Burningwindmill wrote:Thanks guys for that advice!
The beast is a bit rusty round the wheel arches but has had a wax oil treatment underneath recently so hopefully should be okay for a few years
Welcome. If the beast is a bit rusty around the wheel arches and has only had a waxoyl treatment recently..........its quite likely there could be some similar corrosion that happened well before waxoyl was applied. I think you should inspect thoroughly in all these key areas for starters:
* Inner cills, especially at junctions with front cross member just behind front wheel arches.
* Inner cill/floor around the rear heater unit
* Metal piping supplying the rear heater circuit
* Front cross member underneath radiator, and onto which the radiator mounts
* Rear cross member and inner arches/flooring both near the rear bumper and (hidden behind) exhaust back box.
Sadly, if welding should need doing, the fresh application of waxoyl will complicate matters as it introduces a fire hazard meaning a second person will need to stand by with a fire extinguisher while the welder works.
Sorry for appearing negative: I could be worrying about nothing and its all sound underneath, but my 96 model was cared for quite well and quality (dinitrol) waxoyled not long after I bought it (i.e. 10 years ago), but has still had to have repairs done in all the above areas. Best you're eyes wide open on the possibility and are ahead of the game before MOT time. I've probably spent around £1.5k on rust related repairs in total but regard it as money well spent as the Bongo has served me incredibly well for nearly 11 years and for a low initial outlay. They do what they do just great
