Cabby rear arches....

[miniblob]

I'm just wondering, while I have bodywork to attend to at the front, that will probably need painting - what can be done about rotting rear arches???

They're not too bad, by any means, but I don't really want them full of filler and then bubbling again in a year - so are they
a) something that could/would be fabbed up by a bodyshop?
b) would I get some solid ones cut from a breaker??
c) new panels from BMW (which I'm assuming will be too pricey!!!)???

I'm assuming option b - but what would it normally cost to have these cut/welded in???

Also means they'll have to be painted and blended, as well as a front wing (at least) - so is the car just going to end up looking patchwork???
Should I just budget for a full re-spray???

I will try and get round some bodyshops and see what they say/quote, but wanted opinions from you guys too!!!

Other options include leaving them another year or two, like I have already, or going the sand/fill/blend method knowing it's a temporary tidy up!!!

All input appreciated, as always!!!

[polsta]

Lol youl get no nice rear arches from a breaker , do the job once do it properly !

You could just get both sides and bonnet painted , it all depends how nice/not nice the paint is , if very old and faded then may look odd

Rear arch repair panels are only 30 odd quid each , BMW do not sell them, only the inner arches

[miniblob]

Where are the rear arch repair panels available from mate???

Nice suggestion, but the worst bit of paint on the car is the bootlid!!! Lol!!! Brilliant-rot that starts to turn pink if not regularly cleaned up!!!

[polsta]

Google Cleveland panels

[miniblob]

Perfect - £35 per side!!!

Thanks mate - helps me price the job up!!!

[Gavla]

If they are not too bad the body shop would probably do a good fabrication. I say this as I am doing mine and although I bought panels, the guy said he would prefer not to use them...?

[miniblob]

Had a chat with a local bodyshop - guy seemed alright to be fair.

He said what I was thinking - anything sprayed on an aged red car will stand out like a sore thumb.
He reckoned sorting my front end and rear arches and doing a proper respray, I would see no change from £3k!!!
He didn't think it was worthwhile and said he wouldn't even want to guarantee there wouldn't be any rust bubbling somewhere after a year or two, on a car like this!!!

Think I'll just get the front end sorted, then decide what I'm gonna do with the car!!!

[initial_g]

Replace the arches dude you can get pattern part replacements, rust will always come bck through.... get new ones fitted and get in the panel behind and wax the shizzle outta it, Icut all the rust out mine 5 year ago and welded new ones on.... its still rust free, top tip aswell, paint the arch before its fitted and plaster it with tigerseal behind it. I do this when I get rusty cars into my bodyshop, ive never had one back with rust issues agian

[Chris_B86]

If your panel beaters good, ie old school, not an NVQ/City and Guilds trained monkey, they should be able to fabricate and metal graft any rot, however if the rot is bad, you'd be as well getting the repair panels at that price

[Gavla]

Had a chat with a local bodyshop - guy seemed alright to be fair.

He said what I was thinking - anything sprayed on an aged red car will stand out like a sore thumb.
He reckoned sorting my front end and rear arches and doing a proper respray, I would see no change from £3k!!!
He didn't think it was worthwhile and said he wouldn't even want to guarantee there wouldn't be any rust bubbling somewhere after a year or two, on a car like this!!!

Think I'll just get the front end sorted, then decide what I'm gonna do with the car!!!

My car is with a guy not far from you in Kent. £2500 for a strip down, respray and rear arches.

[initial_g]

On alot of vintage stuff customers want to keep original panels so I lead fill rotton areas... good practice as it retains origional panels but not many people can do it anymore

[polsta]

If you do the job properly forming a new rear arch with an outer arch repair panel and a new inner arch, then there wouldn't be anything to rust through and no need to plaster a load of crap and tiger seal behind it, just had the job done myself and I'd top banana all looks like new

[miniblob]

It's just the cost - makes this a bit out of reach at the mo!!!

[Chris_B86]

Mines going in for strip down, rust repair and respray, told me it would be no more than £2k, but I do know the guy and have put a lot of work there in the past

[polsta]

It's just the cost - makes this a bit out of reach at the mo!!!

Buy the panels and have them sat there, then that's out the way then give you motivation to save

[initial_g]

Thing is polsta it rusts where you weld from and no amout of wax can stop that, ive had my own bodyshop repairing and painting vintage, classic and modern bentley and porsche and the like for 10 years plus, leading is the restoration way. Putting inner and outer panels on is great... if its going to be dipped. Otherwise it only cames back from welding points. Take alook at the body on my sunbeam tiger.... its better than factory

[initial_g]

[Green]

I'm looking at getting my N/S arch repairs as it's falling apart, thing is the inner skin is pretty buggered as well so I don't know how much a job it'll be. I don't have to money for a full respray so was thinking of getting one quarter done at a time I suppose.

Not entirely sure the cost of someone cutting and welding an arch in. I'd give it a go myself but I don't have all the tools or skill unfortunately! If someone's got a rough ballpark figure it might push me to get quotes.

[initial_g]

It all depends on how bad it is bud but I will say get repair panels dont get it patched with bits and bobs, it would be cheaper to do it as a job lot in the long run so maybe save for the lot? If thats unachievable a bit at a time is fine, ias for costs im sure youd be looking in the region of 450 each quarter panel a tip aswell ask them to use panel bond to band the inner and outer arch lips together where they join.... if uou weld it itl rot in no time most new cars use this method nowdays. when you get it back take all the trims of and absolutly spray the hell outa it with wax

[Brianmoooore]

On alot of vintage stuff customers want to keep original panels so I lead fill rotton areas... good practice as it retains origional panels but not many people can do it anymore

Fully agree with a good thick bead of polyurethane (tigerseal) well worked in, and I thought I was the only one who even knew what lead loading is these days, let alone use it.

[initial_g]

Haha yeh I use it bud great stuff, I never fibreglass holes and most the time try and lead load panels and file then dolphin glaze rather than body fill it up

[mineralblue]

What's the name of your body shop?

[initial_g]

G fowler paint and body specialists. Ive got a big contract engineering for london overground atm and just do chosen jobs atm but when this contract finishes im going to consentrate 100% on bodywork again. I have so many people wanting work done but I prefer to do full body restorations

[initial_g]

Heres some pics of it finished

[maxfield]

Sunbeam looks awesome dude.

I know a guy who restores sunbeam tigers and looks after a fair few. I've got a bit of a soft spot for them

[initial_g]

That was a project me and my dad did... well I did lol he just got his wallet out for parts. its the genuine ex monte carlo race car the work was emense it was acid dipped... lets say there wasnt much left... the studying of books and photos to find how the car looked in the day was crazy, I had to fabricate all the valance and arches as they were different to off the shelf items.
Original pic

[initial_g]

That was a project me and my dad did... well I did lol he just got his wallet out for parts. its the genuine ex monte carlo race car the work was emense it was acid dipped... lets say there wasnt much left... the studying of books and photos to find how the car looked in the day was crazy, I had to fabricate all the valance and arches as they were different to off the shelf items.
Original pic

[gooner1]

You are a prime example of never judging a book by it,s cover, G.

Now I have no idea of the specs of the Green car in you Sig/Avatar, but i,m
betting most people seeing it would never in a million years reckon you
capable of carrying out the work you have.

[initial_g]

Cheers gooner, thats the current project its having a overhaul for this year id love to find a mint shell in the future and slowly restore a e30

[miniblob]

It's just the cost - makes this a bit out of reach at the mo!!!

Buy the panels and have them sat there, then that's out the way then give you motivation to save

If you saw the amount of bits I have sat there.....
Doesn't seem to motivate me like it used to!!!