SMC Discussion Areas

 Well now I know why I got her for $100!! Just stripped the insulation out today and I have a lot of work to do. I dont have a welder so I am going to try to fiberglass the top and bottom. Biggest problem I have is that thin sheet in the front that the breaker strips go in front of.. You can see where it pushed through and is all rotted. I measured the thickness of the insulation after removing the liner and it was about 2 1/8in. I am tempted to use the ridgid insulation sheets at 2 inches. Anyone have any luck with that?

Pictures wont load, Ill get them up asap.

I'm gonna ask my friend who restored my cooler... I was telling him my 81 may have some
rust issues on the inside... said there is a product they use at the body shop that is a resin/glue
said you put this on like bondo put a piece of sheet metal over (gluing them together)
he said you'd rip the sheet metal before it comes apart... no welding....
might be the way to go... it dries hard so if any seeps through you can sand it.
Can you post pictures?

I am trying but they wont load. Sounds like a good idea. If I can find some thin sheet metal, I can always just fiberglass it as well.

Send your pics to me and I'll post them - you have my email for the shelf.

Here are the pics

I would cut out the bottom pan, sand blast the area and have a new one with a front lip fabricated. I would also hire someone to weld it in as well. I always replace the bottom pans with a new one if it has cancered metal. A little more trouble but it's worth the effort.

       Terry had a great idea there. A floor pan with a simple bend to act as
the front lip. If you're like me, and don't have a welder, the resin idea will
work for a long time as you probably won't still own that machine when the
rust returns.

Is that something a metal shop is going to have to make for me?

        Yes a metal shop can make a nice clean bend. Actually since you have
belt line rust on the back and sides too, have them bend the floor pan with 4
flanges. This will give you a new replacement front lip and also give you backing
for when you fill the rust holesall around the sides.
        I advise leaving the cabinet with the metal shop so they understand your
objectives and can fit the piece in place properly.

Let us know Eric.  This sounds like something I might use on my '91 S-10 (seriously)!

I would contact a heating and cooling sheet metal worker to fabricate the new metal for you.  They will be familiar with this type of work and will likely have all of the tools the get the bends correct.

Also, make sue to put in a good drain so you don't have  a recurrence of the rust problem.

Oh I plan on it. I ripped out everything and am going to replace everything I can touch. Any idea of what I will pay for a metal shop to do this?

I was thinking the same thing about havein the bends on all sides. Then i will just have very slight ones on the back to do. I think I am going to use rubberized undercoating just in case once its repaired.

After I install a new pan I seal all the seams with silicon and I spray the entire area with rubberized under coating.

What machine is this that your working on?

I did some digging and I think this is for your transitional vendorlator 56? Here is an idea. The cabinet for your machine is the same as any square top 56. Your cabinet has the louvered sides but that is all that would be different. If the cabinet is that bad I would buy a regular square top 56 and part out the machine, use the cabinet as a doner and you may even make some money parting out the other machine. Or if you are able to find one of these earlier 56's like the one pictured it will have the same side vented cabinet. Just a thought.

I have two or three 56 cabinets, Rust is a VERY common problem on the Vendo 56s. I may have a better cabinet for you.

870-405-3024

Joey

The Metal Adhesive is called Fusor he uses Fusor 112B... it has a working time of
about 40 minutes.... check out the website of -  www.lord.com  - that's who makes it.
Rick has used it for door skins and roof panels on cars and trucks....
Said it will tear the metal before it gives also knows a guy who has used it on
55 galon barrel BBQ pits heated up to 400 degress and has not broke down...
the site has videos of the product being used... also has something in it to help
to prevent rust...
just don't know the price but it defiantly something I'm gonna look into for my 81 shell.

Cool I will check it out. I am sentimental so I am going to repair this cabinet, even though its going to be difficult!