Escort Van!

[TarkMalbot]

Ok so I thought I would start a topic on my Escort Van project.

I bought the van from an Auction for what I thought was a bargain as it appeared to be in great condition, low millage and with the Turbo engine.

It came with 6 months tax and mot so assumed it would be good to go.

I took it for a full service only to find the rear chassis was badly rotten!

So thats where I am so far. I will let you know how I get on with the repairs!

 

[Angusdog]

Crikey - Appearances can be deceptive! I'm convinced the road salting industry in the UK is a subsidiary of the auto manufacture industry... Good luck.

 

[TarkMalbot]

Easiest thing to do would be to sell it on to some other mug but I couldn't bring myself to do that as it would be dangerous and morally wrong. Another option would be to sell it as parts and spend months stripping bits off and being left with loads of rubbish that no-one wants. I have decided that as I am in no rush, have plenty of free time and am willing to learn I would try and repair it myself.

Taking it to the scrap yard is not an option so please dont suggest it. lol

 

[white van man 2]

looks like the sort of rust that would only have appeared in the last 6 months, doesn't it? not even in a place that's hard to see. mail order test do we think?

 

[volition82]

Had a similar problem myself when I bought my van. It had just been moted so gave it a look over but not as well as I would have if it had a few months left. When I got it home and had a really good look there were bits which should have never passed a mot. You have got to wonder how these garages keep their license, good luck with it.

 

[ytre]

Cant believe that got through mot, its really bad but good luck with your repairs. In Northern Ireland there are no garages allowed to pass a car for mot, there are designated government run departments which abide to strict guidelines and its hard to get old vehicles through mot.
If the chassis is even rusted they will scrape and thourghly look for a hole, even a pin hole is an instant failure.
Good luck with your project and i look forward to seeing how u progress.

 

[madkayaker]

i bet i know what test station that was. Douglass always have plent4y of escort parts

 

[Hitch]

I had an escort, that needed a sill welded at 10 years old.

That one you have there though, does look tidy from eye level!

Parked on grass all the time or something!
All the bits look fairly easy to get to, got to be worth a weekend of messing about, and a BIG tin of underseal

 

[Tigman]

Just done one of these for my cousin , it was rotten ! took a while but nailed it

 

[TarkMalbot]

Glad to hear that it is something that can be repaired.

My farther in law is good friends with Douglas and lives in the next house along fromhim so hopefully will get some help and advice from there!

 

[pedrobedro]

Just done one of these for my cousin , it was rotten ! took a while but nailed it

Welding is better though, what size nails did you use ?

I wouldn't be surprised if the chassis legs are available ready made if it is a common area for rot, plenty of old Escort vans still on the road round here

 

[Mr Toasty]

Not to be a nark or what ever you want to call it but if it is that bad take it back to the garage that it was done at (i know you got it at the auction) and pleasently remind that if they don't fix you'll ring VOSA. Ive had this a few times with friends and customers cars and you'll be amazed how they will bend over backwards for you. That's of course if you don't want to do it yourself as everyone knows when you do it yourself it gets done right. but free is also good.

 

[TarkMalbot]

Well I wont be starting anything for at least 2 weeks as I am away working but just trying to gain as much info as I can before I start.

Do I have any leg to stand on taking the car to the MOT garage even though it was 5 months ago? I wasn't the owner at the time of the MOT and I always hear the term that an MOT is only to say it was good at that very moment. How could I prove that it wasn't road worthy when it was MOT'd?

Anyway my first plan is to get it up on ramps and stands and then poke about to see what is rotten and what is not. Then clean everything up and cut away anything that is rotten and see what I am left with.

 

[Ratcatcher]

Escort vans:I've had two in the past and had a stack of them in the past to weld up.
Welds:the other favourite bit is the drivers footwell.....
My advice,get good insurance and find a big hole somewhere....Cough Cough i'm only advising potholes cos they can damage vehicles big time.....
Back in the day we come well away from fords and went onto vauxhall and mercedes for good reason........
As for your pictures:there is no way on this earth that the sort of rot depicted in the pictures could have happened in 5 month.....
Report the garage to VOSA and let them sort it out as obviously they need taking off the testing circuit......
Yeah i know no one likes mot's but there's limits.......

Rat.