Quote:
Originally Posted by hreg240
So this evening I intended on toying with the radio some more after I pulled off the plastic trim bits around the sills et al.
I didn’t get round to that because I found some more rust… Conveniently hidden behind the plastic panels and I couldn’t see it from underneath because of the under seal and general location - when I poked around the other day, it felt and looked decent but from the other side was just rot.
Pics:
This patch is on the n/s outer sill
I also peeled the arch off at the same time. I knew the arch was on the way out.
So now the car looks like I just dragged it out of a scrap heap. But, better I find it now than have the shock of the whole back end falling off.
Good thing I’m changing jobs so a) won’t be commuting and b) will have more free time, so I can work on this. |
That was unfortunate, but not in any way surprising Thorne. 240s (and particularly VWWs) often rust in the places you have found: sills, rear arches, rear valance, spare wheel wells, rear door and its slam panel. You may well find the other side is much the same. The good news is that repair panels are available for all of those (because they are often needed of course).
Whilst it is a pity that your daily driver has just become more of a project car than you were hoping for, this is also an opportunity to get it all fixed now - once you have it done you will have a motor car that should last another 20 years (as long as the state allows us to buy petrol in 2043).
Your new job has come along at just the right time. I think you mentioned that you already have a MIG welder and so far there is nothing you have shown us that can't be fixed in stages over 3 or 4 weekends and driven in between. It would be a good idea to have a better look at the sills though, that previous patch looks a bit ominous (
addendum: I've just noticed it is at the front of the sill, not the rear where they normally rust - that isn't good news). If they need changing you more or less have to do them first and then work your way backwards. If it was me I'd think that managing time and cost would be the key to making this project a success. If you got a body shop to fix it the bill would be more than the motor car is worth, but if you manage and execute it yourself the repair panels are probably only £300 to £400, plus a few cutting disks, some wire and gas you might get it done for around a monkey. Then decide what to do about redecoration.
It is also fortunate that the better weather is coming; you should have all it done by the summer. I agree about shelving the alloy wheels for now, this is much more important.
Alan
PS. Notwithstanding the above: I still think those Volvo Aries wheels and tyres in the ad are a good bargain. If it was me (... and I know, it isn't) I'd find the £150 and store then in my spares shed until I got the welding done on the VWW. In my humble opinion the 20 spoke 15" alloy wheels would look really good on a 240, and a new set of matching tyres would cost more than £150. Just the musings of a middle aged man with a beard
