Bongo Fury

Hey folks, fairly new to the forum but been a bongo owner for about 6 months now.

Looking for some advice regarding servicing and repair.

It's been 6 months since my bongos been serviced and it looks like there's a little rust appearing on one of the rear arches.

My plan is to get the rust repaired at a body shop, a service and an under-seal. Anybody got any good advice on what type of service is required and any advice on the under-seal would be great.

I'm based in Glasgow so not sure of any specific garages, if you can help there that would be great.

Hello Mr Monster, the servicing depends largely on what was carried out on your bongo last time, an interim (small) service would generally comprise of an oil and oil filter change, replacement air filter,and a fuel filter (maybe).

A more major engine service would comprise of the above, along with a cambelt change.

Quite a few bongo owners on here are starting to suffer from rusting arches, a popular remedy is to cut rust free arches from a "breaker" bongo, cut the offending oxidised arch(es) from the primary vehicle,and then have the "new" arched welded in, skimmed and painted as required.

Often repairs such as grinding out of the existing rust, then filling and painting is deemed a temporary repair, as the rust, (like a cancer) is extremely difficult to eradicate completely, and therefore further bubbling arches are an almost certainty.

Adequate floorpan protection is often achieved using a product called waxoyl, this is a rust preventative fluid of waxy deposits suspended in white spirit, the white spirit evaporates off after application. The waxoyl works by preventing water ingress into bare metal surfaces,therefore minimising the risk of oxidisation, and contains anti corrosion inhibitors that can in some cases can actually anti-oxidise. (depending on the severity of the oxidisation) Waxoyl can't turn a hole into metal though!

There are many options available in the floorpan waxoiling treatments, company's such as "chassis clean" complete a very rigorous procedure,some people have bought a waxoil kit and carried out the procedure at home on their drives. I got a local bongo specialist garage to waxoyl my bongo, the price can depend on how much waxoyl is deemed necessary to complete the job, i asked the guy (mike at wheelquick) to slap on loads, (in a technical manner) and around a gallon and a half was used,costing me in the region of £80. I prepared the floorpan myself to help keep the costs manageable.

Thanks for the info, big help.

The cam belt was changed at last service so I think an oil and filter change is probably all that's needed.

As for the rust and under seal, I think I'll get it to a specialist next week and see what they say.

Anyone got any suggestions of bongo friendly body shops or garages that carry out waxoyl under seals in Glasgow your info would be appreciated.

Ho whosthemonster.

Ah, the dreaded rust...

There is a thread on here started by myself on this very thing - or, at least, how to protect against it. It's called: Undersealing - a tiny bit of extra info

The main thing I discovered whilst doing this Waxoyling job was that the front and rear arches are double-skinned. This means that, unless you make a point of protecting INSIDE where the two panels join, there's a very good chance you'll suffer from arch rust even if your car has been 'undersealed'.

Where the two panels join together (the edge of the wheel-arch when you feel underneath with your fingertips) and are spot-welded, there will be tiny gaps between the spot welds which literally 'suck' water up by capillary action. This water gets between the the panels where they start to eat away...

I made a point in my thread about spraying INSIDE these panels. I also mentioned to thin the Waxoyl way beyond the recommended amount when targeting these 'internal' areas - I'd go further now and suggest the mix is really pretty watery as you want it to travel down to where the panels join and then get drawn in to the tight seam where the spot welds are.

Consider doing this job yourself. Yes, I know it's messy, but airless guns can be bought for around £25ish, so you are likely to save money as well as know it's been done properly.

Alternatively, if you get it under sealed professionally, and the job didn't include these internal parts, buy a couple of Waxoyl aerosols, warm them up (not too much!) and do it yourself...

Make sure especially you spray behind the new repair job to seal it off completely.