500tops Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Looking gr9 LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Good work on those gutters. My LDV convoy camper conversion suffers a similar issue, the gutters were never designed to have an additional roof moulding fitted and as a result the gutter isn't deep enough for a good continuous bead of sealant/adhesive, obviously it leaks. I don't have the time or space to take the roof off but I'll be following your work with interest to see if I can gain any tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 Thanks.I've worked out that the leak is from a small split in the fibreglass that allows water to get in, rust the metal frame inside the fibreglass and split it, dumping water into the inside. Flashband will stop this inside but I must repair the outside to minimise any more leakage.Maybe make some more metalwork and bond it in and remove the leaky ones, dunno, I'm making it all up as I go along so plans may change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Sure, but as I'm sure you've worked out even if you put flash band on the inside, the water will get in and rust the body/gutter from the inside out. Is the fibreglass split on yours or is it just poorly applied/poor quality adhesive. On mine it's clear the adhesive has not only been scrimped on, it's also shrunk back, allowing water to run between it and the metal lip of the gutter, this makes leak finding even more tricky, as it just runs along until it finds the easiest path into the camper.Ultimately starting again as you are is the only sure way to make sure it's water tight. Although I have wondered about a supplementary glued on gutter above the roof/body join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 The flashband will stop it getting to the interior and new metalwork and rusting it, in the short term. The fibreglass is compromised in many places, has been for some time. The metal ribs are rusting and expanding and allowing the water to get into the channel that has rusted away. As I say above, new ribs being bonded in are probably the best solution and not that hard to do I wouldn't think. Then remove the old ribs and fibreglass and make good.It has 2 shit sunroofs in the fibreglass that need throwing as far away as possible as well, so roof repair was always on the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Yeah, the more you tell me about it the more I think I should crack on with mine,I hadn't considered the collateral damage of the gutter and ribs expanding under corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALUMINIUM-J-SECTION-GUTTER-MOULDING-sizes-from-250mm-to-2500mm-3-sizes-available/192555997707?hash=item2cd53b5a0b:m:mE05DrG_A9dj6D_gOy6op1ASome of that above your existing gutter may help?That's what I'll be using to finish mine off on the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 That's pretty much what I was thinking of, hopefully bonded on to avoid breaching the fibreglass top. Thanks for the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardthestag Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 this is awesome stuff. following thread with interest did you get an apron? I bought mine from https://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding-Supplies/Welders-Leather-Apron.html also useful at preventing wire from knot wheel getting into my joy dept. Arthur Foxhake and catsinthewelder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share Posted November 13, 2018 Thanks Richard. No I haven't bought one yet but that one looks like a good shout.Only doing Saturday on it this weekend as off to see another shiter Sunday to collect another conveyance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 13, 2018 Author Share Posted November 13, 2018 Sure, but as I'm sure you've worked out even if you put flash band on the inside, the water will get in and rust the body/gutter from the inside out. Is the fibreglass split on yours or is it just poorly applied/poor quality adhesive. On mine it's clear the adhesive has not only been scrimped on, it's also shrunk back, allowing water to run between it and the metal lip of the gutter, this makes leak finding even more tricky, as it just runs along until it finds the easiest path into the camper.Ultimately starting again as you are is the only sure way to make sure it's water tight. Although I have wondered about a supplementary glued on gutter above the roof/body join.Just read this again and I didn't answer loads of your questions.None of this damage was caused by lack of sealant. The fibreglass roof was attached just above the gutter with wide rivets and sealant. The metal used to finish about 3 inches above the gutter and the roof about 5mm above the gutter.The trouble was water getting in fom the splits in the rusted ribs and condensation from it being lived in I think.I don't think I can ever make it perfect now but I hope I can extend its life by a good few years. It lasted the last 15 with just a load of filler, hopes and prayers, so with some new metal I would hope another 15 would be on the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 15, 2018 Author Share Posted November 15, 2018 J section gutter turned up today, as did my new welding clamps, as seen in TripleRich and SiC's threads. New magnetic clamps turned up Tuesday, hopefully leather apron tomorrow as I have been allowed a day off work to get some more done as we arent starting the next job until Monday now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share Posted November 17, 2018 More gutter work today.      J section taped in place to see if it worked ok.  Less than a metre left to do now, then weld on the inside bits and that's it for the gutter.  Filed another big hole outside yesterday as well, weather was miserable so didn't get much done, don't seem to have taken any pics of that so I'll get one next time I'm there. Dave_Q, strangeangel, Scruffy Bodger and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castros_bro Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Have some quality* Merc van bodywork repairs spotted en route to France, the whole OSF cab window was also fixed in place with wob. DVLA paperwork done so now down to 3 mopeds.   richardthestag, michael t, Laseraligningfoofooflanges and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 That's a beauty. Clearly I am wasting my time welding!Good to meet you again Mark, the smell of stale petrol is rife in the van now. Back now, M25 was stop-start as usual but not too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 The reason for my visit to Castro's Bro?  Pic stolen from vendor. Perfect for scouting the area when parked up. I tried using a BMX when I went to Europe this year and it sucked in a big way.Especially as I was with my mate, who was riding my old mountain bike I sold him as I wasn't using it. Bucketeer, wuvvum and Aston Martin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I like bmx's they're fun to knock around on but when you're not so young and your knees are creaking a bit it takes the edge off, so good call on the scooter. Are you making a rack for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 Either a basket or rear rack, yeah.There's a rear rack on ebay for cheap so probably that. Ive ridden BMX's my whole life but I'll be 36 in a short time and I think my days of riding them may be over.Edit. Did you mean a rear rack to mount it to? If so, no, just makes it more nickable. If that is a word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Bodger Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 For the fibreglass roof repairs this stuff isn't cheap but it is very good. https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/product/acrypol-plus-grey-5kg-box-of-4.html My mates a jobbing builder and uses it for emergency and sometimes permanent repairs if people don't warrant repairing it properly. Arthur Foxhake 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 IMG_20181111_104428.jpg That is truly inspiring work; I'm reminded of this other beautiful work of freestyle guerilla repairage. Laseraligningfoofooflanges, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer and Lacquer Peel 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted November 25, 2018 Author Share Posted November 25, 2018 Spent Saturday messing with the moped due to foul weather. No joy there, it's busy being Italian. (I am a bit Italian myself, so sympathize with it.)Today, there was more inclement weather but I know nobody else will do anything if I don't, so I went up there, had a tidy up of all the mess, did some filling and sanding, panted a few bits to keep the rain off and made a big repair section and got it fitted nicely ready to weld.At this point a mate turned up and I got sidetracked with him so didn't weld it in.Didn't take any pictures today but it will definitely look different in the next lot. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted December 28, 2018 Author Share Posted December 28, 2018 Right then, where are we at with this thing?I lost some pics when my phone was stolen so there are no pics of how I rebuilt the wheel arch but I have 1 more to do so I'll get some when I do that.Progress has been limited due to time constraints but I have a few days on it now. Before.    Almost there on that side now. Been doing a bit of painting if the weather has been clear, new rollers recommended by a painter on a job I was on, much better finish and they last a lot longer. strangeangel, Scruffy Bodger, Bucketeer and 11 others 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 I think you should go for the full camo pattern, it would be pretty much invisible* then and you would be guaranteed no hassle whilst parked up Arthur Foxhake 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 I think you should go for the full camo pattern, it would be pretty much invisible* then and you would be guaranteed no hassle whilst parked up "Can you explain in your own words, Sir, exactly how the accident happened?"Â "Well your honour, a slow moving hedgerow pulled out of a junction......" LightBulbFun, DeeJay, GrumpiusMaximus and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 "Can you explain in your own words, Sir, exactly how the accident happened?"Â "Well your honour, a slow moving hedgerow pulled out of a junction, using a smokescreen as more cover......" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 I’d have gone for panzer grey with a big iron cross on each side personally! Great work on this, it’s looking great already. Arthur Foxhake 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 Â Amishtat, Arthur Foxhake, Laseraligningfoofooflanges and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 More done today. Ran out of gas so dashed off for more, then a visit from the fella who has the rotten old coach I posted ages ago came for a look and a chat, when he left I got back into it, then ran out of wire. Why I didn't check before going for gas is because I am stupid. Had some more wire in my other machine so put it in the one I was using and it seems to be flux cored gasless shit.I'll have to pay Halfords a kings ransom for some mild steel wire tomorrow.Anyway, wheel arch and rear panel is welded, needs filling still.All this is under the floor of the van and essentially just there for looks, it's all single skin, only the upper parts of the wheel arch are double skin and none of it is structural. There was some welding done behind this but I failed to take any photos of it, there was more spot welds added to that panel at some point also, needs more repair inside of the inner arch so it'll make an appearance at some point.      Yep, still using disposable gas. Not for much longer though. EDIT! Bonus happy Y THO in last pic! strangeangel, danthecapriman, Dirk Diggler and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted December 29, 2018 Author Share Posted December 29, 2018 He will win that hands down.I'm not sure if it would do 60MPH. Certainly not on the flat, maybe downhill but it felt like overspeeding the gearbox when I got close to 60 on a huge hill in Devon. LightBulbFun and HarmonicCheeseburger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Foxhake Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 Had a day at it with no interruptions today, left my phone at home by accident.Kind of a blessing because I wasn't bothered by anyone but was a fail for photo taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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