Anyone ever replace inner rear wheel well?

[busmania]

71 bus. It seems no one makes the inner metal. It looks like it is the same contour as the outer. Anyone ever replace this? Could I just buy two outer panels and use one for the inner (possibly with slight mods)? I cut out a wheel well from a 70 bus but the inner part is different (the inner panel doesn’t start until about 6” up in the wheel well whereas the 71 the inner panel comes all the way down to the end of the outer panel).

[SGKent]

no idea but from the fiche it looks like the inner well is part of the wheel tub.
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[wcfvw69]

Ouch.. that appears to be serious salt induced rust. If that arch looks like that, what's the rest of the bus look like?
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[Zed999]

The simple answer is yes, with modification an outer arch skin is a better start than a flat sheet of steel. But before you start fabricating, look honestly at the rest of the tub, particularly in line with the tyre - you may end up with so many patch repairs you could look back and see a whole tub would have produced a better result with less effort. That's assuming you can still find a tub without a crippling $price attched.

That's as far as I took it. Hopefully the owner painted it. I suspected he woul make a mess of the filling so I shaped it but didn't really bother to get a finish as I wasn't supposed to be filling. Thing is I wouldn't want someone making my panel work look bad and once up to speed it doesn't take long.

[Zed999]

Same bus. Don't be put off by cries of "eek that's rusty!". Once you cut out all the rust it will look a whole lot better.

The tight-wad owner supplied a disgusting cheap arch - what can you do?!!

[busmania]

[busmania]

[wcfvw69]

[Zed999]

...whereas in the slushy salty UK the kind of rust in my pics is typical. If it needs repairs deep into the structure all round the lower 12", new front panel, window surrounds, a set of doors imported from the good old USA (you are blessed), it's 300-350 hours just grinding and welding. Here, as long as the gutters were good we'd fix anything. But that was then...

I simply wouldn't do it now because of the scarcity and price of good panels has ruined the equation. 10-15 years ago genuine front arches complete were £50 for 2 at one point, rust free cab doors complete with all fixtures £150 a pair, disc to disc rust free front beams for £80, whole genuine rear corners for £80, valances and deformation panels etc etc. These panels were top notch quality and fit and only the rear arches were a problem quality - wise. The price of most of this stuff has risen 10 fold or more now if you can even source them and nobody's wages seem to have risen at all.

[busmania]

I would have passed on this bus if it wasn’t so dry in the rest of the bus. Being a 71 (tied for favorite bay window year with 72), Sierra yellow (favorite bus color) and a deluxe (always owned campers but now I have kids) that is 99% complete and original I couldn’t say no when my offer was originally rejected but then accepted 2 weeks later. I’ve been looking for the right deluxe for at least 3-4 years now.

Engine is out and getting cleaned up and resealed by me now. Then I’ll clean up the engine bay and transmission and replace all shifter parts and get it running again. Then I’ll move to the body but I’m trying to gather parts and make a plan of attack now for that parts I need.

What year bus are those photos from?

[TomWesty]

I’m in the same predicament. I have the outer, but the tub no longer exists on the market for a ‘71. Maybe a piece of a late bay tub will do or as you said, modify another outer. Problem is, the wheel arch panel is kind of expensive to be cutting up. If you have any luck, please share your results.
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[Manfred58sc]

I have a 71 I'm chopping up for another project with good metal in that area. PM me if interested.
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[TomWesty]

[skills@eurocarsplus]

this is what you need

https://www.vwheritage.com/221801561j-inner-rear-wheel-housing-inc-tub-for-the-left-side-vw-spare
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[TomWesty]

[SGKent]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/type2guide/type2guide.pdf

H fits a 1971

.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[busmania]

Looks like the right overall shape (I’ve studied mine closely). I only need the tiny bit (maybe 2” or so) on the top part of the wheel well. Appreciate every ones help thus far.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

there are minor differences but it will work
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[busdaddy]

[busmania]