Back on the spit with a bit more of the task on display. Some days I wonder why I didn't take up the guitar or bowls as a post-retirement interest. Today is one of those days
Chasing up a few welds to finish off the back rails and rear cut and then back to a normal stance with a few supports in place underneath so as to do the inner sills and attached rusty bits. Unfortunately there is quite a bit to do on both sides.
Some fairly ordinary rust work done today. 3 layers to make, and an extra piece to make and attach once I can crawl back inside the tub. Fortunately it will be all hidden by seam sealer and sound deadener/ underbody tar. 2 more of these repairs to go: middle and other side.
I know I'm the slow one in the group but:
How do you fix the bottom of the rear quarter panel to the outer sill on a ute? I assume its attached to the outer sill.
How do you replace outer sill on a ute with rear guard/rear quarter panel in place?
Photos are of the ugly mess in front of me
I've been pondering this task on my van the whole time I worked on the ute. Latest idea is mock sill in place, mock quarter panel repair section in place, tack together, remove and lap weld from inside. Then fit assembly as one, finally lap welding repair section top to body, and stitch top of outer sill to floor edge from inside.
I'm not sure this is the way I will go yet, or the last lap weld. I purchased repair sections from Retro Spares for the quarter bottoms which have a pre-pressed rebate for lapping. Given my previous experience doing this with left lower guard repair on the Ute I would at least weld the entire length of the join on the outside face and dress back.
FB ute driver, EK van project
getting my FB ute on the road
EK van on rotisserie
Thanks Clay, welding rust patch panel to sill and then install sounds like a plan. How would you replace a sill if you weren't doing any work on guards though?
The parts panel book shows whole qtr panel as a replacement part so they must have been doing it somehow.
I think what you suggest makes good sense and unless someone comes up with something better, I'll give it a go.
I think in that case you would employ a contortionist to stitch it all from the inside and smother with sealer. At least with the van I can get in from the cabin side.
FB ute driver, EK van project
getting my FB ute on the road
EK van on rotisserie
See previous comment re contortionist. If you do the patch after installing the sill you could fix the sill okay, but then you still need to fix the patch. Unless you weld it from the outside and fill the joint.
FB ute driver, EK van project
getting my FB ute on the road
EK van on rotisserie