26 replies to this topic

[pump]

As the title suggest my passenger side quarter panel has an odd shape to it. The drivers side has been replaced but the passenger side is origional i think. I took some pics, heres the first one i uploaded. (Stupid slow samsung galaxy). The qtr panel defo had some sort of arch on it. I susspect sports pack. Would this account for the odd shape.

Any ideas? Cheers in advance.
Ian

[skoughi]

Lol! Mine is like that too! As my old heap of a clubman is, well an old heap then I put it down to some damage in the past. I'm not too worried about mine as I'm going to be fitting some arch trims, either grp 2 or 5, and these might come up to the top edge of the "dent". When I get to that stage then I will be grinding off the paint on the rear quarter to see if there's any filler, might be worthwhile doing the same and to check if there's any evidence of any repairs in that area and if you're fitting some arch trims then stick them on and see if you can get away with fixing it!

[pump]

Thats the odd thing, no damage anywhere near it, its as if it was purposely made like that from the factory. Theres no ripples in the metal anywhere near it. I was wondering was it a particular special edition that had these odd qtrs to take special arches or some thing??

[pump]

Another slightly different view.

[skoughi]

Yeah, same as mine! The bugger with mine is it's formed too much of a bulge between the rear arch and the door so the rear quarter, door and a-panel/wing aren't lining up in a smooth curve running the length of the car so I'm going to have to try and remove that bit. If there's no evidence of any damage elsewhere then I don't know why it's there! My clubman is 1973 vintage so it's defo not a special edition!

[pump]

Is it the same on both of your quarters? or just one.

[sonikk4]

Now don't quote me on this but i have seen an SPI with exactly the same damage and i believe it was caused by the wider wheels impacting on the arch (think lowered suspension here)

[skoughi]

Ahh! My old clubby had ten inch wheels when I bought her but I would say that she was lowered so that could well explain things on my car. I'm planing to fit sportpack 13" wheels so I may have to have her up in the air or maybe have to tub the rear arches, not more bloody welding!!! Thanks for switching on the lightbulb sonikk4!

[sonikk4]

Tubbing is the way forward there i think. I do wish we had followed somebodies advise when i was doing the work on Erm. Still time will tell.

[Yoda]

Now don't quote me on this but i have seen an SPI with exactly the same damage and i believe it was caused by the wider wheels impacting on the arch (think lowered suspension here)

Plus 1 on this thought.
Happened to me many years ago when i fitted some extra wide wheels from a Hillman imp on my cooper S and bled some fluid from the Hydro to lower it. I soon put the fluid back to the right level

[pump]

Yea mabe that could account for it. As one qtr was replaced i have no reference if you get me. It just looks so factory though. the qtr panel over the arch lip is more or less straight vertical up for maybe 2 inches then forms an even rounded angle over the whole arch into the usual shape. Im really confused with this!!!

[sonikk4]

The quarter panel is thin material, only 0.9mm thick so a if the wheel was to hit the arch hard say going over a speed hump etc then it would deform. It would not necessarily deform the inner wheel arch or lip as its gone up slightly with the panel.

[pump]

hmmmm, makes sense all right think you hit the nail on the head here. It was prob not noticable until the arch was removed. Thanks. Next question is how do i fix this?? New panel or hammer dolly filler!!

[skoughi]

A new quarter would probably be the way to sort it, but I'm far too tight for that! The top third of the arch would need to have a force applied to it pulling it back down while gently tapping on the ridge of the dent. My first idea would be to fix a welding clamp, the one with the four fingers on it, onto the arch then place a long bar between the fingers and into the shock mount and try and use this to lever down on the arch while tapping on the dent. Unsure if anyone will understand what I mean but I understand it! As I mentioned before, try an arch trim on it, it might end up covering it, thats what im hoping for!

[pump]

Thought i had ya there but no im completely lost. Ha! Hang on no, i think i get you. The bar will come from outside, pass through the clamp and up to the top shock mount and apply down ward force, while tapping the dent in the way along the ridge?