TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon May 21, 2007 5:56 am

Hi there Guys, just a few quick questions...has anybody repaired a rear wheel arch off a 411; rhs on the front section of it? mine has rust along the inside, so i think the inner section as well as the outer section has a fair bit of rust in it.

also the sills have a fair bit of rust in them, and has anyone got any opics of the sills being replaced/welded up or bondoed to make it look smooth again.

If you could help me out with pics/advice etc i woulkd be eternall grateful.

thanks

Jack

Mon May 21, 2007 10:14 am

If the arches (lips) are gone you'll have to weld in metal to use bondo on. Use liquid rust killer on all bare metal. Don't worry too much about the inner panels that don't show. Bondo is just carving a sculpture!

Mon May 21, 2007 10:29 am

mike... please, please, please stop! bondo is a smoother, not a filler! if you think it is a filler, go work on some asian cars and leave the german stuff alone. :roll:

Mon May 21, 2007 11:02 am

KMA :roll:

Mon May 21, 2007 2:10 pm

i have no idea what that means, nor do i care...

sorry jack for interupting your thread. good luck on the search for good metal! i have to replace the bottom edge of one of my doors and it won't be with bondo.

Mon May 21, 2007 2:23 pm

Mike Fisher wrote: KMA :roll:
kiss my ass? i hafta agree that bondo is an all bad

Mon May 21, 2007 2:24 pm

If you can't do flames I'd bet you're hiring for the work on your doors?

Mon May 21, 2007 2:41 pm

I've never had one crack in MY bondo! :wink:

Mon May 21, 2007 7:57 pm

Let's stay on topic here guys. I will eventually be doing some of the work described, but not sure when. I don't know a large amount about bodywork yet from a practical standpoint, but I do know that replacing sections with metal as close to the original as possible is the only way to make really lasting repairs.

It is quite possible that the inner and outer on your car are rusted, as the 412 I am dismantling has this. I think it looks very feasible to repair if you car isn't to excessively rusty. Don't worry about me parting a pristine car, it is so rusted it was sagging in the middle and popping the driver's door open! It also had a bunch of bondo patches to some rusty spots years ago which did it no favors whatsover.

I read about a process that sounds interesting for certain types of repairs. I don't know much about the effectiveness yet, but it sounds good. I may try it in the future if the opportunity and need arises:

http://www.rustbusters.com/

I think it is possible to do all metal bodywork with no or virtually no plastic fillers:

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980121727059

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14770&itemType=PRODUCT

Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:11 pm

The best way to start it is to at least get the area of rust media-blasted so that you know what you exactly have under there. Seriously all you have to do is watch an episode of American Hot Rod or Overhaulin' to see the correct steps in the rust removal and repair procedure.