Classic rear arch rust - how bad is too bad!?
21 February 2018, 06:56 PM
#1
Classic rear arch rust - how bad is too bad!?
Hi all,
I’ve not been on for some time now, having had to move on my classic Terzo and not having space to replace it until now.
I decided I wanted a bit of a project and took the plunge buying a classic Turbo 2000 from eBay, unseen 🤪 (crazy I know). Anyway, its the usual story, the car was very well looked after for the first 10 years (100,000 miles) of its life and has very little service history after that, now running at 160,000 miles. The car starts and runs ok apart from a coolant leak, no big deal. It sounds like it may have a slight tap when cold but could well have not been serviced for a few year somim hoping that a good service and oil change will help with that for the time being.
Other than the usual bodywork issues, dints, scratches, odd bits of rust the rear arches have gone. The car was supplied with 2 new rear arches and I have no issues having these done properly with a friend of mine who owns a bodyshop. However, having stripped out the boot lining this afternoon to have a look at the strut towers I discovered a rust patch towards the top of the NS tower that pushed through (see pics attached).
My question is, how bad is too bad when it comes to the strut towers?
can I have the suspention stripped out and get these holes patch welded and sealed or is that just sticking a plaster over a burst artery?
Last edited by Robbie010; 21 February 2018 at 06:59 PM.
21 February 2018, 07:01 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Someone had this repaired on a newage bug............
https://www.scoobynet.com/947649-pro...l#post11990196
Others have done similar on classics
https://www.scoobynet.com/947649-pro...l#post11990196
Others have done similar on classics
Last edited by Don Clark; 21 February 2018 at 07:03 PM.
21 February 2018, 08:18 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Don,t look to bad on first impression.
You need to have it cut out to see how good/bad it looks like behind and go from there.
Seen alot worse considering the mileage.
You need to have it cut out to see how good/bad it looks like behind and go from there.
Seen alot worse considering the mileage.
22 February 2018, 01:00 AM
#5
Dont forget that link above is for a wagon, alot easier to get to those strut towers
Ive had to do my strut towers on my classic, from underneath as the inner metal was fine, the outer metal not so, hard to weld to under the car when its panel side !
anythings possible, depends who is doing it and how prepared they are to get down n dirty with it
Ive had to do my strut towers on my classic, from underneath as the inner metal was fine, the outer metal not so, hard to weld to under the car when its panel side !
anythings possible, depends who is doing it and how prepared they are to get down n dirty with it
23 February 2018, 12:54 PM
#6
It's a significant job if you want to do it properly as you have to approach it from underneath as well as from on top. So for me that meant all of the rear suspension had to come off.
And if the rot's got to the turrets and arches then it's probably in the sill ends as well. So plenty new metal went in underneath on mine.
And there's probably a fair few shiny-looking 15+ year-olds and classics that that are in similar condition at the rear if you strip them out.
The one good thing is that if you can bite the bullet and do it properly (i.e. strip it, repair it, seal it, prime it, paint it and rust proof it) you have a bodyshell that'll last another 10 years.
23 February 2018, 05:07 PM
#7
Well, I decided to go at it this afternoon as I had a spare hour or so. I am taking the view that I would rather put a bit of work in now stripping it out and getting a proper look at what needs doing and then deciding how to proceed. If its too much for me I would rather sell it on honestly than try and cover it up and sell someone a scrap heap they dont know about. So.....
Out came the boot liner, rear seats, parcel shelf, post trims and seatbelts etc and then came along the hammer, scraper and wire brush to reveal what you see in the pictures attached.
Tomorrow its going up on axle stands and out come the struts so that I can get a good look from beneath then I’ll make a decision.
However, ive already spoken to my father in-law who has been a welder all his life, even working on nuclear sites welding pipework that is then x-rayed, he will give me a lift with the hard work, so I think im pretty much committed!
😑
Out came the boot liner, rear seats, parcel shelf, post trims and seatbelts etc and then came along the hammer, scraper and wire brush to reveal what you see in the pictures attached.
Tomorrow its going up on axle stands and out come the struts so that I can get a good look from beneath then I’ll make a decision.
However, ive already spoken to my father in-law who has been a welder all his life, even working on nuclear sites welding pipework that is then x-rayed, he will give me a lift with the hard work, so I think im pretty much committed!
😑
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