welders south wales

steviebacon · May 7, 2015

Ok so I bit the bullet and purchased a disco

I got her cheap as a local lad priced up doing the welding .......

Now they can't do it. Surprise surprise.

Now I have never welded anything ever and don't know where to start.

Soooo is there anyone local ish that can either quote me happy or point me to someone .

Cills both sides! There is so little left I'm not sure what's meant to be there :$

Boot floor has been done previously. Arches look ok. I'm wondering if it's worth getting her done for mot or offloading her again.

Steve

Thomo1927 · May 7, 2015

Welcome fellow South Walian ,Put some pics up and we can give you some advice on the sills then.

steviebacon · May 7, 2015

Well hello.

I will post numerous pics tomorrow currently totting up bits I know she will also need.

Window runners
tyres
gear gator
4 ton of silicone (sunroofs)
shampoo (dare I wash her) lol

ronsealdeath · May 7, 2015

Just have a think before you dive in buddy. Could be chasing your tail. You could try the rambo bloke on internet who welds discos, no idea if he's any good or if he is still going. If you cant weld, a rusty disco is a money pit I'm afraid. You can learn but if you need it sorted asap or as a daily, dont be afraid to offload and get a solid one instead.

Thomo1927 · May 7, 2015

Rambo 4x4 is still going and he will come to you and weld ,Heard good reports about him from friends.

steviebacon · May 7, 2015

that's what has annoyed me it was thought out, planned, checked, costed, checked, checked, checked again.

Got her. Then told can't do cills on a landy too big for them. Insert lots of swearing about here lol.

I don't mind learning my experience on welding is messing about with thick steel back on the farms. Nothing quite as big/needy as this. So my confidence is lacking somewhat.
I'll roll my sleeves up but as mentioned at the top I couldn't even tell where or what the cills are meant to be like at all let alone where they are meant to be. I'll get some pics of the underside tomorrow so you can all give your opinions.

Yes it'll be used for a runaround but not a daily deal. I've always loved landy's having driven round for the last 15+ years in everything from a rrc through 90's and 110's both lwb and swb models.

The zafira and galaxy although spacious just didn't give me the same joy of driving a 7 seater as the landy's. They probably cost me more in repairs !! Lol

brian47 · May 7, 2015

Steve,
I've always trusted Chris Mogg, Riverside Garage to do all my work, but there's also that garage up in Nantymoel, by the clock, They might do that kind of thing too. Either way, you should get some idea of costs and whether it's worth doing.

Failing that, enrol on a welding course down at the tech.

Yeah, I'm from in the valley too.

steviebacon · May 7, 2015

Hi Brian it was partly your fault I bit the bullet!! Seeing your nice shiny vehicle on my travels back and forth lol

Yeah I'm tempted to go up to court garage but bar mot'ing my motors I've not had any work done up there.

I had forgotten about mogs !!

I'm thinking a welding course longer term would be beneficial for a number of things. Just really need advice/costs on getting this back on the road or binning her before the missus drops the baby or drop kicks me out lol.

haigy · May 8, 2015

Buy your own welder and crack on with piece of scrap get better at it then do some plates and work up to box section sills. Its very satisfying to no youve done it yourself and plenty of threads about welding on her.

Ive done all my welding after the 1st quote i got was more than the car.

steviebacon · May 8, 2015

Some images of the underneath cills and arches

Disco1BFG · May 8, 2015

steviebacon said:
The zafira and galaxy although spacious just didn't give me the same joy of driving a 7 seater as the landy's. They probably cost me more in repairs !! Lol

If you do the cills on a disco1, chances are, if done reasonably, they will outlast the rest of the shell - which is probably already 18 years old. if the rest of the shell is good, then, if looked after, it might last another 18... which in my book makes for cheap motoring.

Plus, they are a simple vehicle, and though repairs can occasionally be expensive,they are unlikely to be as expensive as DMF and other such "modern", ahem, "stuff" on more modern vehicles.

I have also noticed that some of the aftermarket repair panels out there are made of 1.2mm zintec coated steel, which is rather a step up from the, IIRC, original 0.7mm LR used - another plus point in my book.

I do wonder if the best view to take of expensive repairs on D1's, especially given that they are sometimes close to the vehicles "value", is to view it more long term...

How many of us would buy a new D1 now ( if they were available, and built to the same standard ), knowing the standard to which they were originally built all those years ago?

Its only my opinion, but a D1 is a fine, safe, economic vehicle - and considering their life span and minimal eventual disposal cost, pretty green into the bargain.

steviebacon · May 8, 2015

That's my line of thinking. I've had cars of all ages. And always come back to pre 2000 models. Engines easy to work on you don't need to buy expensive software to find out the points aren't set.

Would I buy a new disco? No I've worked for people that have new discos and the outlay initially plus the repair costs, how much is a wiring loom on a year old car! Make them totally unrealistic unless you have a bottomless wallet.

ronsealdeath · May 8, 2015

Yeah but a rotten disco is no joke for the unwary. You need loads of time, a drive, welding skills and a spare vehicle whilst your disco is in bits on said driveway. Id go and find a solid one that some other poor prick has had to spend hours welding.

colingo · May 8, 2015

Was it previously used for launcing the life boat

steviebacon · May 8, 2015

ronsealdeath said:
Yeah but a rotten disco is no joke for the unwary. You need loads of time, a drive, welding skills and a spare vehicle whilst your disco is in bits on said driveway. Id go and find a solid one that some other poor prick has had to spend hours welding.

Unwary I maybe. Time I can find, I have the luxury of a drive and worst case 40 acres of prime Pembrokeshire farmland if needed to spread the disco across. A spare vehicle I also have. Welding skills is what I lack. I have a mig welder enroute and should be with me tomorrow. So training starts in earnest on arrival.

What I lack is
a) someone to either say yes it can be done this is where it needs cutting/putting back together or no you got sold a complete turkey bin it.
Or

B) someone to say ill charge you x to get her through the mot on the welding side of things watch and learn how I'm doing it make the tea and get your hands dirty in helping me so you know for future how to tack, seam, stitch weld.

At least I'll have a starting point of either yes I'll wade in x amount to get her on the road and learn at my leisure.
Or its not that much of a job I'll learn, try fail try again fail try again
Or I'll be able to say right knowledgeable folks have said it's got no hope and will start again with another vehicle

steviebacon · May 8, 2015

colingo said:
Was it previously used for launcing the life boat

So its worse than bad? Apparently last year's mot there was slight rust on the offside .... only an advisory .......cough..cough...blind tester

haigy · May 9, 2015

Google or youtube how to weld.

Go to local fabricators and get some 100mm by 60mm box section for sills and some scrap pieces to practice on.

Then just take your time to get to know your welder and how to set it up and get a good auto dark mask not cheap crap and a grinder with lots of flap discs and cuttin discs

The best advice i can give you is to disconnect the battery the rest is easy youl know when youve found good metal to weld to and make sure its all cleaned up to get best welds. there a fella on here called green hornet and discopol and paul d who have all done amazing threads on welding sills so read them and the set to it.

Disco1BFG · May 9, 2015

steviebacon said:
That's my line of thinking. I've had cars of all ages. And always come back to pre 2000 models. Engines easy to work on you don't need to buy expensive software to find out the points aren't set.

Would I buy a new disco? No I've worked for people that have new discos and the outlay initially plus the repair costs, how much is a wiring loom on a year old car! Make them totally unrealistic unless you have a bottomless wallet.

I genuinely believe that motor vehicle engineering reached its zenith in the late 90's. Much after 2000 and they are designed to fail in a way that only those with a laptop etc., can fix. = no thanks.

I might not have explained my point very well regarding new - I meant a new D1 - I.E. a 300 TDi.... nothing else!

I agree with everything you say - I too wouldn't touch one with a barge pole - electric handbrake anyone!?!?!??!? -:deadhorse: I can find better "drains" to tip that sort of money into!

steviebacon · May 9, 2015

I would like to say a big thank you to both Disco1BFG and Brian47.

Both have given me not only inspiration to get off my butt and to get this on the road, some good tips on panels, rust treatments and pointers but also making me feel welcome on here.

Thomo I called up Rambo and he came down and he really did quote me happy. And he will have my landy up with him from mid week. My choice to go there to have the work done as opposed to having it done here. He also took the time to point out little common things on the landy for future reference the three head bolts, the lifter pump what I should be getting mpg to what she currently does and how to improve her some of which I knew some I had no idea on.

Overall including the cost of my shiny new welder to learn with the landy will be road legal sound and running for less than either the zafira or the galaxy cost me to purchase in the first instance.

Overall I have to say I am glad I bit the bullet, glad I joined here and looking forward to learning welding (I might accidently run the washing line over for first practice object ) and putting another skill under my belt.

Disco1BFG · May 12, 2015

HTH.

Glad you are going to keep it. The modern stuff is complete carp.

ATB

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