World class weldfest

[Ratdat]

I know there's a few on here who love the occasional major weldathon (looking at you in particular Mr. B!), especially on old tat that most people wouldn't really care for. I'm about to tackle my shitbox rust bucket 'Tina estate and this thread has really given me some encouragement. Magnificent effort I reckon.

[pogweasel]

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Inspiring, but only for members!

[Ratdat]

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Inspiring, but only for members!

Buggeration. Here's a taster of the kind of rust anyway...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Your 'tina looked like a minter in your pic ratdat! Is it as bad as all that?

[Ratdat]

Your 'tina looked like a minter in your pic ratdat! Is it as bad as all that?

Yeah, it's a bit of a turd. Looks respectable on the outside because it's been restored in the past, probably about ten years ago I reckon. But it's a really shit resto with lots of pidgeon shit plates over grot with sealer liberally slapped on. Dissapointing but at least I didn't pay a large whack for it. Just got to knuckle down and fix it. I've just bought a half solid saloon bodyshell as a metal donor for £40 which will provide a fair bit of help. here's what the A panels and front floors are like...

 

 

 

 

Below the rear side windows...

 

[ashmicro]

[ashmicro]

[Ratdat]

LolZ Just as well I bought a couple of 8x4 sheets of steel a while back!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Jesus, I'm afraid i would have given up on that lot before i'd started, what a nightmare. After welding up a few old shitters you think you can assess reasonably well how crusty a car is by looking at it dont you, but every restorer no matter how 'pro' inevitably ends up getting a shedload of free rust that they never bargained for.

[Ratdat]

It does help that I can at least get new inner and outer sills. The A panels are available but expensive (nearly £80 for the pair). The inner wing tops are available as are front wings and valances. I've repaired one side window (the one shown above) so far but am waiting on some more bits before I get really stuck in.

 

 

 

My van is clogging up the workshop so I need to have the roof ready to paint for next weekend so I can start the xmas welding sesh on this.

 

I took a gamble and bought it blind with little information as I've done with loads of other cars. This time I was unlucky but I've had plenty of other times when I've got a bargain. Luck of the draw really

[whitevanman]

Sadly thats pretty normal for a Cortina, I may be cutting my MK4 saloon up in the next few weeks if you need any more bits of the shell, and if your stuck for any spares just ask, I have a shed full of them

[ChinaTom]

I think it is fair to say a good weldathon will be taking place here before too long.

 

[Guest]

I reckon the best way to judge rust is that everything will be much worse than you could even begin to imagine. If you reckon it wants a little patch on the end of one sill, it won't be.Though I think it's a hell of a lot better when it's a car where you can tell that no one has messed around with it before now - at least then you have a good idea of what has actually rotted, instead of gradually finding "repairs" which collapse into a pile of All-Bran when poked at with your finger.Shame about that Cortina, it did look really tidy in the pictures! Looks like you've got it covered though, very neat job on the window! Impressive stuff.

[nigel bickle]

Masochist.Love it.Roll on'arc eye'

[Spottedlaurel]

Crikey Ed! Good luck with that...Dare I ask why you’re persevering with it? I realise you’ve spent money on purchasing it which you probably don’t want to chuck away, but do you really want a Cortina estate that much? What about others already in the queue?Or perhaps this chance to do loads of welding is a Christmas present to yourself?!Still, be great to see when it’s done.

[Guest]

Or perhaps this chance to do loads of welding is a Christmas present to yourself?!

If that's the case, come down to my place and I'm sure various items of my fleet can provide hours of welding-related "entertainment"!

[Ratdat]

Crikey Ed! Good luck with that...Dare I ask why you’re persevering with it? I realise you’ve spent money on purchasing it which you probably don’t want to chuck away, but do you really want a Cortina estate that much? What about others already in the queue?Or perhaps this chance to do loads of welding is a Christmas present to yourself?!Still, be great to see when it’s done.

I've decided it's an ideal daily and having driven it I can see why they sold so well. Whilst it doesn't have anywhere near the build quality of something equivelent of the day like a 910 Bluebird estate, it is massively more entertaining to drive and the interior is generally a nicer place to be. Parts should be very easy to get and cheap too. It's ultra basic so very little to go wrong with it. It's a 2.0L so it'll haul a trailer if need be and has a decent sized load area with the seats down. Best of all it's old. I'm done with 'modern' cars for daily transport. It's old shite all the way for me now.As for why I'm going to persevere with this one... well I could have spent twice the money and still got one with rust lurking. They are renowned for it after all. If I crack on and do this one, at least I'll know it'll then be rust free. Plus a really tidy Mk5 estate is worth £2500+ so it's not like I'd be wasting money on doing it should I eventually sell it. I should be able to get it in the workshop next week and plan have the body done and resprayed within 4 weeks if I can. It'll delay getting the Violet finished but it's not really any bother. I've got no deadline to meet!Besides which, without a useful daily I'm scuppered for fetching and carrying stuff so I need to get this done ASAP.

[Ratdat]

Or perhaps this chance to do loads of welding is a Christmas present to yourself?!

If that's the case, come down to my place and I'm sure various items of my fleet can provide hours of welding-related "entertainment"!

I think it's time you took a crash course in welding Mr.H!

[55bloke]

Jeezus, those pics take me back! Both my Mk 3 estate and Mk 4 saloon were in a similar state when they were "recycled," and that was something like 20 years ago!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Best of all it's old. I'm done with 'modern' cars for daily transport. It's old shite all the way for me now.

Oh dear, has your Vel Satis been playing some mind games on you ratdat?

[Ratdat]

Oh dear, has your Vel Satis been playing some mind games on you ratdat?

No, but it departed the fleet a few months ago (long story of a deal gone sour). It was starting to play up though. Twice I fired it up first thing in the morning and it immeadiately went into limp home mode. No good at all.Actually it's not that, it's just I really don't enjoy driving around in modern stuff much, no matter how many toys are on it. Case in point is I enjoyed driving my Pony pickup more than the Vel satis. Wierd I know but the Pony was just more fun. Modern cars provide such a detached driving experience. like you said with the Crab, you get a feeeling of operating a machine. I get that with old cars but not with new ones. In short they are of limited fun value to me whereas old crack keep me amused.

[Guest]

I think it's time you took a crash course in welding Mr.H!

I reckon so, it's getting beyond a joke now! I'm intensely jealous of all these people who can get their Mig out and apply nice big bits of shiny metal to their vehicles. I have to wait (sometimes ages) for a bloke to do it, then empty my wallet in his direction.I looked into these welding and car restoration courses and they're all way too expensive, sounds like the only way I'll learn is by buying a welder and having a bash outside on the driveway. Not a great deal of fun, might be the only way though!

[seth]

Go for it Hirst!I'm glad to read of two of you finding old motors more fun and interesting as daily drivers.

[Milford Cubicle]

I looked into these welding and car restoration courses and they're all way too expensive, sounds like the only way I'll learn is by buying a welder and having a bash outside on the driveway. Not a great deal of fun, might be the only way though!

Any local colleges doing night courses in welding? I'm thinking of taking one next month, it isn't that expensive.

[Ratdat]

I reckon the best way is to just buy a welder, read up what you can and have a go. A course won't teach you anything you can't learn for yourself I don't reckon. All the info you could ever want is out there online. Ask people who weld for recommendations on equipment and ask questions if you have problem and you'll be welding in no time. If you are buying a welder etc to start out I would recommend two things... get an argon mix bottle rather than use CO2 and invest in an electronic mask. They make things a lot easier. I reckon there's more technique to be learned with the fabrication side of things than the actual welding.Mr.H, you're always welcome to pop over here and have a go with my welding kit. I've even got a spare welder here too.

[Guest]

That is an offer and a half! I reckon I will take you up on that next year, it can be my new years resolution - weld!Just set me going on that Pony, I reckon if I start sometime around noon I should have it sorted and re-tested by the time the kids TV comes on. Perhaps.

[j-j]

Much respect! I'd have purged it of all its good bits and crushed the rest!I had an epic weldfest on my old GSA - whole arse end and both sills - new rear sub frame inner arches etc.. All done with a shite gasless welder. Will never repeat this!! hated every crappy minute of it and swear that any old shite that needs more than a few wee patches is off the scale for me now!So muchos respec on your valiant efforts

[Tayne]

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[CortinaDave]

The ultimate rarity that.. A T reg mk5! They were launched to the public in sept '79 so the first were on a V but Ford had a few press cars registered on T plates like that one. There aren't any survivors AFAIKThe enquiry is complete The vehicle details for HPU 754T are: Date of Liability 01 11 1991 Date of First Registration 12 07 1979 Year of Manufacture 1979 Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2294CC CO2 Emissions Not Available Fuel Type Petrol Export Marker Not Applicable Vehicle Status Unlicensed Vehicle Colour BLUE Vehicle Type Approval Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle 6 Months Rate £104.50 12 Months Rate £190.00 *removes anorak*

[Mr Lobster]

I reckon the best way is to just buy a welder, read up what you can and have a go. A course won't teach you anything you can't learn for yourself I don't reckon. All the info you could ever want is out there online. Ask people who weld for recommendations on equipment and ask questions if you have problem and you'll be welding in no time. If you are buying a welder etc to start out I would recommend two things... get an argon mix bottle rather than use CO2 and invest in an electronic mask. They make things a lot easier. I reckon there's more technique to be learned with the fabrication side of things than the actual welding.

Hmm, interesting. I was toying with the idea of doing a course myself - local college does one and I might have a bit more time next year. Might have to see what second hand welding equipment is around next year and just have a go then.