Practically Classics Forum

rich. wrote:

motman wrote: Oddly enough I don't see the 7 as being that rotten for a 36 year old car, I seem to be on my own with that view though.

love is blind.....

With all that welding there is the possibility of eye problems if correct protection isn't used all the time...

Look!! I've found some good metal..............

The ends of the arch are knackered so I'm undecided wether to cut the whole arch out or to cut up the repair panel I have to do localised repairs where needed

After the extremely thorough job you've done everywhere else so far, I'd be thinking very seriously about replacing the entire outer arch lip because those tiny bits of rust that have survived your cleaning up of the arch could well be a sign of penetration from the inner-outer arch seam and when you're restoring bodywork to this sort of standard, the last thing you want is the risk that one area of the car might start to blister through after the paint goes on. So take a needle gun to it if you have one, otherwise find some alternative method of giving it a good seeing to but don't spoil the sheep for a ha'porth of tar.

Thats exactly my dilema, I don't want to leave any corrosion in the arch but I also don't want to cut the car up unless I really have to. Patching the arch should give an invisible repair once painted but do I really know all the rot is out?

motman wrote:....but do I really know all the rot is out?

No. At least not without grinding away the return lip on that arch at the very least.

Look at it this way: Details like this can be the difference between a car that'll last for years without further bodywork and one that might come to need a far greater amount of work within just one year of typically humid, cold and otherwise potentially damaging UK weather.

Going to leave the lip area for now and concentrate on this instead, looks a straight forward repair but nothings every that simple with old cars

The RH arch on my TR7 was like yours 18 years a go when I did a similar restoration (Like you I thought it could have been a lot worse), I repaired the ends and it has been fine ever since, even been used as a daily drive for the first 10 years. it does get stone chips on the lip though (mine might be worse because of the 15" wheels), on all 4 of mine (the other 3 were new) this just needs regular toching up.

I did give the arches a thorough soaking from inside in a engine oil / waxoil mix afterwards as well (the oil gives it fantastic creep propeties).

I've found some corrosion in the upper lip so its looks like the arch will have to come off, bugger!!
Meanwhile I've seem welded the outer rear sill on