Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Markie on 21 August 2006, 23:56:00

Title: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 21 August 2006, 23:56:00
Ok - I have a dilemma - i am a little uneasy with anyone coming to my house after having a car stolen elsewhere!

To uplify my rover when i am done striping it will involve getting the car picked up and taken to scrapper - similar to what i think happened to the VI.

i DONT want this sort of person at my own house and getting ideas re my other cars.

A good mate of mine has suggested theres an alternative....dispose of the whole car myself!! He does know hs car stuff.

He suggests compressor and air tools to cut bit by bit into sections and take the car and sell it as scrap metal at the scrapers myself - or cut it up using a welder.

I know whats left ( very little) is very thin metal but is this realistic - dont mind shelling out £100 - £200 for the equipment. Also dont mind if it takes an extra week or so to cut up in the garage!!  ;)

If this is possible...?
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 21 August 2006, 23:58:13
can this be cut up ....


(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n54/markiec23/DSCF2407.jpg)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Andy B on 22 August 2006, 07:29:54
Windy saw (http://i22.ebayimg.com/05/i/08/0b/9a/3a_2.JPG) + compressor should make short work of it, if you wanted to go that route.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 08:29:21
Its a Rover, leave it out in the rain a  few days and then follow up with the yard brush... ;)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 09:33:52
Quote
Its a Rover, leave it out in the rain a  few days and then follow up with the yard brush... ;)
;D ;D

You really dont like em do you Mark - to be honest - neither do i but someone always buys the parts

Andy B - that was my thoughs thanks!! - do you really think that will work ( its the same as i found on ebay) i suppose after all the internal panels aint that thick...
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 09:38:09
I grew up working on Triumphs, Rovers, MG's, Rustin's etc......and by the early nineties it was clear to me they had run their course as a car maker....

to far behind the rest of the cars of thier era and very poor at developing their products.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: TheBoy on 22 August 2006, 09:44:00
I fairness, under Honda's guidance, they were beginning to overcome many of their problems. Then BMW bought them, and I remember telling Mrs TheBoy that day (she used to work there) that that would be the end of Rover, as Honda would no longer co-operate.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 09:54:24
They never got any where near to getting over their problems and never would have done whilst Long-bridge remained open.....Honda to an extent made it worse, they ended up with two cars which 40% of the population couldnt drive due to the lack of head room and an overrated Honda dev engine in the form of the K series!
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 10:02:55
Agree totally Mark - Rover were aware of many pitfalls and pushed in either in ignorance or arrogance.

Lotus apparently told them in 1997 they needed to change the design on the head gasket for k series 1.8 vvc`s.

They didnt do it untill 2001. Either cos they didnt want to or simply perhaps lack of funds..

On the subject of cutting this car up - i think its a no goer - theres no way i can cut through a chassis is there......anyone ?
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 11:29:37
Witha  good reciprocating saw you can.....you could hire a plasma cutter for the weekend.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: TheBoy on 22 August 2006, 11:37:31
k series wasn't bad in its time, but its still a 1980s engine.  BMW wouldn't put in the money to develop the cars/engines. Even now, the K series isn't bad (1.6 seems to be most reliable), and still way better than the 1.6 Zetec crap we had to endure in a Focus we had for 2 years.

I quite like our little Rover 25. OK, so its obviously built to a cost, but it goes well around the lanes, and handles well. Build quality is not that good though, rattles like hell  >:(
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 12:14:41
Quote
Witha  good reciprocating saw you can.....you could hire a plasma cutter for the weekend.


how good is a good reciprocating saw....looked at a few and they range from £30 obviously rubbish to around £500. :o

would this sort of spec and price do ....

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=060118080
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 12:26:55
This:

http://www.hss.com/g/55838/Portable_Plasma_Cutter.html


 ::)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 12:29:01
yeehaa that looks the buisness and there one of the branches about half a mile from me

Cheques in the post Mark  ;)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Big Rod on 22 August 2006, 14:53:07
I once cut up a Carlton estate using no more than a grinder, (used quite a few disks!), hacksaw, and my personal favourite............ a very sharp cold chisel and a big hammer! Worked a treat!
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 14:59:09
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

May come to that as the wife aint keen on the tool hire type plan - she reckons i am dangerous!!
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Liam on 22 August 2006, 16:18:56
The potential problem i can see with a plasma cutter is thick beams and folded seams that you'd have to be able to get all the way around with the torch.  I've cut up both a car and a transit van with one of these...  (I used a 12" version but a 14" would be even better for deep sections).  Proper man's tool too!  Also - Speedy Hire are loads cheaper than HSS.

http://www.speedyhire.co.uk/technical_catalogue.aspx?id=1143&fSize=smaller&fImages=1&nav=|0|0|0|0|0|1144|1141|4668|4669|1142|1143|1145|2557|0|0|0|0|0|0|0|0

Liam
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 16:26:35
Quote
yeehaa that looks the buisness and there one of the branches about half a mile from me

Cheques in the post Mark  ;)

Try the other local hire shops to as HSS can be pricey.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 16:37:38
Will suss it out guys - i reckon these things will be noisy as well wont they  :(
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 16:39:23
Plasma cutters arn't, they are much quiter than angle grinders plus the metal is pretty much cold so much safer

Fantastic bits of kit.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 August 2006, 16:42:07
Heres how they work

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-plasma-cutter.htm
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Andy B on 22 August 2006, 16:54:54
Quote
....... and my personal favourite............ a very sharp cold chisel and a big hammer!
Now .... there's surprise!  ;D  ::)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nigsey1600e on 22 August 2006, 19:46:27
As a sheetmetal worker/welder/plater myself cutting up your rover would be a piece of cake. at least you wolud be able to do it with a normal  4.5 inch angle griner and thin cutting discs and or even a oxy acteleyene kit   or even better a plamsa all  this  kit ou could hire for a very reasonable price and would only take about 5 hoursish if you were nearer i would do it for fun ;D
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: MartinP on 22 August 2006, 22:29:46
I did this
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/issunaz/Cut%20up/Bits.jpg)

with one of these ( with the appropriate disc on)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y99/issunaz/Cut%20up/sawtwoa.jpg)

in 2,  3 hour sessions  (on my own)

sorry about the fucus  :-[  ( its not a spellinig mistake)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 22 August 2006, 22:57:11
so it most definatly CAN be done!!

Issanaz
whats that tool in your picture ?
Nigsey thanks for you rfeedback as someone in the line of work.....appreciate it!!
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: MartinP on 22 August 2006, 23:06:05
we call it a "slab cutter", it a 2 stroke petrol unit that takes 12" concrete,or metal cutting discs, I used 2 discs and took them down about 2 inches.

I had the benefit of an "A" frame to turn the shell over.  But it was a fun weekend  :)

Google "slab cutter"
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nixoro on 23 August 2006, 09:24:08
I'm sure I have seen the fire services use something similar.

Issunaz you certainly made short work of breaking that one up.  ;D
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nigsey1600e on 23 August 2006, 17:15:16
Quote
so it most definatly CAN be done!!

Issanaz
whats that tool in your picture ?
Nigsey thanks for you rfeedback as someone in the line of work.....appreciate it!!

not a problem allways keen to try and help ;)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 23 August 2006, 17:17:34
Its a stihl saw........which is a petrol powered large angle grinder...
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: MartinP on 23 August 2006, 18:28:32
Quote
Its a stihl saw........which is a petrol powered large angle grinder...

I knew that  ;)

Thought there may be other makes in that part of the country  :D
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Martin_1962 on 23 August 2006, 18:36:54
Quote
Its a stihl saw........which is a petrol powered large angle grinder...

Anti clamping device ;D
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: MartinP on 23 August 2006, 18:46:55
Quote
I'm sure I have seen the fire services use something similar.

Issunaz you certainly made short work of breaking that one up.  ;D


Had the local tatter round loaded his van and put the £15 in my pocket  ;)

Got to call him back now for the diff and rear sub frame
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nixoro on 24 August 2006, 09:52:44
Quote
Quote
I'm sure I have seen the fire services use something similar.

Issunaz you certainly made short work of breaking that one up.  ;D


Had the local tatter round loaded his van and put the £15 in my pocket  ;)

Got to call him back now for the diff and rear sub frame

£15 is that all scrap metal is worth. Oh well better to have it in your pocket than someone elses.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 24 August 2006, 11:13:13
£80 a tonne at the moment - so ANY omega is worth close to £150 as a shell only ! :o
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: flymike on 24 August 2006, 11:29:42
Is that not for a full car? if it was just a pile of metal i am sure you would get more.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 24 August 2006, 11:35:21
not sure mate the price quoted top to me was for scrap metal - apparently at its highest rate....for some years.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nixoro on 24 August 2006, 11:49:58
Quote
£80 a tonne at the moment - so ANY omega is worth close to £150 as a shell only ! :o

Blimey I wonder if Issunaz knew this.

It was the shell he cut up aswell.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 24 August 2006, 11:55:55
The shell alone is well under a ton.....remember, no drive train, no doors, no interior, no electrics....etc etc....plus the guy collected it!
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: nixoro on 24 August 2006, 11:57:45
Quote
The shell alone is well under a ton.....remember, no drive train, no doors, no interior, no electrics....etc etc....plus the guy collected it!

Make sense  :)

If it had all the internals he could have possibly made on it if thats the case.
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: Markie on 24 August 2006, 12:08:33
Quote
The shell alone is well under a ton.....remember, no drive train, no doors, no interior, no electrics....etc etc....plus the guy collected it!

Good point actually - should still be worth about £50 in scrap.......maybe  :)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: MartinP on 24 August 2006, 22:04:54
Quote
The shell alone is well under a ton.....remember, no drive train, no doors, no interior, no electrics....etc etc....plus the guy collected it!


No engine, no prop, no bonnet, no rear sub frame,

I work in the steel industry, we get through 300 tonnes a week.

And I wanted it out of the garage pronto  :)
Title: Re: Cutting my project car into little pieces
Post by: hotel21 on 24 August 2006, 23:18:39
Quote
not sure mate the price quoted top to me was for scrap metal - apparently at its highest rate....for some years.

A prediction.......

I recon, due to the high current price for scrap, there will be a major fire in a large scrapyard somewheres soon.  Just coincidence that it empties rusting relics that are 3 or 4 or 5 high of that unwanted upholstery, linings, glass and similar and leaves (relatively) clean though fire damaged, bare scrap metal that can be put directly into the chopper upper and thence straight into a big melting machine with little contaminants.

Oh, and get the premium rate of, I'm told, £120 per tonne.

Or I may be wrong......   :o

So, if you have a favourite 'Meega sitting somewhere in the corner of a scrapyard that you are keeping to yourself , get the bits while you can.  :'(