Major Body repair

[bredsticz]

Hi all,
My fiances dad has a FIAT Tempra and has been sat on his drive for some years now. I wouldn't mind taking it off his hands to work on the engine and get it up and running again, only problem is the body work is majorly rusted.
The back of the car has basically corroded away from the rest of the car, the back door has about a 9 inch by 5 inch hole from rust where you can reach into the actual door. I'm unfamiliar with bodywork repairs so was wondering is there a way to repair the bodywork back to the way it was without replacing the part completely as they are a rare car to come across nowadays so i can't replace them. The seals around the windows etc I'm sure i could improvise using other cars maybe but no point me trying if the bodywork can't be repaired. Thanks

 

[Jai]

sounds like it's rotten as a pear....might be worth geting a local bodyshop bloke down to have a look, to give you a realistic idea of the time. money and effort that will need to go in. as you said, tempra, nice car, but not exactly sought after, and the expenditure could quickly become nightmareish. out of intrest, what engine?

 

[bredsticz]

Not sure, I'll find out and let you know. But I wanted to restore it all myself if i could to minimize the cost. May not be the most sought after car but he has had alot of people in the past randomly knock on his door asking if they can buy it. Athough less and less people have asked as the rust has gotten worse! I think he had just fitted some kind of after market injectors on it before he stopped using it.
But would it be possible to do it with body filler at all?

 

[inniiit]

if its just the door it might be worth rtinginr round a few scrappers to see if you can get one in relatively decent nick even the right colour if your lucky. have a good luck under the car and see if the chassis is rusted. if its only got the odd speckle of rot then it might be worth salvaging, if its got lots gaping holes, there'll be lots of welding and other work. its definately worth getting a decent body shop to have a look, they'll be able to get parts for it readily, such as a door skin of maybe a non-genuine door (i've fitted some non-gen parts that have fitted better that the dealership parts!)
the bodywork can be a right hassle, cos nothing rarely goes to plan. I personally would only bother with the car if it had nice meaty lookin plant (2L+ )under the bonnet or if it was a saught after model.
Good luck with it tho

 

[bredsticz]

Hi again, no it's a 1.8i engine I'm told.
Not just the door it's literally the entire car but i dont mind I have lots of time to spend on it. the back bumber has fallen down because its rusted away from the body where it's connected. Held on above the wheels arches.
I'm not really bothered again if it's a dought after model as if i got it in decent nick I'd like to keep it myself. Just wanted to know how possible it would be really. Don't think engine had any problems when it stopped being used either. Could have seized it's been there so long though

 

[bredsticz]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i2QrhchYr4Y/StQFzKZ7WgI/AAAAAAAAC3k/2lo_KVHZIDs/s400/rusty+car+door.jpg
as an example the doors are pretty much in that condition
Closest I could find

 

[paul12345]

By the sounds of it you'd be better of building the car from scratch, if thats the state of it all over they'll be nothing left by the time you've took away the rot.

 

[weta]

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the doors, bonnet and hatch to start off with. If possible get the car on a ramp and make a thorough inspection of the shell. If you don't have access to a ramp, get the car up on axle stands instead. Lift all the carpets and take a good look along the sills, back panel etc... Check everywhere, engine bay, suspension points, bulkhead, pillars etc... Make a note of what can be repaired and what needs to be replaced. Next, check that all the parts / panels you require are still available and the prices. Then it's decision time.

Good luck

 

[bredsticz]

Thanks for that, I can just imagine trying to jack it up and the car falling away around it
Don't think she starts so would have to be axle stands really. Thanks for all the help, it's just weighing up the costs now. Needed to be cheap as because got my 1st child due in march so can't be throwing money away now!

 

[tbush]

hello, any of you know where to find a hood for a 1979 spyder. i just bought the car and i am looking for a new hood. and if any one has the emblems for the car too!! that would be great!!! let me know thanks