Repair or replace

Hi started looking at van this week need sone advice to repair or replace both arches

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I'd say replace if you want a pristine restoration. For a 'quick, cheap' fix you could bung in a Klokkerholm step, but that can be a fiddle. If you have the cash, do the whole arch - though you may well find yourself repairing the bottom of the A post at the very least, if not the valance and deformation panel. It looks pretty rotten down that corner!

 

Replaced. That looks toast. As above I'd expect the A post and deformation panel to need replacing too.

 

I would stop looking if I were you! You may find the bottom 6” all round needs doing, plus the outriggers, top-hat sections & floor!

 

1000 percent repair, that’s perfectly repairable , fitting a complete arch is a much bigger job

 

Change of direction today dash out instead alot of wires !!

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Classic "one stereo on top of another coz I daren't remove any wiring" wiring and 3 separate fog light switches/circuits for the same reason, amusingly chained from the previous one. Strip it all out!

I'm guessing to be clear but from experience until someone takes out the dash and can trace the wires they do build up!

 

Ive ripped out what looked like old alarm im just getting confidence to rip bit more out once no what it does

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You won't miss that lot!
I enjoy that job. Each bit of wire you remove makes the rest clearer.

 

I did enjoy it just i dont no what all rest do yet gunna read few manauls

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How long do you plan to immobilize it? Lot's of work ahead to replace all the rusted/rotten area you will discover.

 

Ive only driven it 4 times in year . Just time of work been reading all these threads giving me bug to do bit of work . Just read yours your doing top job

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Thanks.

Yours looks like mine when I started. Don't rush at dismantle too much if you plan to keep driving it from time to time.
It is much more motivating to be able to drive it rather than having a basket case on caster wheels ;-)

 

I am not a restorer, but as I understand it, its usually better to cut out the rot and repair with new metal as the original alignment is maintained, once its all cut away it must be more difficult to get the alignment correct.

 

Not necesseraly.
For example;
You can cut out the whole front end.
Repair the inner structure if needed.
Align the doors with the B pillars.
Clamp a new front skin and align it with the doors.
Weld it.
And everything will line up.
I repaired the rotten area in the front of my bus, and it is now slightly noticeable when you look at the door gap.

 

I think the approach would depend on the extent of the rot and the skill and experience of the restorer.

 

Yep. It’s often easier to be ‘braver’ from my experience sticking an old mini back together.