BravoNovember

BravoNovember

Active Member
Sad day yesterday, my tame mechanic got back to me about my disco 1 van after giving her a through look over before I started working on her for the mot.

Alas, I think she is a goner, the list of jobs was large, not impossible for me to do, but the chassis is gonna need at least 500 quids worth of welding to get it through as I can’t currently weld. Pretty rotten...

That’s more than I paid for her in the first place and on a truck with 212k on the original engine, I could be storing up trouble for later.

Unless any of you guys can convince me otherwise, she may have to go for scrap.

On the plus side, for the last two weeks since I bought the truck. This forum has been great.
 
I always look at the faults as: Must fix, could fix, would be nice to fix.

I brought my first Disco to a mechanic and he changed everything, brake lines, turbo recon, the whole works and it turned out to be as much as I paid for the Disco. If you do it over time it doesn't hurt as much, kind of like peeling your own skin off.
 
If you decide not to fix it, don't scrap it you'll get more on ebay as is. Someone will likely fix her up
 
Where are You? Have you space/land? If you want rid please do let me know first. I don't know what 500 quid worth of welding looks Like - I'd pay good money for a good welder and wouldn't expect more than 3 days for that surely. There's many of us here that will tell you the actual welding is the easy bit. The prep, cutting, time spent on your back getting sh1t in your eyes and face and card board cut out is the long part! If your disco is as bad as mine paying someone to weld it up just doesn't work I don't think unless a deal is cracked. No point patching which I bet most would do. Might be worth some pics? If your local I'll give you scrap cost plus a beer or 5 if you want rid and there's some decent bits on it. Pm if you wish. When is the ticket up?
 
Will scrapping it save any money? 500 quid isn't any great cost for a ticket - especially as it was such a cheap truck, and if you want to stay in the green oval mark sticking with a single one and slowly restoring the chassis / bodywork over a longer period is much better than buying another rotter every year or two, and much better than switching to an econobox!
 
If yer going to scrap it then consider taking oft the bits of value (yer I know it's a disco but there must be something) that yer could sell.
 
Ah the usual brake pipes, steering box and a few other bits and bobs. It was the extent of the welding that killed it for me.

But I’ve sold it for what I paid for it to a mate off the CB for him and his wife to restore together, so it should be going to a better place than the scrap yard.
 
Good news though, hopefully I’m back as I’ve just bought a nicer looking D2, praying for no hidden horrors this time.

But the mot history for it looks a damn sight better than the van!
 
Chassis looks pretty sound, once bitten lol. No sign of the dreaded three but they can appear any time can’t they :eek:

Tbh, she will be a project whilst I get some evening lessons up the local college on welding, it’s only a matter of time with the older trucks after all o_O

I think the weak point on this one will be the clutch, but I’d feel a lot happier shelling out the dollar on a truck with a lower mileage and a bit more history. Hopefully there will be a few more years fun in her.

The van really was a punt in the dark bought off my partners dad.
 
I did a local college course for welding and by the end of it I was worse. Also £120 poorer. You'd be better off getting a load of scrap steel and practicing. Good luck with the new motor.

Col
 
Colthebrummie said:
I did a local college course for welding and by the end of it I was worse. Also £120 poorer. You'd be better off getting a load of scrap steel and practicing. Good luck with the new motor.

Col
Click to expand...

Funny enough, I had a look at the course content today after your post and I’m inclined to agree with you.
Looks like a lot of money to be told how to stick metal together and get on with it. Probs better spending that cash on a decent welder and like you say, practicing of a weekend.
 
BravoNovember said:
Funny enough, I had a look at the course content today after your post and I’m inclined to agree with you.
Looks like a lot of money to be told how to stick metal together and get on with it. Probs better spending that cash on a decent welder and like you say, practicing of a weekend.
Click to expand...
I dabbled on an m and e course when younger and then tried to get on a local one and it was booked out. I went ahead and bought a welder anyway and cracked on with a bit of help off here. Welding tips and tricks on YouTube has been so useful. Drop a thread on here prior to making any purchase. You need to be able to go low enough for 18 gauge really and up to 3mm. I went with a second hand Clarke and a few people use these. You can then buy sheet and get scrap and test your welds for penetration, nail your settings etc. One you know what you need to run for what repair you are half way there. I talk like I'm in the know but I'm still a mere beginner in welding too. The advice on here is second to none. I would not have been able to build my landy to where it is without the help of the people on here.
 
I'm crap at welding so any advice I give is suspect, but the main thing seems to be to prepare the joint properly. Only try welding nice clean, shiney metal. Some of the welding gurus seem to be able to weld rust but not the average beginner.

Col
 
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