231 replies to this topic

[Racehatch]

Nice work with the rust repairs, looking good!!

[christolx]

Thanks mate! Hopefully they tackle the big stuff soon!

Thanks mate! Hopefully they tackle the big stuff soon!

[christolx]

Just a quick walk around of the car blasted & etch primed before any of the rust repairs started.

 

 

https://youtu.be/YSxwUNqUyls

[Gump]

Good to see another WA hatch saved

[christolx]

Progress has been fairly slow, but they have started on repairs to the rear end.

 

They made up a new rear beaver panel section and welded in the Rare Spares quarter panels and also decided to cut the lower section under the tail light bucket out, in order to fit the new buckets in.  That way they can spot weld the panel just like it came from factory instead of welding a seam or welding it over the top of the bottom panel.

 

 

 20160206_163214.jpg   105.73K   24 downloads

[christolx]

2 piece patch panel has been made up to replace the lower section of the beaver panel.

 

 20160206_163229#1.jpg   99.18K   24 downloads

 

[christolx]

Rare Spares rear quarter worked a treat.

 

 20160206_163155.jpg   87.62K   22 downloads

[christolx]

C-Pillar repair was re welded, as the previous panel beater had not got the fit correct. 

This was also a Rare Spares repair section. the top left hand corner was also repaired but still needs to be finished off.  20160206_163259.jpg   106.9K   26 downloads

 

 

[GMH-01X]

Good progress being made getting rid of some of that Ugly mate

[christolx]

Thanks GMH-01X getting there,

Grant they aren't going to put the joint back in. I actually think they look good smooth. One less area to hold water?

Thanks GMH-01X getting there,

Grant they aren't going to put the joint back in. I actually think they look good smooth. One less area to hold water?

[christolx]

Bit more progress on the RHS. Rear end all coming together!

 

 2016-02-21_17.39.30.jpg   122.07K   24 downloads

[cameron]

Thanks GMH-01X getting there,

Grant they aren't going to put the joint back in. I actually think they look good smooth. One less area to hold water?

Thanks GMH-01X getting there,

Grant they aren't going to put the joint back in. I actually think they look good smooth. One less area to hold water?

 

That joint doesn't leak if it is brazed under the overlap. You just need the surfaces very clean so the braze seals the join. IMO I prefer that the joint is part of the pillar as it just looks correct.

 

Cameron

[tuxedoss]

Ideally you want the joint to leak, water getting in from the outside isn't the biggest problem as the seam is the lowest point, it's condensation on the inside that has no where to go, and combine that with a few years of dust and dirt in there and that's why they all rusted. The best solution I've seen is drill about a 10mm hole on the inside skin, this firstly allows you to squirt some cavity wax in there once the outside skin goes on and also allows any dirt or water to come out

 

[cameron]

Being unpainted between the overlapping panels any moisture will always cause rust. That's why these old cars rust. They never had e-coat (aka magnetic paint) so cars where never painted in areas where you couldn't spray.The issue that most people have had with this join (which leads them to welding the join) is that it moves and this cracks/blisters the surface paint which looks like crap. Running braze to join and seal the panels and then filing and cleaning up the join solves all the issues of both rust,cracking and keeps the original look of the join on the car.

 

Cameron

Edited by cameron, 24 February 2016 - 10:36 AM.

[christolx]

ah i see, interesting information, but I guess i don't mind it not looking as original and appreciate that feedback.

 

I've just gone down to see the progress on the car this afternoon and the rear end is coming along well.

 

LHS 

 rhs1.jpg   93.51K   25 downloads

 

RHS

 

 LHS1.jpg   96.79K   23 downloads

 

The rear end was the worst in terms of rust as you might have seen if you were following this from the start. i'm not sure if you can appreciate the work that has gone into the rust repairs so far, but i've seen the hours put in and am pretty happy to have the job well under way. Cannot wait for all the rust repair sections to be complete, and to have a shell all primed and blocked back sitting in my garage!

 

 rear end.jpg   104.27K   25 downloads

[christolx]

Hi Guys, progress has been a bit slow of late. Here's a video link showing some of the repair work done to the drivers side door.

The work is yet to be metal finished, the door was re skinned and hung to check panel gaps before a final finish. I'm pretty happy with the work so far.

 

https://youtu.be/gJLw-4mLz1w

 

https://youtu.be/ihx2pc_Sj3U

[Toranamat69]

Chris, how did the lower rear quarter repair from rare spares line up with the wheel arch?  I just bought a rares one a couple of months back and they suit the 4 door rear quarter. There is a significant difference in where the line is in the wheel arch and rares told me sorry, you'll have to mod their rust repair to suit the hatch but yours looks unmodified.

 

Big job on the repairs there - keep at it.

 

Matt

[christolx]

Hi Matt,

 

Didn't hear that info from rares, they know i am working on a hatch and i replaced both left and right quarters.

 

I am not sure if any major modifications were done to make it fit, but as with all the panels, apparently due to some kind of copyright issue all panels need a bit of work to fit perfectly, but it seems to line up just fine. 

 

Thanks mate nearly there...

[christolx]

So i've been fairly quiet on here for a while. Car has been at the panel shop for 12 months now, unfortunately the work has changed hands with a new tradesman working on it, but I am still pleased with the quality of the work although the progress has been slow!

 

 

Here's an update for 2017! Happy New Year All

 

Doors have been repaired and re-skinned. LHS required a fair bit of work, but i am pretty pleased with how they turned out. 

 

 door corner.png   395.59K   19 downloads

[christolx]

LHS was completely rusted out. Was almost impossible to find a LHS replacement door in decent condition (for some reason LHS seemed to always be rusted worse than RHS)?

 

 dor1.jpg   422.22K   19 downloads

New Skin from Rares[

 

attachment=69176:door skin.png]

Attached Files

•  door skin.png   941.39K   17 downloads

[Bigfella237]

Those guys really need to invest in a bead roller, some forming dies and a shrinker/stretcher, they're doing it the hard way there!

[tsn007]

Top job on the rust repairs

 

looks like you moving forward now after the rust repairs..

 

Just remember your Hatch as probably double in value since you purchased it

[christolx]

Yea, that bloke was South African, he did things old school or "the hard way" i'm just glad it's done well either way! Thanks mate, It cost me about that haha