Welding for MOT - Help!

[Electric Leyland]

Welding opinion please.

 

Been nattering with a top fella tonight on the phone who's selling a real heartbeat -skipping Autoshite head-turner. The only major drawback - needs welding for MOT. Normally for me that means instant walk away, but after spending a mere £50 on getting the sills welded for the old Jag to pass its MOT earlier this summer I though, well hang on a minute, it can't be all that terrifying?

 

The car in question (don't wanna jinx it by saying what it is yet, but it is really under-the-counter Ultrashite) has had a fair amount of welding done over the past 5 years for its MOTs, and to cut a very long story short the (very knowledgeable and honest sounding gent) reckons a good 2-3 days to get it all done. He also suggests that could be i.r.o. £400-£500 which realistically would probably take it higher than its market value. I don't have any details of the exact work that needs doing I'm afraid.

 

Having never taken a burden like that on before but having totally fallen in love with it, does anyone know if that price sounds realistic or could my wildest fantasies be improved by the possibility of a considerably lesser financial outlay? Would also welcome a good contact (near Hertfordshire or Leicestershire ideally) if the price is right.

 

The car is quite small and very basic if that makes any difference. And of course French.

 

Help a bloke out who is totally smitten!

 

EL

[autofive]

how does he know how long it will take if he doesnt know what needs doing?

 

smells sorta fishy IMO

 

might be worth taking a long hard look at the car, but use your head not your heart

[trigger]

Buy it!, You'll only regret it if you don't!

[Electric Leyland]

I know I'll spend the next 5 years regretting not buying it Trig, that's the main problem. These cars come about in the UK the that often. Even in France you can't find cheap ones.

 

I really do believe the bloke Mr five, he sounds really knowledgeable and has a big fleet already and is downsizing. Also it's not long out of its MOT either and is still taxed and fully drivable. I always follow my head and instinct on these matters, but this is the first time I've really felt like throwing my head out of the window and following my heart.

 

Better to have loved and lost than never loved (and owned one of these cars) before and all that. She's a stunner.

[scaryoldcortina]

In that case, you need to think about buying a cheap mig and a bottle of pub CO₂ and learning how to weld.... It isn't hard!

[barrett]

Well, you probably know what I'm going to say - save it!

It may not be financially viable, it might not make any logical sense but ask youself this; Would you be willing to pay a little bit of money to keep a rare car on the road for at least another year? I know most people here would. you may be financially poorer, but you'll have a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside that money can't buy, and you'll be a hero to all at AS.... I'll buy you a pint an' all!

 

I think I have a good idea what it might be too.

 

I wonder if Torsten or Seth know any good London-based welders??

[trigger]

I think it sounds like you've already made your mind up, now get it bought and get some photos up!

[M'coli]

Renault 6?

[Electric Leyland]

That is another definite consideration. I could wait til it's a bit warmer and try my hand at welding, it can't be that hard. How much approx for the kit?

 

I dare say Mr Barrett you've guessed it already, enough info has already been given away if you've been watching ebay tat!

 

Trig I wouldnt be surprised if the other 3 bidders are blokes on here. The seller, despite admitting pc-illiteracy, says he and his mates are big fans of this site and spent ages praising it's ethos!

 

Not an R6.

 

Anyone watching the Ashes? Flipping eck fire!11!!

[wuvvum]

The Renault 6 and the Innocenti both probably owe me more than their "market value", as will the Estelle if I ever get it finished, but I don't regret a penny of it, and I'm normally tighter than a camel's arsehole in a sandstorm. I say go for it.

 

Edit: Small, basic and French???

 

[Electric Leyland]

^^ Zoinks!

 

But good lord no.

[M'coli]

It's not metallic blue perchance, is it?

[trigger]

And very low mileage? If so then you will be the new WINNA! I also think Boobydoo will like it too.

[Electric Leyland]

You boys goddit. Surely Mr.B'Doo will be bidding, maybe I should PM.

 

The more I think about it, the more the DIY welding seems like the best answer.

 

It's one of those skills a proper bloody bloke could heroically have for life. Like DIY plastering, emercency CPR, and the yard of ale.

[barrett]

I've just been looking at it again, and i have to repeat - go for it!

 

There is actually some logic here though - it looks like every panel on it is sound and it doesn't have any bits of trim missing. this is the stuff i'd be worried about with a car like this where, I presume, body panels and trim bits are made of unobtanium. Not that i've ever done it, but welding bits of metal underneath a car will shirely be less of a pain to 'get right', and no one can see it anyway.

 

As for the value for money thing, I actually reckon if this was welded properly and made totally solid, tidied up a bit and given a fresh ticket it would probably be in 'proper classic' territory, price-wise, so it doesn't seem like such an expense to spend £400 getting it to that state.

 

I'd definitely send boobydoo a PM though as i'm sure he'll be after this one too

 

(did I mention DO IT?)

[Electric Leyland]

But don't ignore the roof has been danced on by some clod-footed pranny, if you look closely it is in a bit of a state and will keep the price down to a fair extent. Seller also says the paintwork needs attention, its not as good as it looks in the pics.

 

However the proper pictures I have of this car, mental ones, have a glowing haze around them and its blistering hot sunshine, with a rainbow in the background over green fields and hills. With birds tweeting, angelic choirs singing, and beautiful smiling ladies fainting in its presence.

 

My mind is made up, by my heart, so its my head that I have to fight. Mind mince.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Just saw the car in the ebay thread. What a gem.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think I know what it is too, and it seems an awesome buy.

 

I could conceivably weld it up for you if you can get it up to my workshop (CW5) and are not in a mega gasping rush!

[garethj]

Weld it yourself, it's not hard.

 

Mig welder (mine's a 90Amp one which has done 20 years service) £75 off ebay

Angle grinder with grinding and metal cutting discs £25 from Argos

Gauntlets £10

Mig welding mask £25

A load of sheet metal offcuts from the local metal shop £Drink

 

The skills aren't hard, if you've got the time. Go for it, I'm sure you will anyway

[Richard]

Don't bother going on a course though, welding clean straight metal the right way up is a skill you could learn in an hour. You would be far better spending an afternoon watching somebody like Mr Bo11ox in action.

[Espacetic]

Anglesea registered so it's spent some time on the coast, probably whats caused the rampant tin worm.

Only thing that concerns me with this is that it's spent 5 years being patched up. Without knowing the quality of the welding I would hazzard a guess that it's patches welded over rust.

Bonus though is the floor on these isn't too complex to make repair panels for.

I would be cutting out all the rot and previous repairs and fabricate full panels for it, then protect the hell out of it to stop it happening again. The car does warrant doing properly regardless of market value, unless it's being done to sell on.

[Bren]

I used to earn my living as a welder - due to the fact that this country has turned its back on manufacturing I bailed out before being made redundant - it was the best move I ever made.

 

Buy a small mig welder and have a go yourself - with enough practice you will pick it up. One of my old teachers used to say "welding is not a skill - it's an artform". He was quite right.

 

I would advise you to go on a course at a local tech college. Welding is 90% preparation,there is more to it than just joining two pieces of metal together. You will learn how to set your equipment, what to look for when welding etc. Many courses are quite inexpensive and you will actually enjoy them!

 

Have a go yourself - once mastered it is something you will have for the rest of your life.

[Rocket88]

[

Anyone watching the Ashes? Flipping eck fire!11!!

 

Yup, me...............it seems cricket lovers are a bit thin on the ground in Autoshite land..............Seeing 30,000 Australians stunned into silence was worth staying up for..............

[seth]

Welding is always easier when you're the first person there. If its been patched up repeatedly then things could get messy but there's no real way of knowing until you get chopping.

 

I'm all for you buying your own gear and learning to do it yourself too. But crawling about under a car welding it up, especially at this time of year, is not a pleasant experience.

[wuvvum]

Assuming the bidding doesn't go too much higher (there's still over five days left so anything could happen...) I reckon you could spend £400 on repairs and still not be far off the mark. If you do it yourself or get another shiter to do it for mate's rates you could wind up with a bit of a bargain. And one of the coolest (and rarest) cars in the collective Autoshite fleet.

[HillmanImp]

It will be easy enough to learn how to weld it up for an MOT in an afternoon. I did several cars with very little practice but am having to revisit them now as the job i did was not the best for the long term survival of the car (i.e. i just cut out the rot and then plated over the hole, not pretty but sufficient for the MOT and probably just as good as the average garage). Am now a bit better at the bodywork and tend to do a proper job on them (depending on the car obviously, was not going to spend long on the doomed 95 Fiesta, but did a good job on the 84 Corrola).

 

Just give it a punt. As you progress you will inevitable revist it and gradually get the car up to scratch.

[garethj]

I'm all for you buying your own gear and learning to do it yourself too. But crawling about under a car welding it up, especially at this time of year, is not a pleasant experience.

It's not so bad inside a garage if you've got warm clothing or a heater going, but working outside when the temperature is below 3-4 degrees is for emergencies only IMHO

 

Get the car, get a welder, get a mate to show you how to set it up (the settings on my welder will be different to any other) and get going.

[boobydoo]

No, I'm not bidding!

 

Just buy it you fool!!!

 

If you do, I have a contact who will be able to get most parts for you.

 

Good Luck!

[Electric Leyland]

Great information fellas, thanks a lot.

 

I think I know what it is too, and it seems an awesome buy.

 

I could conceivably weld it up for you if you can get it up to my workshop (CW5) and are not in a mega gasping rush!

 

Thats would be ace Mr B. Definately not in any rush, am considering a buy now fix later scheme, when the cold weather's gone. This one won't be left out in the elements to rust gracefully though like the Audi!

 

 

Assuming the bidding doesn't go too much higher (there's still over five days left so anything could happen...) I reckon you could spend £400 on repairs and still not be far off the mark. If you do it yourself or get another shiter to do it for mate's rates you could wind up with a bit of a bargain. And one of the coolest (and rarest) cars in the collective Autoshite fleet.

 

Yes I reckon that too, as long as it doesn't rise much more. But finding the cheaper welding option would be a necessity financially. Seeing as work time is the main cost here, I really should do it myself.

 

Get the car, get a welder, get a mate to show you how to set it up (the settings on my welder will be different to any other) and get going.

 

Ain't got any kind of garage, this would have to be done outdoors, but have access to a good set of ramps.

 

No, I'm not bidding!

 

Just buy it you fool!!!

 

If you do, I have a contact who will be able to get most parts for you.

 

Good Luck!

 

Haha thanks, OK you're on, I will!

[Electric Leyland]

Could do that, but personally I'm fine with dented rooves, it's the Autoshite way. Just think it should keep the value down a fair bit.

 

It does look like someone's spent a while dancing on it though.