inner wheel arch repair

[james butler]

hi everyone,
i need to do some welding to the inner arch of my scirocco.
once its done what will be the best way to protect the metal work baring in mind its the inner wheel arch and gonna get battered by water and what not.
the pictures below show what i started with and the hole ive ended up with so when its welded up will need some good protection.
before painting the welded patch would it be a good idea to paint lots of jenolite into it to control any trace of rust left?https://www.jawel.co.uk/index.php?m...ucts_id=3653&zenid=pcvv09v8fdvjl3kmf3tvv1f5r6
i have lots of 2 pack etch primer and gravitex paint but not sure if something else sahuld be used too?
also where the suspension turret is should it be seam sealed in the gaps?
any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[james butler]

i think cleaning up the imediate area too would be a must so whatever i put on there has a better chance of gripping the bodywork and not falling off.

 

[pedrobedro]

I give mine a few coats of Zinc182 then bitumen based paint over the top and throw some dust at it to camouflage it

 

[norsa]

I've just restored the shell of a MK1 Escort. I etched, seam sealed then raptored it. You could do far worse than epoxy, seam sealer, stone chip though.
Nick

 

[james butler]

I give mine a few coats of Zinc182 then bitumen based paint over the top and throw some dust at it to camouflage it

 

[james butler]

I've just restored the shell of a MK1 Escort. I etched, seam sealed then raptored it. You could do far worse than epoxy, seam sealer, stone chip though.
Nick

cheers nick so i will be ok with my etch and gravitex (gravitec is the 1k version of raptor isnt it?)
is there a preferred/recomended seam sealer out there? i wont need much of it.
seeing as i am under the car anyway can i use the etch and gravitex to repair areas of flaking underseal? obviusly i will clean it down to good bare metal first.

 

[Kayos]

I use PU sealant as seam sealer these days

 

[norsa]

Yes you could use it effectively on clean abraded metal. Indeed gravitex is 1k. You could use a tube of PU sealer and brush it out using panel wipe as a smoothing agent if you wish. I like to use grey stripe brushable seam sealer.

 

[james butler]

is this the kind of epoxy primer you were talking about?
would it be ok to use with gravitex and seam sealer?
https://www.jawel.co.uk/index.php?m...ucts_id=3391&zenid=el4njk3gknjto3a1jq74703q71

 

[DaveB]

Carefull that could be an isocyanate acrylic paint system.

2K normally refers to isocyanate and the technical sheets on that website do not appear to be clearly liked from the product pages.

 

[james butler]

Carefull that could be an isocyanate acrylic paint system.

2K normally refers to isocyanate and the technical sheets on that website do not appear to be clearly liked from the product pages.

ok cheers will steer clear

 

[marlinspike]

We did similar repairs on our Saab 900 project. We used Bilt Hamber Electrox, which is a high zinc primer. Then seam sealed the edge of the patch, then Gravitex.

I started off on the car resto project with Tiger Seal but it just went hard in the tube before I could use it all. Now I use the Puraflex sealant from Toolstation. It used be £3 for ages but now it's a fiver:

https://www.toolstation.com/puraflex-40-high-modulus-pu-sealant-adhesive-300ml/p85566

You don't need to grind the weld down too much when it's in an area you don't see fortunately. I like the finish Gravitex gives and it's so easy to spray.

 

[steveo3002]

epoxy is the proper answer

then pu sealer /stonechip /topcoat to your liking

 

[Nick DV]

I'd 100% second using the Bilt Hamber products I'm not sure I'd use Raptor under the car though as IMHO there is a potential of trapping moisture under it.

 

[steveo3002]

jotun jotamastic is ideal....5ltrs for £50 ish , struggle to beat it in performance or value

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I've gone off gravitex etc as it sets rock hard, your better off with a rubber equivalent like Sikagard 6440 which stay rubbery and is overpaintable.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Steve's suggestion is the best so far. Epoxy primer can't be beaten for a job like that.

 

[norsa]

I'd 100% second using the Bilt Hamber products I'm not sure I'd use Raptor under the car though as IMHO there is a potential of trapping moisture under it.

Anything you apply under a car has the potential to trap moisture. Raptor is the pro choice of coating as its hard wearing, over paintable and stays flexible. Down side of course is its iso based and its not cheap..

 

[Nick DV]

Anything you apply under a car has the potential to trap moisture. Raptor is the pro choice of coating as its hard wearing, over paintable and stays flexible. Down side of course is its iso based and its not cheap..

I agree that anything has the ability to trap moisture, it's just that I have read that Raptor has chipped off, allowed moisture underneath, and then lifted. I was also under the impression that the Gravitex was for underbody. I've certainly nothing against that Raptor as I'll soon be using it on the bodywork of my 4x4, just going by what I have seen in various forum postings

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I agree that anything has the ability to trap moisture, it's just that I have read that Raptor has chipped off, allowed moisture underneath, and then lifted. I was also under the impression that the Gravitex was for underbody. I've certainly nothing against that Raptor as I'll soon be using it on the bodywork of my 4x4, just going by what I have seen in various forum postings

Could be incorrect preparation or application, it's best to give advice based on your own experience rather than something read on the internet.