I'm about to start on the laborious job of replacing the edge of an inner rear arch and the flared part of the outer arch.
Last time I did it I had no options other than to join the two flanged edges using a series of "puddle" welds to emulate the original spot-welds as closely as possible. Despite the application of plenty of protective primer and cavity wax, after ten years of use I'm going to have to replace almost exactly the same amount and areas of metal as previously.
It's a basic flaw in the design when considering corrosion prevention; many cars of this era are made in this way and I suppose ten years was a reasonable lifetime in the days of rust-buckets-a-plenty.
I've thought about adhesive bonding, but it's too technical, so my next thought is to carefully seam-weld the two edges. Although I would still have a hidden area with untreated steel or heat affected primer, at least it would be waterproof from the outside.
I'm wondering has anyone done this or got suggestions of an alternative approach?
Last time I did it I had no options other than to join the two flanged edges using a series of "puddle" welds to emulate the original spot-welds as closely as possible. Despite the application of plenty of protective primer and cavity wax, after ten years of use I'm going to have to replace almost exactly the same amount and areas of metal as previously.
It's a basic flaw in the design when considering corrosion prevention; many cars of this era are made in this way and I suppose ten years was a reasonable lifetime in the days of rust-buckets-a-plenty.
I've thought about adhesive bonding, but it's too technical, so my next thought is to carefully seam-weld the two edges. Although I would still have a hidden area with untreated steel or heat affected primer, at least it would be waterproof from the outside.
I'm wondering has anyone done this or got suggestions of an alternative approach?