f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Hi all,

I have seen mention a few times of people replacing rusty rear arches on their classics with arches made by cutting up some front wings.

Does anyone who has done this on here have any pictures of the finished job or some in progress pictures please?

A mate of mine has a a garage and a 97 Impreza Turbo 2000 that he has owned since new and now has rotting rear arches. Obviously with the value of the vehicle puchasing new rear quartes isn't an option so I mentioned to him that some of the chaps on SN had used front wings and cut the arches out of those. He liked the idea and as he has a body shop can do the job for little outlay other than the cost of the wings and some paint, but he was just wondering if ayone who had done it had any advice and some pics of the finished article to compare.

Thanks in advance!

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

I would imagine there would be a thousand classic owners watching
This thread develop with interest

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

Why bother purchasing a wing new or SH
Surely if you are able to do the job you can fab some piece's out of steel plate to do the job,it's how I do all the arches I repair

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yeah thanks for that, how about we leave the thread for people who have done what I described to answer the question now?

GpMarty

iTrader: (7)

i think your missing the point prodriverrules is making ,anyone skilled enough to cut pieces from front arches and weld into the rear quarters and make all good is capable of doing that from sheet,ie your bodyshop friend.

The Sheep Worrier

iTrader: (2)

Hopefully what you'll be doing to mine Ryan!!!

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

No problem you sarcastic tw*t

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

Certainly will be Rob

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

classic Subaru Si

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

+1

What a **** mate!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

FFS I asked a question and in chimes some genius with random rambling about patching up cars with bits of bean can.

If my post had said 'is there anyone on this forum who can give advice about patching up my mate's arches with some random off cuts of sheet steel and make a half decent job of it' then it would have been a great response however as my post specifically asked for people who had done the same job a completely diffetrent way to respond it was a waste of time writing it.... and I am being kind there.

My mate is well aware he can patch his car with some steel welded in and shaped etc, but as he pointed out a better idea for future proofing it would be to replace the whole arch and as (according to some on here) the front wing is supposed to have a similar arch to the rear it would seem to me to be a perfectly good ******* question to ask!!!!!

Furthermore If I was after general advice outside of the question I asked I would call the ******* Samaritans wouldn't I?

Now is there anyone sensible out there who would like to respond to my original post ... please?

kirstybumx3

iTrader: (22)

+2

The Rig

iTrader: (13)

well,as he works in a bodyshop, get on with it and write a how to about it to stop all this about front wings being used for the rear arches, i personally believe its an urban myth, lots of talk,but no actual proof its been done !!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

And that Sir is exactly why I posted this as my mate and I are sceptical. He doesn't want to waste time trying it if someone has already done it and found it not to work not to mention that once you have cut the whole rear arch away you are f**ked if you can't get it to work.

Alternatively if someone has done it and it looks good then he is gong to get stuck in.

The fact is I realised that despite mention of it I had never seen any pics of it.... so an urban myth is not out of the question here!

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Why not just catch the arch before goes rotten, rub down rust proof, fill, respray. Cheap done in few days. If done prop won't come back for years

ramboscooby

+3

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

Ill have a go.........


"Sssssssssssss" sucks through teeth and puts on West Country accent................

"Chomping on Pipe" - cant be done, no cant be done see. They is different shapes they is. One not like tuther at all. They totally different..............

Now if they was the same like........... then it could be done............ but as they are not it cant see? "shakes head"

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Agreed, but bit late for that in this case..... you know how the lights at an electrician's house never work quite right

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

Nothing wrong with my lights

spender(again)

iTrader: (1)

I hope the front/rear arch scenario does work - I've spent the last year buying all the front wings in the country!!!!!

craigo

iTrader: (1)

and 4

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

mines been done and yes they do fit . pics of mine resprayed are on here , it's been done 12 months and no bubbles . the secret is the inner arch preperation to stop it rotting through again passangerside wing repairs drivers side rear arch and vice versa. only about 8inchs of the flat part and about 6 of the curve match up and are useable

yabbadoo4

iTrader: (8)

sorry but i agree with the op, why do people chime in with random ****e when he quite clearly set out the question he was hoping to get an answer to? i too was interested in hoping to find out if it had been done as i also heard the tale of using the opposite front wing to cut into the rear as its a good fit.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Cheers mate and a useful, intelligent and relevant reply at last. That is great news, I will have a search for the pics.

k9tut

when i cut the rust out of my arch, i fitted in an audi a3 front wing arch it was a good fit with a little tweeking. got photos somewhere

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Exactly Not rocket science is it and I did word my question pretty specifically!!

k9tut

oh yeh dont be tight on cutting out your inner arch, get rid of all the rot

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Cheers for the reply, have you got any pics of the finsihed job? Which series of A3 please?

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

just remember only part of the arch fits as i mentioned
http://mob1042.photobucket.com/album...ion2011079.jpg