Inner arch repair

[seanc]

I need to make quite a large repair to an inner arch panel. the panel is curved but also has an 8mm lip along the edge that is spot welded to the outer panel.
Im not really sure of the best way to go about making this, the only way I can think of is to cut 8mm slits along the edge at around 1 inch intervals and bend the over to 90 degrees and then bend the panel to the shape of the arch, Then I would have to cut and weld where the previous slits meet.

Is this the right way to go about it ?

 

[troppo]

G`day mate
Put some pictures up as it sounds to me like there might be a couple of ways to tackle this. Show us the damaged section and if possible another pic of an undamaged section the same. A picture tells a thousand words.
Cheers mate
Troppo

 

[stuvy]

depends, how good is your welding, can it be seen and whats it on? discovery per chance?

 

[seanc]

Welding average. It's the inner rear arch of a civic and won't be seen when finished. Ideally I would use a stretcher but don't really want to spend that kind of money for a one off.

 

[droopsnoot]

Stretching isn't too hard to do with a suitable hammer, shrinking is the more tricky one. You could mark where the flange folds over, start it off with pliers or a suitable bit of steel with a slot in it, then use the edge of a cross-pein hammer to stretch it. Have a look on the (very long) 'making panels' thread on the Retro Rides web site, there's a lot of techniques described in detail on there.

But, unless you're going to do it again, it'll probably be quicker to cut the slits as you've described, bend it all up to fit, then weld the slits up and dress them.

 

[stuvy]

if a stretcher is out of your budget and as droopsnoot recommends the very valuable info on R.R what about 2 ways,

1, you cut a piece of mild steel sheet for instance, 6"x 14"s where you want the rolled lip to be cut small slits with a thin disc like you would stich weld something then fold the lip over in a vice or sheet folder and gently beat the sheet into to rolled shape you want. You can hammer this over the front face of a vice if you havent got access to other tools. You may need to cut smaller nicks in the smaller lip to help with the strecthing/shrinking. (hope that make sense!)

2, make several smaller patches and weld them all in separately. (easiest way tbh.)

use a small hammer and add lots of light pressure blows to avoid adding flat areas on the panel your making. This makes sense in my mind i hope it does to you pm me your number if you need any further details of how to do it!

 

[keithski122]

Can you utilise an outer arch section if one is available or modify one thats similar?
Your civic on here?:- http://hadrian.dominohosting.biz/hadrian/hcpdb01.nsf/ModelList!OpenForm&RestrictToCategory=HONDA
or universal:- http://hadrian.dominohosting.biz/ha...ToCategory=UNIVERSAL WHEEL ARCH&Ret=ModelList

 

[seanc]

You can buy a outer but not inner, I thought about a escort inner arch modified but it maybe more work than making from scratch

 

[Punx0r]

If you have little/no beating skills like me, you could weld on a separate (shaped) strip of metal to form the lip. Welded on the outside of the curve you can grind it down to give a reasonable radius and make the joint invisible.

 

[barny]

Get some scrap 1mm sheet. Or even new as not too expensive and just try to make some shapes and get a feel for the metal and how it can be worked.
A sturdy bench and panel hammer and dollies would be a good help too.
I did a little patch repair on a door shut that was tricky but figured out a way to get the bends easy enough.

Good luck and stick with it

 

[seanc]

Yup think I'm going to have to get some sheet and practice. After cutting away the outer panel today it looks a little more complex than I first thought. Will certainly need to do it in a few sections.

 

[troppo]

Whats the same panel on the opposite side of the car like?
Take some paper and use it to make a template of the parts you need, you only have to turn the paper over to get a template of the opposite (rusty) side, that should at least give yo an idea of the parts you need to cut and shape

 

[seanc]

yeh the other sides alot better. not perfect but good enough to take a template from i would think. everythings hidden away behind the wheel arch aswell so i dont suppose it needs to be perfect