by ramian09 Fri Oct 24, 2014 10:58 pmSo my rain gutter has separated in a small section of my van. It separated because I have a huge roof rack with a ton of weight on it. My question is, I can't tell whether or not if their are multiple pieces of metal that have pulled away from each other or if it has literally just ripped. I've heard that the body panels of the van are sandwiched together up there where the gutter attaches. Please tell me what i've heard is wrong and it ripped off and I can weld it back together. Any help is awesome thanks.
5 posters
Rain gutter questions
ramian09- Number of posts : 167
Location : jackson, wy
Age : 37
Registration date : 2010-01-26
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12254
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
,,,I don't know how Ford does it, but Chevy tack welds the roof to the drip rails which are part of the side panels,,,,,
Bruce67Econoline- Number of posts : 809
Location : Charleston SC
Registration date : 2014-01-25
Here is a pic of an econoline roof gutter, it is sandwiched.
ramian09- Number of posts : 167
Location : jackson, wy
Age : 37
Registration date : 2010-01-26
Does any one have any suggestions for fixing this?
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
donor van = or= cut / patch & grind!
Old Skool- Econoline Guru
- Number of posts : 1306
Location : North Hills, CA
Age : 72
Registration date : 2009-06-13
It can be put back together. From studying your pictures it shows to me that the roof rack was ONLY being supported by the outside edge ONLY. Most roof rack supports have a piece that runs lengthwise INSIDE the gutter.
Usually longer than the support. Its supposed to transfer the weight load down onto a solid piece and then use the outside of the gutter for the tie down part of the mount to click over and bolt down. The gutters are welded exactly the same as in the Chevy picture and so you need the two pieces spot welded together to support the roof rack and not the outer edge. From your picture it looks like the support simply tore the two parts apart because the outer edge was doing the support instead. It separated the two pieces. I would rework the metal to fit again and re spot weld or plug weld it back together myself..... The two edges have NO rust,, just separated...
Vic
Usually longer than the support. Its supposed to transfer the weight load down onto a solid piece and then use the outside of the gutter for the tie down part of the mount to click over and bolt down. The gutters are welded exactly the same as in the Chevy picture and so you need the two pieces spot welded together to support the roof rack and not the outer edge. From your picture it looks like the support simply tore the two parts apart because the outer edge was doing the support instead. It separated the two pieces. I would rework the metal to fit again and re spot weld or plug weld it back together myself..... The two edges have NO rust,, just separated...
Vic
Old Skool- Econoline Guru
- Number of posts : 1306
Location : North Hills, CA
Age : 72
Registration date : 2009-06-13
re looking at the pictures I need glasses,, LOL,,, there is rust there but still wondering about the roof rack supports still?? It looks like if there is cancer in there that the outer edge may have just rusted off where it meets.
If its just come apart as my 1st post then put it back together. The outer edge is actually part of the lower panel and then the roof is spot welded in like the Chevy picture shows. That could mean some lower panel damage issues to make the repair more difficult. Even if you replaced the whole top if the outer edge is rusted off it may mean some lower panel work in the job also.
vic,,,, sorry for the dirty glasses,,, LOL
If its just come apart as my 1st post then put it back together. The outer edge is actually part of the lower panel and then the roof is spot welded in like the Chevy picture shows. That could mean some lower panel damage issues to make the repair more difficult. Even if you replaced the whole top if the outer edge is rusted off it may mean some lower panel work in the job also.
vic,,,, sorry for the dirty glasses,,, LOL
