Major Welding - Chassis - Now Underway :-)

Hi everyone,

I'm considering looking for another garage to take over the repairs of my camper. Figured I'd run it past everyone on here before I do, to check if anyone on here is confident/competent and willing to take on the task (at a good price too, I'm skint - as ever)

My Westy went in to have some front chassis work, a seat belt mount and some small patches along with a brake service (inc. fitting a servo) and engine tune up. This was around March (last year), I hoped to get it back for Bearded Theory last year (I ended up buying a tent instead).

Once in situ, they found that the inner and outer deformation panels needed replacing, the front chassis legs were beyond repair, the beam needed patching or replacing. I have sourced all these parts but the repairs have not moved on at all. They're not confident in completing the chassis leg replacement, for fear of misallignment and/or twisting of the shell/chassis during the task. I'm happy that they've admitted this, rather than pressing ahead and it going wrong, but it needs doing. They have found a place in Wakefield that have said that they've done it before and will come over to look at it with a view of taking on the job, this too has dragged on though already around 6 weeks since he told me and they've yet to look at the camper. They're having some issues with building work that is going on at their yard, but I get the feeling that this might lead to a load more delays and I want my bus back.

I'm from Holmfirth, the bus is in a garage in Huddersfield. Like I say it needs some major chassis work doing, I've got all the bits as far as I'm aware. Anyone up for it???

Many thanks, Simon

 

Simon we use VW Restorations in Halifax. The owner Richard and his assistant Jimmy are absolutely bob on and I would recommend them without hesitation. They've looked after my Arthur for 2 years and are brilliant.

 

Try paradox hes up north somewhere
The front legs are not that hard sound as if they are not that intrested

 

Im about a hundred miles up from him matty

Simon could you post up some pictures of the areas you have mentioned please

 

I don't know anything from Birmingham up is north to me as that's when it goes all gray

 

hmm I could do it but a bit far away heres one I did earlier

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20949

 

Cheers for all of the replies, the bus had the bottom six inches done when I got it about 10 years ago. As always seems to be the case, the inner deformation panels were not in stock at all the usual panel suppliers so they patched it up here but were not confident that it would last. I had purchased an outer def. panel but ended up selling that on again as they didn't think it was worth putting onto the inner that was in place. Spent loads doing it up only to use it very infrequently as I ran out of money before the brakes, suspension and engine were done so it drove horribly.
After the last trip we took it on when it broke down through lack of charge even when running. I planned to rip the engine out strip it down and rebuild it. I planned to install an alternator rather than the dynamo which I guessed was the cause of this issue. I purchased some of the parts but the bus sat, pretty unloved for a number of years on the drive. Bubbles of rust have appeared through the new paint but that wasn't so bad. The main problem was underneath.
When I finally got around to thinking about getting it back on the road, I lay under the bus and poked about a bit with my hands (not even a screwdriver) and I was able to slowly remove large amounts of rot from the deformation panels and the chassis legs. I thought that I'd be able to get away with patches on the legs but wasn't that confident in that thought. I also noticed some rot around the rear torsion bar but am pretty confident that will be able to be patched. I called a guy whao had done a good job on my Golf (for very good money) he popped over and agreed to take the job on. I got it started with a freshly charged battery and some fresh petrol and called him over with his trailor.
As previously mentioned he soon found that the rot had gone too far for patching and also found issues with the beam. I got a replacement beam along with a rust free imported inner/outer deformation cut pretty quickly but had more troubles sourcing the chassis legs in RHD to avoid having to adapt them for the steering box. They have taken the old beam off, they have done some initial tacked plating on a few little areas the camper is no longer in a state where it could be driven but I guess they planned to get it back into that state to transport it onto the guy at Wakefield as the trailor that they have would struggle to winch it up. I've been in no great rush to get it done after I knew that it wasn't going to be ready for the festival last year but now I'm really wanting to get some use out of it through the summer.
I don't think that I have any good pics of the rot or the camper in the garage. I'll have a look around my photo files. I'll try to find some of it being done the first time too again no promises, it wasn't done by me and to be honest I had a pretty similar experience to this time, then .
David your work on the prototype bay looks very good indeed, I fear that I would not be able to afford that level of workmanship so its probably for the best that distance is an issue. Yorkshirecampers I will look into VW Restorations in Halifax thanks, do they have much of a waiting list, any idea on their hourly rates (I know that won't give me a true idea of cost as those who are good at the job will get it done well in better time and all that but I need to be sure that its not going to bankrupt me). Matty and Paradox thanks for your input too, I wish you were closer.
I'll search for some pics and get them up asap. Thanks again for all your interest/help. Don't suppose you have a solution for the Marmitee that Wolves are in too do you?

Ta, Simon

 

Wolf in da Hudd they aren't the cheapest - labour is £35ph + VAT but they are incredibly thorough and detailed, and they will take you through each and every part that comes out/off. Give Richard a ring on 07980 874257, or message them on facebook, they have always fitted my van in and have (several times) done emergency openings at silly o clock for me, including a 6am start to loan me a gearstick when mine broke on the way for wedding chauffeur duties (which reminds me, I'm still using it over a year later). Tell him Zoe who has Arthur gave you his details, he might knock a few quid off my next bill if you use him

 

Could jonno74 please contact me re. the private message sent re. welding, thanks, Simon

 

paradox Some pics of the rot - sorry about the quality, they were taken lying underneath with my phone - I don't have any others.


And one of my camper when last used:


Please help

 

is it driveable? There is also in trafford Manchester.

:mod edit: sorry but they're not allowed to be mentioned on tlb due to threats of court action cheers-dog

 

nice work.

 

Thanks earlylatebay Its not driveable at the moment, beam off etc. I guess that this will need to be put back on for the move wherever it goes, but it will only be to get it onto a trailer - no MOT etc.
Cost is an issue, unfortunately I think that the 35+Vat at VW Restorations, Halifax will mean that this is a no goer at least for now. Have you any idea what rates work at? The guys who will hopefully be able to do it at Wakefield (if they ever get the chance to come over and look at it) have said that they'll work at around 20 per hour, this would be perfect but for the continued delays.
Cheers, Simon

 

What do you want dude?
Its obvious to me your not willing to pay £35 an hour for a proper resto job
Your bus looks tidy up top so i gather its just that mot certificate in your hand so you can use it

Theres a massive difference between an mot and a restoration job

Im mostly mobile work nowadays and for welding im normally £40 per hour plus fuel costs relative to the distance i have to travel
I dont take on full restorations im more set up to ticking off the failures on a mot fail list so someone can enjoy the bus during the summer sun

Your a bit of a distance from me but if your willing to cover my fuel costs and buy me a bag of fish and chips
Then im happy enough to come and take a look at your bus

It might be it just needs some welding to pass the mot it might be rotten further in than you think
Without actually looking and prodding and poking i cant confirm either way

Im hoping for your sake your garage has just got scared as its not the sort of thing there used too

 

From the pics i can say a new deformation panel
both inner and outer and some front chassis leg repairs are needed

 

Doesn't look to bad from those pictures

 

Sorry, I think that my 'please help' at the end of a post started with '@paradox' has, understandably, led to confusion
I put the paradox on the post, as you asked for pics earlier, I understand that you are too far away to take this on.
I've had a good poke around with it and beyond a small area around the o/s rear torsion bar on the chassis it is good in most places beyond the front. Whilst I can't afford £35 per hour for the welding to look as perfect as David's, I am looking to get the rot chopped out and good rot free replacement parts put in, its on the chassis so I'm not too bothered if the welds are ugly as long as they're strong and it all lines up. I have the inner and outer front deformation panels and I have replacement front chassis legs the ones on the bus are very rotten. I also have a replacement beam etc for that side of the repairs, this is an area where I feel a few patches would have done the job for an MOT but I want this to be the last time I'm having rot cut out for a while, hence the replacement beam.
Once again, sorry for any confusion caused the 'please help' plea was one of a general nature to anybody local.

I guess my main worry with the £35 quotes is that I have not been given any kind of idea of the estimated time to complete the job, with this, depending on the number of hours involved, this may be feasible.

 

Hourly rates can be confusing. I charge a relatively low one because I like to potter (comparitively). Others charge higher rates, but maybe much faster. What you need is some estimates from people as well as the hourly rate because if there is extra work, the hourly rate clock starts to tick...

 

Try Rainbow beetles in Keighley - near Bradford, John is very good!

 

Thanks ermintrude1978 I think that was who jonno74 mentioned earlier but he didn't give me the name of the garage

zed - you're totally right, I need an estimate to put my mind at ease re. cost, I struggle to get that kind of information from the garages that the bus has been into though.