LEFT HAND REAR WHEELARCH REPAIR

Below, is the first impressions of the extent of the corrosion, having chipped off all the bubbled filler and paint. It is noticed at this point that a lower sill joint panel has been welded in in the past. This is rotten and will be removed.


The joint between the rear wing and the boot floor was particularly rusty. There is a triple skin joint between the boot floor, inner rear wing and outer rear wing. This was very badly rusted.



Having assesed the extent of the corrosion, the arch is cut back to good metal. The inner arches will also require repair, but are not as bad as could have been expected. The outer sill is almost completely sound as well.



Here is a view taken from inside the boot. The grey areas are garage floor showing through the holes! These holes do not too big, but much more metal will have to be cut away in order to make an effective repair. HT leads are of no significance. They have been there since I have had the car!



This is what is left once sound metal has been reached. This is an extremely rust-prone point on the Stag. Check yours!



Two home-made repair panels are required to achieve an acceptable solution here. This area is import structurally, so it must be strong. Instead of the spot welded seams, I opted for a boot floor repair patch seam welded to both the boot floor and the outer wing. The inner wing was seam welded to this panel. The vertical repair panel is welded to the inner arch.



Having completed the boot floor repairs, the rear-arch repair panel is tacked into place. The advantage with these panels is that they are large, and can be cut to accomodate just the rusty areas of your car. Most of the panel in my car's case! It is important to tack these panels every two inches or so, and then check alignment. After that, the whole panel can be seam welded in.

Also notable the suspension upgrades that the previous owner had made. Poly bushes are in place throughout the rear also.


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