Scuttle panel grot :(

Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:31 pm

The dreaded tinworm has found its way onto my scuttle panel. Basically, saw some bubbles so poked a few small (8ish mm is the biggest) holes in the nearside corner, right up close to where the flange of the wing sits. Pulled out the scuttle 'grille' and had a look behind and a scrape with a screwdriver - basically all the paint and sealer has lifted in the area, about 3" square. How horrifying a procedure is it going to be to put right? I'll be needing to get a bodyshop to do everything I reckon, is this gonna be big bucks?

What should I do to prevent it getting any worse until I have it properly sorted?

effing

Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:50 pm

no matter what you realy do it'll keep rotting mate.

try and scrap away as much as possible, treat it, seal it and hope for the best.

in the mean time keep your eyes open for a car being broken with clean scuttles and cut the section off that you need, foy you to use it for your repair becuase ordering a scuttle from BMW can be a pain in the back side. it can take few weeks, they need to stamp it etc

Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:17 pm

Well, I've scraped away and dabbed a load of kurust in there for now. I've got a big pot of seam sealer, so in due course I'll do some ugly covering up and have a think. I've taken some pics too, so I'll post those up when I can be arsed to wrestle with photobucket.

I was thinking maybe get someone to cut a bit out up to the 'grille' aperture and down past the wing edge (wing will have to come off I reckon) and get a piece fabricated and welded in, smoothed, filled and painted would be the best thing short of replacing the whole scuttle. Otherwise it'd be dash, windscreen etc out won't it? Not sure I can face all that, though the dash has started cracking in the last year...

Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:42 pm

i got a new scuttle approx two weeks ago. under £40. took four days. so you may want to place an order?

Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:58 am

djk, you've got the right idea. you can possibly get away with only unbolting the top part fo the wing and just hold and wedge it back out the way. obviously the screen will have to come out

badassyas, thats not a bad price, they've only gone up £10 in 2 years. how did the numbers come out, mine looks like stevie wonder did it

back to djk, a new scuttle and use just what you need to.

best thing is for you to get a picture up and see how bad it is

Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:05 pm

SHITE!

Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:23 pm

hi, have done a few, new panel from dealer with ch no. stamped, all be it by the blind, £40inc vat, only need to unbolt tops of wings prop back, remove screen, will do for you but based in cardiff, £300 plus vat, plus paint and painters labour, we do all aspects of restoration/body shell prep for motorsport and road going vehicles.
[our web; www.lotusport.co.uk]
regards Anton.