[Zebedee]

Got a message from my brother in law. Van won't start, turns over and over, won't fire and sounds like a bag of spanners. He's supposed to be away in it on Friday (today).
Someones stolen all the diesel out of the tank. Was 1/2 full last week but now not even registering on the gauge.
Couple of cans of fuel put in and its running again.
Asked him if its MOT'd. Nope it ran out March 10th.

He drove it to the MOT station and was greeted by this coolant leak.

Nowt i've touched while working on it so i assume its either damage done by whoever stole the fuel or its just the 38 year old steel coolant pipes finally saying enough and giving up the ghost.
Holiday now a no go.

 

[300CE]

There’s some proper sh1tbags about - and after all the work that has been done on it.

Looks like the leak is central so I reckon it’s from damage done from nicking the fuel as usually leaks from corrosion happen at the end of the pipes, either at the rad end or where it connects to the coolant junction.

Hope he’s able to get away in it soon.

 

[Zebedee]

Seems to be leaking from above the tank which is odd. The whole of the front to back coolant pipes are crispy though.
Not sure how the fuel was drained as all the pipes seem to still be connected and the filler cap was still on and locked.

 

[300CE]

Could it have been siphoned from the pipe on the side (presuming it’s the same on a diesel tank):

 

[Zebedee]

They reconnected it all afterwards if they did. Its all a bit odd really. I've not had a chance to have a look yet though as the MOT garage still have it.

 

[Zebedee]

Front end next. Lower front panel isn't too bad, a few bits above the headlights and a section on the bottom of the drivers A post. Plus the bottom inner section of the drivers door needs rebuilding.

 

[Zebedee]

Finally got back to working on this.
Bit of rot at the bottom of the A pillar.

Small bit of rot above one headlight.

Didn't have the time to sand the filler so it'll have to wait until sunday.

 

[Zebedee]

Theres this lovely bit above the deformation panel to sort too.

 

[AntB]

Looks like you have some work ahead of your sire.
But you are the best man for the job.

 

[Zebedee]

I had a pick at the filler along the bottom of the front panel. Safe to say its fooked. Its had a section in the middle replaced but its not even attached to the deformation panel anymore.

Looks like it was bright orange originally.

Sanded the filler on the front panel above the headlight and sprayed on some rattle can primer and black paint.

Did the same to the bottom of the A pillar too.

Repaired a couple of small spots on the closing panels at the ends of the deformation panel too.

Fusebox is a bit weird. 12 fuse one but with the first 2 taped over and number 10 missing the terminals.

 

[Zebedee]

Only the lower bit of the middle of the front panel needs replacing. The rest looks like i might just get away with having a few small patches welding in.

 

[Zebedee]

My brother in law Nick just dropped Niknak off at ours. Driven here with no number plate, bumper, grills or a headlight.

 

[Zebedee]

After finally managing to get the MH started due to a troublesome immobiliser light, it was moved over a bit and the T3 squeezed in next to it.

Ever had one of those days you wished you'd just stayed in bed?

Has anyone got a spare lens for a T3 headlight?

 

[Zebedee]

Found someone localish to me with a spare light i can salvage the lens off.

 

[Zebedee]

I think i've now managed to cut the rot back to solid steel on the front.

 

[AntB]

Rust tends to be never ending dosn't it.

 

[Zebedee]

Yep. I think its mostly the design thats caused some of it as theres a few sections on the front where theres a bracket welded to the back of the panel. They all seem to rot there as this is the third i've done with rust holes in the exact same place.
Still got to figure out how to do the inside of the drivers door but as the allen head fixing bolts are fooked i'll have to see about fixing it while its still on the van.

I also found one of the jubilee clips on the main coolant pipe at the bottom of the radiator has rusted away and its in a right PITA place to access without removing the steering bevel box from the bottom of the column.
Might have to just chop the remains off with a dremel and see if i can get a new one to fit round the pipe without removing the hose.

 

[Zebedee]

Replacement metal shaped and trimmed ready to weld in.

Just a bit to make to fill the hole above the passengers side chassis rail.

 

[Zebedee]

Got the little bit above the chassis rail welded in and some filler and paint. Not perfect but it'll do for now.

 

[Zebedee]

Got the rest of the lower front panel welded in and the welds ground down, then the heavens opened and rain stopped play.
Found one of the main coolant hoses were it attaches to the bottom of the radiator was leaking a little where it was missing a jubilee clip. Luckily i found a spare stainless one in my spares box.