Fiesta rear quarter panel replacment advice re sill join

[visor_down]

Hi
Never replaced a large panel before other than front wings / front inner arches

Is the bottom bit on the left part of the panel part of the silll that you have to cut out of the car, or is it layered over or under the sill currently on the car? (if that makes sense!?)

Appreciate you dont have to use the whole panel but it needs most of it so the bit by the sill will need to be fitted i think

Cheers

 

[fatfranky]

I'm sure others may differ in their opinions, but wherever you join it, whether in the sill or wheel arch section, i would join with a but joint.

To do this i would trial fit and trim the panel to a 20 mm overlap, once its all clamped in place use a hacksaw (preferably with a fine tooth blade) to cut through both the new and old panels, this will give you a perfectly aligned cut with just a hacksaw blade width between them. To minimize distortion put a good tack every 20mm or so, allow to cool then put a tack in between each of those welds, then in between each of those till you get a continuous weld which you then dress back.

You can use the same technique along the top joint but it will be more prone to distortion and will take more patience.

If you can get them in its worth using intergrips, like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intergrip...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item589af72d30

hope this helps

Regards

Edit to add
If you cannot get a hacksaw along the top joint you could use one of the thin (<1.0MM) cutting discs

 

[steveo3002]

always seen them joined with a butt weld there ...dont overlap it

 

[pedrobedro]

There's usually a swage on the end of the sill that the panel sits on and is spot welded through. Repair the corner of the inner wheel arch so there is a good seal while you have it apart as the corner holds a lot of crud causing rot.

 

[visor_down]

cheers guys thanks for the tips

I can't seem to find an inner repair panel?? Is this the norm, do you have to fab it up yourself? I am not too sure i would be able to get a great bend and compound curve on the return/lip that is spot welded to the outer repair panel!
Can i put seam sealer between the lip/return on the arch prior to spot welding (well, hole filled with MIG) if i were to clean it out the hole to be welded? Trying to avoid the seam rotting too quickly

pedrobedro, which corner are you referring to?