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replacing body panels

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:44 pm
by wishbone
I'm about to replace one front and one rear wing, I have these ready to fit tomorrow but I decided to get underneath and poke about with a screwdriver. I kind of wish I hadn't now but there you go!

The floor and sills are of a patchwork nature of not so good welding and some rusty metal in between that now has some holes in it. Rather than patch these up I'm thinking of cutting out and welding in replacement floor and sill panels. Does anyone have a plan of floor/body parts and how they all fit together?

Also is it easier to cut the back wing off and then get the bolts out?

Rust bottoms

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:38 pm
by Wolf5370
Me too - I have a word doc with some images in it, but not exactly grate - Haynes manual is none too impressive either. I can see you can but half floors including inner seals etc, but if I get both LHS and RHS, is this really the complete bottom of the car (including boot etc) or just the cockpit?

Can't seem to attach anything to this forum, so send me you Email Addy and I'll sent the word doc (for what it is!)

Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 8:16 pm
by steve4063
one tip is if your going to replace panels get them first so you know what to cut out.

there's nothing worse than cutting a chunk out and realiseing the new panel is smaller than the hole.

also i speak from experience if your going to change the hinge panel make sure you attach the door get it lined up PROPERLY befor eyou fully weld it.

i thought it looked about right and even filled the joins and sprayed it in to match and it wasn't until i went to fit the doors that i realised it was in the wrong place i had to get a bit of wood and a lump hammer and bash it back 2 cms at the top.

needless to say a lot more work involved again now trying to get it looking nice again.

but hey we learn by our mistakes i'll know for next time

if you get a catalogue from one of the main suppliers they have a diagram of all the panels available and roughly where they go