Front wing has cancer

[spinna]

Just phoned nissan first and fingers crossed they might have one that is better than mine, just waiting for them to ring me back

 

[spinna]

Rang them again but still waiting for call back. So i decided to remove all plastic spats today and o.m.g ive found a tiny bit more rust. O/s/r arch

 

[spinna]

o/s sill

 

[spinna]

n/s/r arch. This side has more holes further up so will need a plate about a foot long
Been to my local m.o.t station who have done some welding for me in the past but cant get qoute till a week tuesday as they away on holiday

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Spinna, not cheaper to buy yourself a welder and do the repairs yourself?

Sorry to say this, but I expect that you find more areas with rust now or they become apparent in the near future.

For the money you pay to have this all welded back up you could also buy a welder and do it yourself. If (god forbid) you find any other areas of rust in the future then you only have to spend money on sheet metal (£30 1.2mm 2000mm x 1000mm).

 

[rustic]

only have to spend money on sheet metal (£30 1.2mm 2000mm x 1000mm).

So where do you buy this stuff from, and does it need to be 1.2 mm thick?

 

[makeitfit]

So where do you buy this stuff from, and does it need to be 1.2 mm thick?

Blacksmith and 1.2 is easier to weld than the thin tin :thumbs

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

Local sheet metal company. They also do 0.8mm but this has to be ordered in advance.

Other advantage of 1.2mm is that it doesn't rust through as quickly!

 

[spinna]

Im thinking you may be right flying torquewrench.:thumb2 I used to be a welder fabricater years ago but welding cars is different as you know so i would need to practice first:lol, and i suppose i would also know for certain that all rot is cut out if ido it myself.
I will have to weigh up the pro's and cons as i will have to work on the driveway and when i have time.
If i were to buy a welder what would you guys recommend, it would have to be quite cheap for now?

 

[solarman216]

I got a 190 mig but to be honest it really does not go down low enough for thin tin so I have to play a bit, a 150 will be much better and still give enough for the heavier jobs, but do not do what I did last week, leave the gas on, it blew the pipe off and emptied the cylinder, probably due to regulator passing so pressure built up and bingo, on my way to Hastings tomorrow for a BOC refill, over half a bottle of gas lost :doh , Rick

 

[spiderpig37]

Bummer
I have the other problem of being brought up on stick welding in the quarry minimum 4and 6mm rods i keep forgeting to turn the gas on :doh
First few times with mig i kept tapping the mig to strike a arc forgot you pressed the trigger good job no one was looking

 

[Flying Torquewrench]

I have got a Portamig 185, brilliant piece of kit but at a price. They always told me to buy proper welding equipment as it reflects in the welds itself. However I am definitely no professional welder.

Depending on how long you need the welder, you could always hire one.

I am pretty sure that you will be better off doing the job yourself. Not only (as you say) are you 100% certain that all the rot has been cut out. I also believe that you do a better job as you want to get it perfect.

When I went to the garage with my rotten chassis rails they wanted £1100 for the repair. This included removing the fuel tank and welding the holes (2) in the chassis. Even though I had to buy a welder I still did the job cheaper!

However it is very easy for me to sit here behind my computer and tell you what to do. I don't know if you even have the time to do the repairs and if you can afford the car to be off the road for a little while.

 

[rustic]

There must be an opportunity for someone with experience of fibre glass moulding who can make a pair of suitable moulds using a pair of good wings as a former/ template.

Then dozens of GRP wings can be replicated, sprayed and then bolted on.

The mould may have to be modified to allow the metal wing to be withdrawn from it, other wise it could be trapped.

I assume the outer wings are not part of the structural integrity of the vehicle, but this would have to be checked.


Who remembers the all in one mini GRP fronts, in the 70's, what a piece of junk they were.


What held the front subframe with engine to the body is magic...
The inner wings wern't up to it on their own.:doh


Just a thought...


best regards
Rustic

 

[firebobby]

Any luck?, I was on another site and came across a bloke called Datman, he sells on ebay and he looks like his has a few bits and bobs, this is his ebay listing number 320485512591.

 

[spinna]

Due to losing a friend a few days ago ive not given the rust issue any thought, but will update when i can. Thanx again for your help guys:thumb2

 

[spinna]

My neighbour is going to weld the sill and inner arches for me and maybe front wing too if i cant get another one:thumb2

 

[CliveG]

My neighbour is going to weld the sill and inner arches for me and maybe front wing too if i cant get another one:thumb2

Just looking on a site here in France,someone breaking a 2.8 GR,interestingly enough he has got polyester front wings.The car looks better than mine and he's breaking it!:doh

 

[spinna]

Priced up new wings from Nissan - special order and over £300 each so if someone is making fibre glass or plastic ones I may be interested

 

[spinna]

Bump

 

[mymini007]

Looks about the same as mine, I am too scared to take the arches off to see whats underneath :doh

I have a welder, so if I have to I will repair it, but hopefully (it feels solid) it may be rust treatment and repaint.