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Holes For Arches Weld Up Or Leave


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#1 JonnyAlpha

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 06:31 PM

Hi;

 

Before we started work on our Mini it had a set of plastic Arches Fitted, a couple of them were snapped so we ditched them. I am about to paint the inside of the Boot but before I do should I weld up the holes around the Arches from where the Plastic Arches were screwed on.

 

I will probably be fitting Arches again but at this mo I am not sure what type and don't know if the existing holes will be of use?

 

I am in a bit of a quandry if I weld them up and paint, I may have to drill again into good bodywork :-( but of I leave them they may not be in the correct place??

 

What do you reckon?

 

 



#2 Ben_O

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 06:34 PM

Defiantly weld them up while you are in a position to if you are not sure which arches.

 

You can always re-drill the holes

 

Ben



#3 Ben_O

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 06:35 PM

Just watch for heat distortion which can spread up the quarter panel easily ruining it



#4 stevearch0

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 06:39 PM

How about chemical metal? Used it to repair engine casing on my old lambretta. Three years and still no leaks.bloody hard stuff and resistant to water/rust

#5 Daz1968

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 09:00 PM

Just put some copper behind and weld them up shouldn't cause to much distortion and can be dressed flat, I did same on my mk2

#6 alex-95

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 09:09 PM

I would weld them up, just have a wet rag around it to help stop distortion.



#7 JonnyAlpha

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Posted 01 September 2014 - 09:45 PM

Thanks fellas, looks like I'll weld them up :-)



#8 maccers

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Posted 03 September 2014 - 01:13 PM

I had all 4 corners welded up when car was being re-painted and converted from 13*7 to 10 * 4.5's. Definately worth doing if you are re-painting anyway.



#9 ibrooks

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Posted 08 September 2014 - 09:15 AM

Well I'd fill them in but I wouldn't risk welding - it's amazing how many professional welding jobs have obviously had it done and you can see the little row of pimples where the panel has distorted. Saw a Jensen Interceptor recently with an obvious row of spot welds around the arch - the owner wasn't aware until they were pointed out to him and he'd spent a good portion of the value of my house on the restoration. In the bodywork man's defense it is nigh impossible to eliminate this type of thing and it probably needed the new arch so there was no alternative. But in your case....

 

I usually fill them with a good quality filler but I bond a metal plate on the inside first. That way whatever filler you are using doesn't just fall out or leave something resembling a worm cast on the inside of the panel. I've done it with un-used arch holes on Minis and on many other cars on un-used holes where trims or rubbing strips have been removed (often on doors and it doesn't show after many years of slamming). The plate bonded on the rear also means there's very little depth of filler so any effects of it shrinking are minimal.

 

Iain



#10 Midas Mk1

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Posted 08 September 2014 - 09:32 AM

As said, welding them is fine, done it several times with no distortion! 



#11 JonnyAlpha

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Posted 08 September 2014 - 04:17 PM

All welded up, thanks guys.






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