closing in

My basic approach with this project is that once the wedling is done the car can be assembled started up, driven etc because any other work can be done with out danger of fire and i wouldn't want to have to remove the fuel tanks etc to go back and do some welding I missed. The front wings need repaired and I have the repair panels and I'm tempted to start on them but I figure they can be done later as they are not on the car.
However there are/were some small areas of rot to deal with that would not be accesible with the wings back on so I tackled these next and it went well. Did it all in a week or so. Pics now and as usual, more words later

this needed fixing although it will never be seen once front wing back on

moody flashless shot shows holes up to good effect

rear of panel still has plenty underseal but rust got hold on front face I reckon

rot cut out of vertical panel first. unable to retain bottom captive nut in place but sufficient sound metal round middle one to leave it in location

after rotted parts of horizontal closing panel were removed became apparent small rusty bit of inner wing also had to be cut out

all rot cut out ready for cleaning up with sandblaster before new metal let in

closing plate area repaired leaving swan's head shape patch to be done in vertical panel

another view

L shaped patch used to repair crossmember closing plate

followed by patch for upright







front view shows right angle lip at bottom





captive nut rescued from old panel welded on at bottom

primed and finished

LHS not as badly corroded on upright but vertical closing plate more corroded than its RHS partner

old closing plate removed plus a small part of vertical panel as closing plate welded in under flange of vertical panel so needs to come out but was corroded anyway

crossmember end cleaned up with blaster before new closing plate welded on

while blaster was out I cleaned up these areas on the inner wing and any rusty threads I could find (which helps greatly should components need to be dismantled at some point)

I suspect these area were taped up at factory before underseal applied to leave the holes free for fixing/wiring etc

horizontal plate shaped up and clamped in place ready for plug welds

horizontal plate in showing small repair needed to vertical panel. RHS plug weld not the best

quick neat repair and paint still wet when pic taken

quite a tidy repair but forgot to turn down the projecting lip. will do it later