Front Arch Minor Resto!

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Dr Ben, Jul 1, 2012.

  1. Hi

    I was poking around thinking I had done all the work for this year on the van and using it this summer when I poked the b-pillar and front arch with a screwdriver where a bubble had appeared in the paint. After retrieving the screwdriver through the hole I had made I decided to replace the arch and pillar. I knew that this would have to be done at some point but was hoping for a year or two more.

    The problem was the previous owners had done a sort of bad resto and the more I find the more I wonder what they were thinking! Some bits appear to have been done well but others really not good. The arch had an outer arch panel welded on directly over the b-pillar so no panel gaps and the pillar completely rotten behind this. The front A-pillar was just rotten at the bottom. You will see from the pictures that patch had been welded over patch and patch etc...!

    I am mostly happy welding small bits and have done bits and pieces but I have however not done anything as big as the arch so this was a first. I am on a bit of a budget and had to use a repro arch panel which I have to say is awful! Klockerholm I think. I would definitely only use a genuine arch next time!

    I have to say that I had a lot of inspiration and confidence from reading the other posts here ie. Diddymen and Zed etc.. so thank you

    How I started...

    Looking horrible
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    You can see I had to repair part of the end of the side panel as well.
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  2. The next but was to repair the b-pillar. I used a panel from Heritage for this which needed some bending to get right but was a pretty good quality panel. Getting the length right was difficult. The welder was playing up a bit here and using 0.8mm wire so then changed to 0.6mm and all much better.

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    You can see here that the tub was not good with a double layer of metal with weird and wonderful patches!

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    I had to repair the bottom of the A-pillar as well by folding a bit of metal in a vice. This is closed over the other side to give it strength and to attach the bendy bit from the front of the arch panel.

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  3. The next bit was fitting this awful arch repair panel - I got it from Heritage but think all stockists should sell them with a warning about the amount of work needed to get them to fit! In the end I had to tack it in at the front and back using a jack to wedge it in position.

    Then I needed to use a jack wedged against the chassis (next to the beam) and a length of wood to bend the panel out so it lined up with the door better. This was done in a few places.

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    Then I had a bit of a hole to repair in the tub...however my jigsaw then broke and it the blade holder would no longer hold the blades so I had a quick trip to tool station this morning for a new one.

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    So this is the pretty much completed repair but still with a but to do around the floor and step...

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  4. So now some filling and sanding and then hopefully all ok. I do need to do the other side but hopefully that can wait until next year!

    MOT later in the month and need a new electric washer bottle unfortunately. I will post the final pics when all sanded and painted.

    Cheers
    Ben
     
  5. Done a good job there mate looks very tidy
     
  6. good work, ill be attempting to fit the same make of repo arch as soon as posty brings it, i couldnt find a genuine one anywhere,
    iv been dealing with plates over plates too, nice little surprises aint they lol
     
  7. Thanks, its looking tidier now as well as I finished the floor/step bit as well. That was also a plate over the actual floor which was not even rusty! I have maybe been a little harsh as to the quality of the repro panel, its not that bad but it does need a lot of work, head scratching and some imagination to get it to fit right. I was in the same position as I couldn't find a genuine panel either and then saw the proce difference.

    Its taken ages to get this far though as its raining so much every day I have any spare time! ( I am trying not to annoy the neighbours too much as well with the grinder). Its really nice knowing that there is no rust though. Still have to fill and sand the b-pillar properly and then hopefully it will be looking much better. I will post the finished pics when its all done.

    Cheers
    Ben
     
  8. looking great owen nw
     
  9. uve done a top job of getting that to all line up! ive got genuine panels but im still dredding the day i need to refit them
     
  10. Kruger

    Kruger Sponsor

    Nice work on fitting the arch, I also agree that the fit of most of the kolokkeholm stuff is questionable, and at best could be described as, looks right, but is just wrong!
     
  11. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Well done for fitting it :thumbsup:, but not well done for fitting it if you see what I mean. I hope it doesn't bite your arse in a couple of years.:( Awful things. Cavity wax the inside whatever you do. A real one... Not a great pic, but the outer surface in and out of the bit the seal closes in/against is all one piece so no crinkley join here. Plus the steel is thicker.. I'd be sticking up wanted ads, checking ebay etc etc until I got the real ones TBH. Night and day. Sorry to go on, but it's good info for those reading who haven't got this far.

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  12. Thanks Zed

    I agree and would certainly not buy another repro one and I will be buying a genuine arch for the other side (hopefully it will last another year) Its a question of cost really but I see your point that a genuine one will last years and years and I do not fancy welding on more arches as its taken me ages!

    The arch is indeed badly folded and crinkly and not well shrunken (Is that the technical term?!) so the metal just gets ridges. Also the spot welds are a little questionable in places. I just straightened most of them out with a vice and moley grips.

    However I was pleasantly surprised that the step did not need much in the way of modofication at all for the door gap!

    So swings and roundabouts I think. Was raining all afternoon yesterday though so unable to do any more. I have now finished the floor bit though so just filling and sanding to go. I do have a bit of welding to do on deformation panel though. I have been careful and put seam sealer on all the joins.

    Thanks for the advice about cavity wax (is that just the waxoil spray stuff in all the gaps?)

    Cheers
    Ben
     
  13. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

     
  14. Finally finished the arch repair, Only taken about 8 weeks! I blame the weather... Especially as it started raining about an hour after painting!

    It took ages to get motivation to make up all the fiddly bits like little closing panels under the a pillar and I had a bit of the deformation panel to weld in new metal too, also the front closing panel took longer than expected to get it right. I also had to weld a new bit on the door which had a touch of rot.

    I shall leave the passenger side for next year as I want to use the van this year, finally...but now the mot needs booking which is a bit of a pain.

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    cheers
    Ben
     
  15. 8 weeks lol well done , owen nw :eek:
     
  16. Looks very good dude
     
  17. Good work on the repair. Looks great.
     
  18. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    looks like a job well done, neat and tidy!
     
  19. Nice job on the arch repair Dr Ben
     
  20. Got MOT today and have been for drive to the beach!

    Thanks to SGS air cooled in Curdridge for the MOT and a little bit of welding I missed on the rear arch.

    here's to the rest of the summer...what s left anyway!
     

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