Nick Jones Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 It's been 27 years since I did the bodywork on my Vitesse and, in places, patina is turning more to mange.As it's due to make a public appearance in June, I thought I ought to deal with some of the uglier ones. The lower edges of the bonnet under the catches were looking especially rough and when I poked at them I found holes..... 🙁I could have made repair sections out of thin material and folded the edge as original - but that fold is why it's got holes in now - so I dug some 20 x 4mm strip out of my scraps bin and made a more solid repair section.Just one side done so far and not yet finished off, but the other is just as bad. Also a small patch od crusty grot in the lower front corner of the N/S rear wheel arch means that my previously un-welded rear tub is in need of the hot metal glue gun.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitumen Boy Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Nick, do you think a similar solution would work going up the rear edge of the wing, below where there's a reinforcing piece? Mine will need doing at some point and, as you say, that folded edge is the problem. Your solution avoids that troublesome small cavity and is, I suspect, unlikely to give problems again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 I suppose it would, though harder to do because of the reinforcing piece. They don't tend to rust as much there, in my experience it's the bottom edge that dissolves.Today I did the other side. Didn't look as bad initially, but actually had 3 holes including one above the intended line of my strip so I had to do a patch as well.One of the major irritations with the whole process (and it's bugged me a bit for years) is that the whole area is ripply and distorted because this is a replacement wing panel and the material it's made from is thinner than the original and too thin to take the loads from the catches. Makes flatting it all back a right PITA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 more pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 Up to the primer stage. Just to flat back and apply the top coat - which almost matches. Seems the weather window has closed though 🙁, so I'll probably move on to chopping the grot out of the rear arch next.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Hi NickDid you take any photos of the inside of the bonnet area you welded?ThanksAdrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Yep, here you go. (before tidying!)Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitumen Boy Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Looking good, Nick. The grot I have in the rear edge is just going up from the corner and doesn't stretch as far as the reinforcing piece - at least I don't think so at present... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Done now. I chose the grey all the years ago because it's forgiving of unskilled painting...... it's still true 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 more picsNick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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