why not get a sheet of metal and fabricate ur own panels then u can make to whatever shape and size u want

It's a double curvature panel with a series of swages in it and a flat flange. Doing it in one peice in steel is beyond all but the most skilled, well equipped and talented amateur. You can't do it in aluminium because it's a structural (and prescribed) area -- at least, if you have rear seat belts.

This isn't to say it can't be done, in sections. but if you can find original or s/h panels it really makes sense to use them.

Hi

Thanks for all the help. Made some progress today, by that I mean finding more weak areas and more holes. Found that the boot seam in rusted out in one black and both rear arches have rusted through!

Going to get interior out tomorrow and see what its like under the carpets. The amount of work is piling up and I still need to find a MIG welder to borrow otherwise its gonna be karting our huge gas welder down.

thanks

Nath

If you can bear the pain, take out the rear panel. They'll usually rot out underneath that, and the main support for the rear seat belt box is there.

Try and get a MIG which will go to 25 amps or less (or a TIG) or you'll probably have to use gas -- the metal, for the most part, is very thin.

fingers99 said:

If you can bear the pain, take out the rear panel. They'll usually rot out underneath that, and the main support for the rear seat belt box is there.

Try and get a MIG which will go to 25 amps or less (or a TIG) or you'll probably have to use gas -- the metal, for the most part, is very thin.

Click to expand...

Do you mean remove the panel the lights attach to?

Thanks for the welder advice!


Nath

Yes. I'll try and pop some pics up tomorrow, if Ben will allow me onto the sacred server!

Removing the rear panel is tricky -- it's actually 3 panels spot welded together. But get that far and you're likely to find this. The square hole (which is where the wires and boot release pass through) is actually the plate which supports the rear seat belts. Here I'm part way through re-manufacturing one.

This is the extent of the issue on an otherwise good looking Cinq.

Thanks for the photos, good to see it's all relairable. I have taken the interior and carpets out today so will have a good look to see how far back the rot goes.

Looks like I will be making up metal to go in holes over the next few days and then getting a guy I work with to gas weld them in and repair my chassis underneath.

Also took front bumper off today and all is solid around there and floor is rot free too which is great!

Did you have to do both sides of your 'cento?

Thanks

Nath

Well, I will! Work stopped when the landlord decided that the roof of the garage was collapsing and I'd better get out. So the car is currently in a lock up without power or water, while I search for a garage some shmuk doesn't want 400 quid a month for.

That car is due for an MR2 turbo in the back, so most of the wheelarches will have to be fabricated to suit, anyway.

fingers99 said:

That car is due for an MR2 turbo in the back, so most of the wheelarches will have to be fabricated to suit, anyway.

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il have to 1 up you to that

thats one of the first ive seen for actual rail rot but could be much worse

Ash

fingers99 said:

You can't do it in aluminium because it's a structural (and prescribed) area -- at least, if you have rear seat belts.

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I thought you can't weld steel to aluminium anyway?

Good to hear the MR2 project is still rolling along

Tis true (the aluminium to steel bit) -- you casn't weld them, but you can bond them together with super adhesives (which are generally at least as strong as a weld, although god only knows what the MOT man would say).

Blue 2 is really waiting for a roll cage.

Ah, forgot about the adhesives. Isn't the Elise (and VX-R) chassis entirely bonded together?

But, they will have been SVA'd like that I suppose (or the equivalent for a production car).

Not much progress over the last few days, still can't find any replacement inner arches yet. I have found the plastic ones from Poland, has anyone fitted these? Would they need my current metal ones removing of are they purely for protection?

I could probably plate up my old ones and put plastic covers over as more protection, why didn't they fit plastic inners to uk cinqs anyway?

Thanks

Nath

I've never seen them, but I'd guess they're purely cosmetic/protective. Got a link?

On the rears, mine just has the cover over the fuel filler pipe, plus the two plastic bits at the front corners of the rear arches that collect filth and moisture underneath them (except I took them off).

bean said:

Not much progress over the last few days, still can't find any replacement inner arches yet. I have found the plastic ones from Poland, has anyone fitted these? Would they need my current metal ones removing of are they purely for protection?

I could probably plate up my old ones and put plastic covers over as more protection, why didn't they fit plastic inners to uk cinqs anyway?

Thanks

Nath

Click to expand...

Poland has harsh winters and uses plenty are road salt/grit (unlike the UK ). Plastic rear arch liners are worth fitting if available.

cc1 said:

Poland has harsh winters and uses plenty are road salt/grit (unlike the UK ). Plastic rear arch liners are worth fitting if available.

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Last time there was a bit of frost Staffs council seemed to have died out the entire dead sea and spread that around where I lived (last year)

Heres a link with rear arch liners pictured, scroll down to the bottom:

http://www.bazarek.pl/searchx.php/fraza,Cinquecento+nadkola

Have found them elsewhere for sale individually too.



Nath

Nice. But they're about ten years too late in your case, methinks.