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Can 'dave' Be Saved? Just how much welding can one car take?

#1 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 29 June 2017 - 05:58 PM

2 years ago a 'small, non structural hole' in the floor under the driver's seat, was found by my local garage. At the MOT a few months later it turned out to be rampant corrosion and an MOT fail with the advice to scrap 'Dave,' my beloved 2001 Puma Thunder. Turns out a cream cracker would have made a stronger floor. After taking Dave to a rather more specialist garage, he was extensively (and expensively) welded and passed the MOT no problem. Such was the case last year where at a totally unrelated garage, the staff complimented the brilliant welding job and told me it was still perfect. I was really pleased with this as I had been told by the specialist garage, before they did the job, that the welding should be fine for 2 years but after that it was anybody's guess. It came as a real blow when a couple of weeks ago, on a 2 lane stretch of the A14, in heavy traffic moving at 70mph, with no hard shoulder, a water pipe cracked resulting in a dry, red hot engine and no alternative but to drive for a mile to the nearest exit. Dave was relayed to the specialist garage to have checked him over and the engine is wrecked. They can replace the engine and all associated mechanical bits for around £1000. They will and can do the work (this is what they do all the time) but have advised me that as the bodywork has already proved suspect and that it's more than the car's worth, to scrap it.

My question: I know I can always get the mechanical bits fixed but it's the bodywork that do for Dave. If I'm prepared to accept that every few years I'm going to have to shell out for welding, is it possible to keep the car going? (trigger's broom style) My brother managed to source a brand new body shell from USA to rebuild his rusty MG. Are brand new body shells/parts obtainable for Pumas and if so where from?




#2 User is offline   YOG 

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Posted 29 June 2017 - 06:35 PM

Ex-Pressed Steel Panels are doing Full Sills and Repair Sills:
http://www.steelpane...ord-puma-sills/
Rick

The Haynes Fiesta Manual (3397) can answer a lot of your questions.
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#3 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 29 June 2017 - 09:04 PM

Thanks for your fast reply. I'll have to do a bit of speed reading as Dave's fate has to be decided by tomorrow. The panel site's really interesting but can't find a specific answer to the question as to the possibility of welding onto welding...but I live in hope...for 24 hours at least!🐱


#4 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 29 June 2017 - 09:15 PM

There are no new shells. I'm sorry to read of your dilemma as these cars become much loved. I've no idea about your welding question. How rusty is your Puma in general.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#5 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 30 June 2017 - 10:44 AM

happy-kat said:

1498770921[/url]' post='939569']
There are no new shells. I'm sorry to read of your dilemma as these cars become much loved. I've no idea about your welding question. How rusty is your Puma in general.

Thanks Happy-Kat
It's looking bad for Dave. 😕 The welded floor's holding up at the moment ( a good job done by Pumabuild, Birmingham) but as they said, they can't guarantee how long it will hold up for. As far as I know, from MOT last Oct, the rest structurally ok. Cosmetically pretty good. Slightly bubbly rear wheel arches with rust just starting to show on one, slight distortion under driver's window trim and around rear windscreen wiper fixing. Inside is near perfect throughout.
I'm now harbouring the slightly desperate idea of buying a reliable newish Fiesta this weekend as I do have to do trips up and down the A14 and motorways fairly regularly and getting Dave's engine done and then.......???? wow....I really do want to keep this car running!


#6 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 30 June 2017 - 10:46 AM


Thanks Happy-Kat
It's looking bad for Dave. 😕 The welded floor's holding up at the moment ( a good job done by Pumabuild, Birmingham) but as they said, they can't guarantee how long it will hold up for. As far as I know, from MOT last Oct, the rest structurally ok. Can 'bits' as advertised from the parts people above be welded on to previously welded bits?Cosmetically pretty good. Slightly bubbly rear wheel arches with rust just starting to show on one, slight distortion under driver's window trim and around rear windscreen wiper fixing. Inside is near perfect throughout.
I'm now harbouring the slightly desperate idea of buying a reliable newish Fiesta this weekend as I do have to do trips up and down the A14 and motorways fairly regularly and getting Dave's engine done and then.......???? wow....I really do want to keep this car running!


#7 User is offline   happy-kat 

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Posted 30 June 2017 - 06:41 PM

Getting the fiesta buys you time either way and gets you a useable car right now. Can always sell it if you later sort Dave out.
searching is fruitful | I'm a sponge not a mechanic | please do try that if stuck with a Puma problem whilst waiting for a reply | For the Puma fan this read 'The Inside Story Book' is very nice to own sometimes still seen for sale

#8 User is offline   Trixie 

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Posted 30 June 2017 - 07:00 PM

I can't add anything constructive to this thread, unfortunately, but I wanted to say that I know how you feel about your beloved Puma and I hope Dave can be resurrected.

#9 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 01 July 2017 - 07:57 AM

Trixie said:

1498849220[/url]' post='939573']
I can't add anything constructive to this thread, unfortunately, but I wanted to say that I know how you feel about your beloved Puma and I hope Dave can be resurrected.


#10 User is offline   RooPoo 

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Posted 01 July 2017 - 08:13 AM

Thanks both. You have already unknowingly saved Dave before through Trixie's Poor Ol Gal thread when Dave had his massive floor failure and Happy Kat suggested Pumbuild who will boldly tackle what regular garages won't even try! So thank you ladies...don't suppose you've got any 11th hour suggestions before I go over to Pumabuild in an hour or so to seal Dave's fate?!

#11 User is offline   Trixie 

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Posted 01 July 2017 - 11:45 AM

View PostRooPoo, on 01 July 2017 - 08:13 AM, said:

Thanks both. You have already unknowingly saved Dave before through Trixie's Poor Ol Gal thread when Dave had his massive floor failure and Happy Kat suggested Pumbuild who will boldly tackle what regular garages won't even try! So thank you ladies...don't suppose you've got any 11th hour suggestions before I go over to Pumabuild in an hour or so to seal Dave's fate?!

Nothing I'm afraid :-( The very best of luck, though, and please let me know how it goes.

#12 User is offline   Oates 

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 10:23 AM

Hi there, praying that dave was saved, the thunder version seems to be one of the worst made body and floor wise, I'm in the same predicament now with mine, 3 years of high, but average cost welding bills, constantly contemplating using all her good bits to donate to another puma, she is my third, I was hoping the last, but yes I think there are many out there who know your pain. Cheers
Matt

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