rear arch replacement

[mrb27]

hey all,

decided to tackle the rear arches as they are getting quite bad now trying to sorce a pair at the mo so if anyone has any recomendations feel free xD also a few people have advised on fibreglass!! not my first choice but wanted to put it out there and ask if anyone has any experiance on usein the stuff, what to expect with joining it to metal (cracking etc) is it worth using it on a small area or is it a waste of time?

Thanks all

[sunnyr83]

Are we talking inner arch or outer?

Pattern outer arches are avaliable from various places and inner arches from the dealer only.

Can't advise you on the fibreglass but would have thought thats a big fat no no.

[mrb27]

sorry, outer arches. and yes, my thoughts on the fibreglass was also a no no, but as im no panel beater i thought id throw it out there as one of the recomendations was from a beater :O

[pacerpete]

Are we talking inner arch or outer?

Pattern outer arches are avaliable from various places and inner arches from the dealer only.

Can't advise you on the fibreglass but would have thought thats a big fat no no.

Have you seen his rear bumper ?

[sunnyr83]

Not until now. WOW.

What kit is that mrb27?

[ross_jsy]

I'm going for Reiger GTS:

[bimanut]

Dont know how bad your arches are but this is what me an my brother did to his,
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... light=busy

[mrb27]

the kit was an import from germany, cant remember the name of the kit now fibreglass in general isnt a problem for me but bonding it to metal does concern me, when it comes to the summer heat, metal expanding and hairline cracks where the two meet etc,

Not a fan of the above kit although each to there own, u would probly string me up and set a blaze if you saw my front end

[Brianmoooore]

Most of the rear arches are structural, so the MOT test man won't be impressed with fibre glass.

[mrb27]

yea it actully went in for its mot today funny enough, passed with only advisory being the rust. the concern being how close it is to the seat belt anchor. 8 inches i think he said was the closest it could get before fail. mine was 12''

[Brianmoooore]

Tester was being generous! Minimum distance for a hole is 300mm.
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4x0c000007.htm

[mrb27]

well 300mm is basicly 12'' so maybe i have my numbers arse about face.. or maybe he was being generous, whatever.. it passed

[harry_p]

the outers are easy, but if theyre crusty the inners will be just as bad, and no-one makes pattern inner arches. If theyre not bad they can probably be patched up, it doesnt need to be particularly pretty as it'll never be seen.

unfortunately this is why a lot of people will get a nice new outer arch welded on, then plaster the inside with fibreglass.

it'll look fine, but it's not a proper job and it'll be rotting as quickly as ever on the inside

[B7]

If you are even considering fibregash, then you are barking up the wrong tree.

Do the job properly and do the job once.

Fill it full of jank and in no time, the rust will be festering underneath the bodge and you'll end up with a scrap shell.

Use steel in a steel car. Leave the Fibreglass to the kit car freaks!