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Never let an idiot weld up a wheelarch...
Browser - 4/11/10 at 06:00 PM

...or if you do, make sure you watch for flammable objects touching said floor. Despite thinking that I'd propped the sound deadening mat clear of the floor, I obviously hadn't done it well enough, as when I returned to the car after a loo break I found it full of smoke, with the only recourse open to me being to call the fire brigade.
This is what the interior of the car looks like now:





OK, it was only worth about £250 (17 year-old Renault 19) and we were looking at replacing it within the next 6 months, but I'd rather have tried to sell it on!
Bizzarely, SWMBO was cycling onto our drive tonight and thought to herself "I think we should just scrap that old heap and buy a new one" !!


big_wasa - 4/11/10 at 06:02 PM

Ive had a few catch but NEVER bugger of for at least half an hour or more


l0rd - 4/11/10 at 06:08 PM

the steering wheel if it is in good condition fetches good money one ebay.

Still have mine from my clio

BTW can you chop off the gear lever below the reversing ring and post it to me? I need it for my uncles' car.

[Edited on 4/11/10 by l0rd]


Browser - 4/11/10 at 06:11 PM

Nope, steering wheel covering was broken up and pitted, not nice. I can amputate the gear lever, d'you mean just cut as in with a hacksaw/angle grinder? Would you rather not have the whole lever?


graememk - 4/11/10 at 06:13 PM

at least you live near a fire station, mind i think there doing the new 3 man crew.

how long did it take for trumpton to turn up ?


l0rd - 4/11/10 at 06:20 PM

I will ask and let you know.

I know that the gear lever is pressed on the gear stick. I need to check if they can remove it or if they need the whole lot.

If you still have the car and don't scrap it by then.


bigfoot4616 - 4/11/10 at 06:32 PM

i did it to a mk1 astra GTE once. did a better job of it than you though.
interior was completely burnt out and the only thing savable was the engine and front suspension


coozer - 4/11/10 at 06:56 PM

Saw a nice new Jag on the A1 the other day completely burned to a crisp, couldn't see any welding gear close by though


plentywahalla - 4/11/10 at 07:30 PM

I had a Fiat 850 coupe once that caught fire. Tried as hard as I could to keep it going but it went out!

Bl**dy car never did anything properly!


hillbillyracer - 4/11/10 at 07:34 PM

I was welding the floor up on an old Astra a few years ago, I propped the carpet up with a bit of wood so it was I thought far enough away. To be on the safe side I asked my workmate to keep an eye on it as he could see it clearly from where he was working. I thought it'd be ok so I got on welding, he thought it'd be ok so he did'nt bother watching, we were both wrong!
Burnt a hole in the carpet & car stunk but it was under the driver's seat & an old car so no big deal, could've been like yours though & it was a customer's!


russbost - 4/11/10 at 07:56 PM

look at it from the positive side it's worth about £70 to weigh it in over £100 if it's got a set of alloys & it's saved you dealing with adverts & tyre kickers!


theconrodkid - 4/11/10 at 08:46 PM

i always lay a well dampened towel above the area to be welded,stops flames/smoke and makes burning through harder....bit late i know


nick205 - 4/11/10 at 09:55 PM

I set a mates mk3 shed of an Escort on fire welding up the sill for an MoT, needless to say it never saw another MoT and he didn't pay me either


Browser - 4/11/10 at 10:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by graememk
at least you live near a fire station, mind i think there doing the new 3 man crew.

how long did it take for trumpton to turn up ?


About 7-8 minutes I think, seemed like an hour when I could see the heat shimmer coming off the roof and was expecting a bloody window to blow though any second. And yes, there were three of them, is this a new cost-saving initiative?
p.s whereabouts in the great county are you Graham?


graememk - 5/11/10 at 06:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Browser
quote:
Originally posted by graememk
at least you live near a fire station, mind i think there doing the new 3 man crew.

how long did it take for trumpton to turn up ?


About 7-8 minutes I think, seemed like an hour when I could see the heat shimmer coming off the roof and was expecting a bloody window to blow though any second. And yes, there were three of them, is this a new cost-saving initiative?
p.s whereabouts in the great county are you Graham?


crowland are short on firefighters so are going out on basic jobs as a 3 man crew, and no doubt its to save cash.

i'm in Holbeach mate for work and Sutterton at home near Boston.