martinnitram

I've got my classic wagon booked in for paint at the end of next month, so thought I would make a start on rust hunting around the rear arches and shock turrets to see what state their in.

Only started on the passenger side, but it's not a pretty sight and I'm now undecided if it's going to be repairable.

I'll put photos up and see what people think.

johned

All is repairable but sadly the price can outweigh the value of the car and a few rust bubbles are like an iceberg and when looking at the rear arches also take the trim off and look from the inside.(Only going from my experience).

martinnitram

Yes, ive got the boot stripped out and cars up on blocks to get a good look.

Good news bumper bar is in rot free condition


Arch is what i expected, but the seam between rear quarter and lower valance full of rust that you cant get out


Passenger shock tower showing rust bubbles


Opened it up for a look inside


Put holesaw through side of shock tower to find more rust, it finds its way between the shock tower skin and the inner reinforcing plate, although this cleaned back to shiney steel with wire wheel.



Under shock tower

martinnitram

Cut away the rotten part of rear sill


Rest of sill looks solid, and looking down the inside appears in good condition.

Inside of seam joining rear quarter and lower valance, again nothing you can do to get the rust out of that seam without unpicking everything and pulling it apart


And from the outside, ive pulled the seam back to wire wheel under it as best i can

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for these pictures of what is lurking under the arches of a classic
I have a my00 wagon also
Today I've just Recieved some replacement rear arch panels as I got them off the 20% eBay deal last week netting down to £146 from £179
They seem ok so the next stage will be strip down the inside of the boot to peer inside
I'm sending my beloved Greenwagon to a professional car restorer
Origanally I was going to purchase two wings to be cut away untill these replacent panels came availake
I've got a ball park figure of £300 per side but looking at the work inside with suspension turrets etc it cold be more but it doesn't matter
Replacent sills are availake at £180 a pair although the body shop Said they would check them and replace sections depending what needs done rather then purchase complete new sections
I will also get them to rust proof all parts that will need doing also as I want a top job done so I will be watching this thread with interest as its important we keep the last of the classics especially wagons on the road

johned

Have you looked up inside the turrets from underneath looking especially at the outer skin.

martinnitram

I have a pair of arch panels on order from ebay, £170 a pair for mine though.
I agree with L H, need to try and keep a few more classics on the road, as of yet I'm still undecided with mine, with out taking the shell to bits you just can't get the rot out of the seams and it's going to come back, it's a case of just delaying the inevitable.

martinnitram

Funny you should mention that.
Had a couple more hours this afternoon, and started on the drivers side.
Took the shock off to get right up inside the tower and the top outer skin corner is soft, trouble is unless your taking the quarter off you struggle to get at all the rot in this spot.
The worst rot is always in the awkward corners.

I'll get some pics of what I've found tomorrow and put them up, I'm sure most classic owners will find them interesting.

johned

Great stuff although shocking to most classic owners.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Thats not that bad, wait till you have owned old Vauxhall's, i've spent years fighting rust battles, for a 17 year old car thats not bad. I've had a 14 year old Vauxhall where one rear arch had rusted away, had to fit new one on.

Welloilbeefhooked

iTrader: (3)

My type r had a tiny hole in the rear arch. This is what required to be cut out. The replacement plates were from an OS front wing.

johned

Rust is like an iceberg.

piehole1983

iTrader: (7)

Mine hasn't even holed, just some bubbles and I had to cut as much, if not more out than this. Behind the outer skin was even worse.

johned

So how is it going.

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

Recieved my arches quickly gone back up to £190


I'm not a technical man but got the spanners out



Inspired by this thread got busy


The mrs will twine when this lot is in the spare lounge upstairs in the Westwing


Little bit of rust internally



This worries me as it seemed To be leaking rusty water



The rest if it seems ok



Not too bad in this side


Need a couple of bits if trim for the wheel arches then awaiting a date to go in for surgery
Too nervous to take the sill sections off though
It's an open cheque book job although he did quote £300 per side and I've saved an hour or twos labour by stripping the bits off


The Greenwagon had it for 15 years 6 months

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Nice job, I've been thinking of using fibre glass sheets. And just cutting sections of rear arch out. I was going do a group buy for these last year but didn't seem have any interest.

martinnitram

Unfortunately my wagon won't be back on the road, the cost of paint and repairs will be to much for what I'm prepared to spend on it.
Everywhere I looked there was more rust, mostly in inaccessible places, like the corner behind the strut top (in LH s picture) which, on mine goes through into the inside of the strut reinforceing plate ( structural rot) plus it's in the seams, sills jacking points, it goes on and on.
It could be repaired but the rust will be back and I'm just delaying the inevitable.
So bad news all round, shame as its mechanically excellent.

But on the upside I now have a very nice WRX hawk

martinnitram

Got to admire the open cheque book attitude, yours really is a pretty thing and at fifteen years ownership I can understand you wanting to keep it on the road.

I hope on yours the rust on the strut doesn't got right through as on mine, as I can't see how it can be got at without MAJOR surgery, so the open cheque book may come in handy.
Best of luck with yours.

johned

At least you tried.

martinnitram

Change of fate for my wagon.
The guy who I'd asked to break it for me wants to buy it and is going to run it and repair as he goes, sooner him than me.
I doubt it will be restored though just plated over for a few more MOTs.
I'm having the Revolutions back off it as I got them new and are only 18 month old, and they fit the hawk.

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

A great shame to see any classic go to the Subaru graveyard

Let's hope yours is rebuilt and runs for many happy years

jessej23

im going through the same with my99 had bumper off but the worst is where the seams join on the inside, has inspection camera down the cavity and could see some surface rust, without cutting the outer skin away how can you get in there and treat it! how much is it roughly to get someone to cut a large enough panel away to get right inside the cavity, im based plymouth cheers guys

martinnitram

Agreed, but the guy who's buying it thinks he's got a cheap fix, I've shown him all the bad bits and been upfront and I can't see how you could get mine right for less than £2K