Calling all Wheel Arch Experts...

[Busstom]

Can you mega-knowledgeable types tell me if this is the correct wheel arch to replace the mangled arch on my '75 Westy? It's from Bus Depot.

Clearly the product description says it is. But I've seen threads in the past in which some folks have pointed out very subtle differences in the flare or the slope angle of these wheel arches around the 1974 or 1975 years. Needless to say, I'd like to get the utmost correct one. I would've called BD, but I've received erroneous info from them over the phone before, so I'd just as soon ask the experts!

Here's the data:
Rear Wheel Arch
Right, 72-79 Bus (flared lip). Premium quality, European made.
Part Reference Number: 9556592
$39.95

I just for the life of me can't figure out how they can offer premium quality for 40 bucks. There's no way it could match the beefy gauge of my current sheetmetal.

Thanks!!!

[busdaddy]

It's as close as you'll get for $40, the shape is really close but the gauge will likely dissapoint you, your other alternatives are NOS VW or something from the UK possibly, either of those will have more zeros attached to the price.
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[TomWesty]

Gerson might make them. It is worth checking. Otherwise, Autocraft or Alan Schofield.
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[Hoody]

Klokkerholm sheet metal is third world metallurgy and the fit will be horrendous. Find a Bus being parted in Arizona. Get them to cut it over sized. Your welder will be much happier....it won't be warped all to shit and it will actually fit. You will spend ALOT more money making that panel fit versus finding a great used one....having it media blasted and tacked in. PM Red Feh Vo? Can't remember his Samba name. He probably
has one sitting in his garage waiting to be shipped. You are absolutely correct wondering....it's pure marketing....and absolute bull shit. Between the flimsy piece of shit they send you and shipping you can buy a German original. You will be throwing your money away.

[TomWesty]

http://www.alanhschofield.com/ourparts/cat_644616-Rear-Wheel-Arches-Parts.html
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music!

[Busstom]

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses...sorry for the late reply, I'm dealing with issues!

bd, I don't mind some zeros on the price , but something cut from a donor would be nice.

Gerson: I’d love one of his, but I did check his site and he doesn’t list it. E-mailed him a month ago and got no reply.
Autocraft: Checked their site, apparently don't make the later arches. I think there's a guy (monkey something, maybe?) in SoCal who is/was their distributor.
Alan Schofield: Price is 59 pounds, I wonder how much better these are...hoping not to resort to ordering parts from Europe.

I did get a PM offering support to find an NOS part, and I will hunt down Red Fau Veh to see what he's got cooking.

I posted pics of the mangled mess, below...it's rolled under, crinkled and wrinkled beyond recognition (not shown in these pics). After I remove a half inch of pocked-marked bondo that the PO applied, I was hoping to find something I could repair. But this seems like double-walled construction and it’s stiff as hell…unbelievably strong construction, and crumpled into hamburger underneath!

Thanks for the help!

[busdaddy]

From the looks of that I'd be shopping for a whole 1/4 panel from the beltline down including the corner. Even if the donor needed a new lower corner by the battery it'd still be less work that trying to flatten that mess back out.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[babysnakes]

Alan Shofield makes great stuff. I think they also sell parts made by other people (I may be wrong), contact them. Also try Jan Blair in Phoenix,Az., he might have a bus he can part out for you. I've dealt with both Shofield and Blair in the past.

[cmonSTART]

What happened to that thing??


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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[obieoberstar]

Maybe BustedBus might have something in the way of a quarter panel.

http://bustedbus.com/

[TDCTDI]

[notchboy]

[Bulli Klinik]

I'd try to find a nice panel from a junkyard. Do yourself a favor and try to keep the welding inside the sliding door flange and under the belt line cover. Like you mentioned, it's double walled and there is no way to metal finish it.

I hate metalworking late Buses. Anything after 70 is a pain in the ass.
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I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs