chassis , but the floor can be removed then the chassis and out riggers can be replaced,
Loads of fellas will turn you away and say no because its to much work for them at the time, cant be bothered, not sure what they are looking at or just don't want to, you need to get a few more opinions Send some pics to these guys on here davidoft, paulweeding, zed and seek out some proper car restorers near you, not just a welder, automotive or otherwise someone into classics. A garage told me to get rid of/scrap my Mini once because it needed a door and a sill panel Best of luck with it all
I feel for you chap! My first bus was like that. I didnt realise how bad it was. Scrapped it and moved on!
I know a few carpenters and none of them will make me matchsticks. Doesn't it always boil down to finding he right guy?
Don't sound so defeatist, find as has been said a good vehicle restorer, they'll sort it out. Yes it's going to cost but it will be a good van when you get it back and probably better/more economical than scrapping it. Have a look in the resto threads at some of the basket cases that have been built up, kin amazing what can be done when you know what you're doing
Ok, Thanks for your encouragement guys. I'll try to get photos on next week. Problem is its been plastered with underseal so you can't really appreciate how everything is disintegrating just looking at it. You can poke a screwdriver through just about everything but the long running beams in the middle. Sorcerer. Of course the main question would be how much it would cost for pretty much rebuilding a whole chassis? £1000? £2000? £4000? I bought it for £7k and I've spent another £3k so far and it's needing a pop top too? (£2000?) Sorcerer
You sound like a customer of mine. £9k for the bus. Add power steering etc etc until you're £15K in then find it has no chassis. In for a penny in for a pound? I replaced everything from just in front of the front axle to just in front of the rear axle. After getting it home, a shock mount tore off the chassis at the back so really it needed ALL the chassis replacing, but we had to stop somewhere at the time. Davidoft is your man, not only does he seem keen to do it, he CAN do it. He must be mad IMO, but it takes all sorts. You can be sure he's not offering himself up out of desperation for work BTW, he's very very good.
