Twatted the van today on a concrete bollard. Just didn't see it, I was concentrating on where I was going behind and smacked the front wing. Missus has been taking the piss all night, women are better drivers etc etc. Bitch.

Anyway, the wing's had it and needs to be changed. I've seen a few on E-bay tonight but they are all listed for cars. Is the van the same as the car?

To save money I want to do most of the labour myself and just pay for the spraying. Can anyone give me some help/advice on how to get the knackered one off? It looks to be bolted sides and bottom but the top,(inside engine bay), is spot welded. Is this a hammer and chisel job to split the welds?

Thanks in advance.

 

get your chainsaw on it

 

On a escort van, the spot welds along the top are simply drilled out, don't do a chisel job, when you come to aligning the new wing, use a few screws just to hold top in correct position till it is spotted again, the reason for the screws is so you can move it around a bit then.
There are specific spot weld removers, only a few quid, other wise centre punch and drill.
tabetha

 

Believe me, if it had been in the back of the van at the time I would have done. Might even of had a go at the concrete bollard.

 

Cheers mate,
May seem like a stupid question but do I drill all the way through the wing and the lip underneath or will drilling the wing be enough?
As for refixing, can the holes be filled with a mig and then ground down flush?
Never done any bodywork before so please excuse my dodgy questions.

 

I'll bet your bodywork wouldn't be as dodgy as mine, that's why I don't do anything important myself!!
As you grind away at the top surface of the weld, it will come apart/loose on it's own, so only need to go deep enough till this happens.
That's why the correct bit is so much better as it centres and pilots all in one, then has the cutter bit as a ring or sharp teeth around the outer edge, saves loads of time/hassle .
When wing is off, grind smooth where it was fixed so nice and flat, drill some 10mm holes through the lip of the new wing so that you have some adjustment where you can wiggle it around, get it where you want do up self tapper screws to hold in position whilst you spot, file/grind away excess, take your time and you could get a decent job, pay particular attention to the panel gaps, and rust proof as you go along to make things last.
I used to live in Colchester, at IMPHAL CLOSE, no 10!!
tabetha

 

Great advice mate, thanks a lot. Think that I will get myself that bit before I start, think screwfix might do them?

You say you used to live in Imphal Close, small world, I'm just off Gosbecks Road, which is very close. You ex-army?