Rear Arch Replacement, To weld or bond?that is the question

Post by **high_tower** » 29 Sep 2008, 11:12

I'm in the process of replacing the rear arches on my t25. I've cut away all the excess metal and I'm now in the process of fitting the new tall arch. Where the previous arch was I've made a long L shaped bracket that runs along the entire edge to provide a new inner arch. And something for the new replacement panel to mate up against.

My problems is I don't know whether to plug weld the inner arch to the outer panel and risk warping the panel or whether to use some sort of adhesive seam sealer and bond the two panels together with the help of a rivet or two till hold the panels firm till the adhesives cured.

Any ideas would be more than welcome.

Cheers High_tower

Post by **dugcati** » 29 Sep 2008, 13:33

Drill a series of small holes and plug weld em - as long as they are small holes (around 5mm diameter) then you'll be fine.

Post by **high_tower** » 29 Sep 2008, 13:41

cheers was just a little worried i'd warp the panel.

I'm going to plan to rivet the panels together drill the holes and weld. hopefully the compression from the rivets will stops any movement.

thanks for the help.

Post by **jamesc76** » 29 Sep 2008, 13:47

Drill the holes in one pannel first then weld the two together!

Post by **high_tower** » 29 Sep 2008, 13:51

ok.

cheers.

Post by **jaylo264** » 29 Sep 2008, 20:08

am planning to do both , when i finally get time to finish my arch-- a couple of 5 mm holes made with my frost holer / joggler , thru the old metal, glue (evostik metal weld ) on the rest of the new arch joggle , glue it first while held in place with wood battens out to a big beam running along me carport --(like up against a neighbouring vehicle) -- then plug weld when glue cured, say 2 days later .
i thought i`d then push some homemade channel sections in from inside van to act as inner arch , with glue again on flangy bits .

jaylo