Campervan dent repair

[Mr_Bo11ox]

When i bought my campervan a little while back i got it for a good price (I thought) mainy because if had a massive dent in the back. See here:

 

 

Someone has obviously reversed it into a flippin tree or something. I had planned to fix it before setting off on my big trip but in the end I couldn't be arsed. Anyway I'm back now and the campervan will be going up for sale when I get it 'saleable' - that means fixing the dent as I dont want moaning twats telling me they'll need to spend £1500 getting that repaired so will I knock that much off the asking price?

 

 

IN the garage. I thought they built these campers out of the windowed versions of the vans then fitted that black placca panel to close up the rearmost windows.. Turns out those rear windows are still blanked off. ARSE, I was hoping to access the back of the dent through there.

 

 

My plan was to chop out all the wrinkled stuff that was locking the dent in, then try to pull the rear panel straight. I welded an 'eyelet' on then used a chain winch to pul the rear edge of the side panel backwards, hopefully popping out the dent. It was not a massive success and so I had to take the panelling out of the 'bathroom' inside which is in this rear corner of the van. I booted out the dent from inside which was much more successful and gave us an almost straight panel again. I trimmed up the edges and got rid of my eyelet thing.

 

 

I bought this chopped-out rear corner off a dude in Stoke a while back for £50. It wasnt in perfect nick but it was fine for this job. I measured and marked it out with a scribe and steel rule and sliced out the bit I needed.

 

 

Trial fit. To my surprise it looked like it might turn out alright!!!!

 

 

I fannied about for ages trimming it here and there and using the joddler thing to make steps for a smoothish lap joint. Eventually I welded it in and linished down the welds:

 

 

Next job was to lash on the red oxide as i always do, ever car I have ends up with patches of red oxide on as it reminds me of living in the 80's

 

 

finally I put the lights and bumper in, secured the sliding door runner and went home. 11 hours work!!!!

 

 

 

Its not perfect but its vastly improved. I am going to have to find someone to paint it for me as i can't do it but its very sayisfying to not see that massive dent any more when i look at the van. There are a couple of other bits of welding to do, new timing belt andf a look at the rear brakes and it should be pretty much spot on again.

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Quality repair and good to see a Talbot made from actual metal, rather than newspaper and bridgeagap. Did it behave on the trip?

[Tickman]

Great bit of work there.

Waiting until the spring for sale time for more cash?

[mercrocker]

Nice job...I was wondering how you were going to deal with that. Makes me feel like getting off my arse and fixing the dented door on my 190E

[Mr_Bo11ox]

behaved impeccably!!! The starter motor died the day before I wanted to set off, but then after that the van was totally reliable for almost 5000 miles of trundling through France, Spain & Portugal.

[cort16]

Neat work. Not a keeper then?

[vulgalour]

Very nice.  I too thought the plastic panel covered a window hole, never realised it was all metal behind.  Great that you managed to keep the side graphic too.

[The Moog]

Lovely job. I wish I had the skillz to do that sort of thing.

[garethj]

That's impressive for a day's work!  Would have taken me ages, factoring in the staring at it for ages and wondering what to do.

[dave21478]

Are you planning a post-trip write up? Im interested in how you got on....life in the van, travelling, spots, locations....stuff like that.

[hairnet]

hero

 

youve done the hard bit paint it in a blx style yerself

[danthecapriman]

Very impressive repair, and finding that rear corner to fix it with was a result. I bet that would have been a bit of a pig to fix without it.

[mouseflakes]

Nice work.

 

I always thought those black plastic 'grilles' were something to do with the interior fittings, like vents for the fridge or shower or tanning booth or something.

[Timewaster]

You need someone to paint it??

 

★ Trigger to the aerosol counter please ★

[John F]

Tidy job that, Boll. Good darts.

[Lukas]

A lick of white paint and it looks like new! 

[Pillock]

And you say this will be surplus to requirements once repaired, eh?

 

Interesting

 

*strokes chin in a thoughtful way*

[Twiggy]

I like that - really impressive.

[trigger]

Skillz. Really impressive work Bolz.

[fatharris]

Fantastic work Boll!

 

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[crapcarcollector]

Ace. Just ace.

[DVee8]

Now this will be some roffle..

[stripped fred]

Very impressive sir. I wouldn't have known where to start with that! Doesn't help that I can't use a magic electric fixing stick.

[greengartside]

Needs a new plaque affixing to the dashboard now.

 

"BODYWORK BY BO11OX"

 

That is all.

[thedonkey]

Bollz. Ball park price? Oh and dibz if in price range lol

 

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[Mr_Bo11ox]

I'm going to ask 4 grand for it (yes thats a grand more than I paid) with a years ticket, new cambelt, new curtains, fixed and painted dent and all the accessories included (petrol generator, Kampa awning, levelling ramps, cups saucers and whatnot). Having wached some very mediocre ones fetch similar sums I think its a pretty good deal though I don't expect to seriously get on selling it till well into next year.

[lincolndanny]

£4k=Mazzer progress surely?

[hairnet]

929 re importage

[hairnet]

Needs a new plaque affixing to the dashboard now.

 

"BODYWORK BY BO11OX"

 

That is all.

blx mulliner park ward surely

 

or duple bollox coachworks ltd wallsend

[RoadworkUK]

Smashing job.

 

If you ask for TWELVE BAGS you'll have a nice bit of wiggle room for all those haggling bastards.