REPAIRS - PAGE 8
RESTORATION TOPICS - rear arch repair panels
Many of
you will be all too painfully aware of the dreaded rear arch rustbug.
Unfortunately the rear wheel arch was one of Toyotas few aberrations on
the MR2 design - it was the conventional double lipped design absolutely typical
of that era - but compounded by some idiot designer - who decided that inserting
a foam sponge strip between these lips prior to spot-welding would be a good
idea - to stop water ingress. Nice motive - but lousy judgment.
This sponge just makes matters worse by trapping moisture and mud - hence
the rot. They were none too
generous with underseal either - if only they had omitted the sponge and used
decent quantities of Waxoyl instead - then we'd all be better off nowadays.
Once this rot starts - it spreads from inside to out -so when the first
bubbles start appearing it doesn't look much - but all around it the rust is working through.
More to the point - what can be done about it?
1) The cheapest option is to locally fibreglass the rusted area of arch and respray it. It is
relatively easy and cheap to do.
Unfortunately this repair will only look good for at most a couple of
months before bubbling restarts around its edges.
2) Weld in steel replacement arches - good in theory, but the trouble is Toyota don't sell them.
What they do sell is an entire 3/4 panel - at about £400 -total overkill!
Mass produced aftermarket repair panels are not made for the MR2, but an
alternative often used is the Mazda 323. However, its profile is a fair bit
different - so if for example just one side was done it would look different to
the original. Also, I gather even these are going out of production.
3) The latest alternative is hand made repair sections - you might have noticed this in a
flyer sent out recently.
These are made by a small outfit called JDG Panels of Scarborough - they
have done Datsun Z Club panels for years. John Griffiths is an active Z Club
member, and Doug is an ex Aston Martin panelmaker (who has restored a DBS.)
Well, I have just picked up my set, and have to say that I am delighted
with them. It is easy for me to check them, as I provided the 3/4 panels for
them to use as patterns.
The fit is very good, as is the quality of fabrication. They use zinc
plated steel which helps a little on corrosion (although of course welding will
locally burn it off.)
A couple of photos are to follow-
The next job is for me to fit them to my N/A - no excuses left now! Its a tricky job
really best done by a bodyshop, but I have done it on other cars - so here goes!
I will try and write up the job and take photos as I go along - but be
warned - I am very slow on this tricky work!
ALAN JONES
PS JDG Panels are contactable on 01723 373956 or 07946 673948 Link to
Panels page