First up I finished up the driver’s side rear wheel tub by making these closing panels from a second outer wheel arch repair panel. The outer wheel arch was trial fitted whilst welding these in to make sure everything would fit correctly.
Rear:
Front:
I’m pretty much ready to weld the rear arch and rear end panels (corners, battery trays, engine skirts and outer valance), however before that I want to get some paint on the inside of bits that I won’t have access to later. I cleaned up the D pillars and chassis legs using Deox gel, which is a rust remover, and left it over night:
Then spent the best part of Sunday cleaning up all the metal work, sanding and degreasing ready for some zinc rich primer (the rear corner took an age to remove the transit primer from!).
Rear end:
D pillar:
Engine skirts and battery trays (the N/S one is the original tray which needed some minor repairs but was in great condition):
Wheel tub:
Full corner for the O/S and the smaller repair panel for the N/S in the background:
I’ll epoxy mastic the lot this week and then crack on with the welding.
I’ve been busy finishing up the faffy D pillar and wheel tub repairs which need to be done before I can fit the outer panels to complete the rear end. It’s amazing how much time all these little bits add up to; I’ve spent 2 weeks or so doing this and still have a little bit to go.
First up some repairs to the top of the D pillar on the drivers side which had rusted out for some reason half way down:
The inside got a clean up and paint before making up a repair in the folder and welding it in. You can just about see some further sections I had to let in right at the top near the roof too:
With the top of the pillar sorted I turned to the bottom which I repaired with a set of schofield repair panels. Inners:
The outer section had rusted higher than the repair panel would cover so I fabricated some extension pieces:
And all welded in:
Next up I turned my attention to the rear wheel tub closing panels. I ended up buying a second outer arch for both sides to make the closing panels from. Even with a bought in panel these repairs take a fair amount of time to trim and fit properly.
Passenger rear closing panel:
Passenger front closing panel:
And while I was in that wheel tub I repaired a small hole in this section too:
Onto the drivers side which got a new rear section to replace the shocking repair someone else had done:
This side is in much better condition than the other with only this section along the lip needing repair.
I just need to weld in the closing panels on this tub and I can then start cleaning up all the metal to get some paint on the insides of the corners and wheel tub.
O/S arch fettled to perfection. I had to persuade it (hammer) to match the curve profile of the middle panel. I couldn’t work out for the life of me why the panel was bulging and popping when pressed near to the arch. I finally tracked it down to the lip not being bent enough, so when I was clamping it to the inner arch the panel bulged out. Quickly fixed with the trusty hammer again to bend the lip round further and no more popping.
Cut out the previous repair to the rear of the inner arch, which consisted of the original rusty piece sandwiched between two sheets of tacked on metal. I should get this repair welded in tomorrow and make a start on repairing the D pillars.
Making a start on the O/S rear wheel arch. The tub is in amazing condition with only the very ends needing repair. Cavity wax seems to have kept it from rusting out. The outer arch needs a fair bit of fettling to get it to fit properly though, I’m having to rebend it where it joins the middle panel as the curves don’t align.
N/S engine skirt repaired and trial fitted. In order to repair the O/S skirt I need the battery tray and new corner in place so it’s off with the corner! The inside of it is in relatively good nick but needs a jolly good cleanup.
Before I fit the engine bay skirt and battery tray I wanted to get the corner repair fitting nicely. It still needs trimming down a little in places but it’s looking good.
