front valance behind bumper, cut out and replace with ..

[xpress]

hi there. i have often looked at this area with scorn and wondered if anyone has cut it out entirely. i am talking the horizontal bit that fills up with puddles of water that sits there unless the sun bakes it away or you wipe it dry with a towel.

i am thinking of cutting it out and replacing with something else or leaving it open but not sure of the structure underneath.

has anyone cut this bit out? what's underneath, is it a box section i presume so there's mild steel underneath it albeit the other sides of the box?

i guess alternatives are to cut it out and leave it, which i am not sure is feasible, or cut it out and mesh it, fill and smooth off with fiberglass filler, which shouldn't rust again, or sheets of fiberglass, or weld new metal in.

[bigherb]

It's the deformation panel, part of the safety structure so you don't lose your legs in the event of a frontal collision.

[xpress]

cheers for the info. ok, right. has anyone cut out the full horizontal bit from each sides of the lap joint and the vertical bit that goes from the horizontal bit up to the first swage line, and welded new in? how did you go about it, two pieces? also how many mm was the steel that you used, 9mm?

[fullsunian]

Schofields do a repairs panel for £47, just get that welded in.....

[xpress]

hi fullsunian, is that the horizontal part? or the vertical part?

[fullsunian]

hi fullsunian, is that the horizontal part? or the vertical part?

From nearside to offside, horizontal..the panel that rots out behind the front bumper...

[Plasticman]

Ian I think the s'fields panal is the vertical one that Im making at the moment, it sounds like xpress has an issue with the horizontal flat bit from front panal to first flange on crumple bit.sounds like you want this viewtopic.php?f=38&t=83225&p=7607312#p7607312 after removing the lower front bit you may by the sound of it need to remove the 90' flange ythis abutts then fabricate a new piece to fit flat across the front, then fit the front lower panal.
16-18g steel
mike

[xpress]

Thanks fella. What mm thickness is 16-18g steel?

Mickey could you help me do a pattern for fabbing these bits based on what you have said there's a verticle lip/flange connecting the horizontal bit to the lower vertical bodywork piece?

[CovKid]

This bit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_xCEw0JQ

Its usually the front panel that rots where it meets box section behind bumper. Box section can corrode but usually all thats needed is a clean up of the front panel, cutting out the rot and welding in a bought or made lower section.

If you want to improve drainage in the area, drilll two or more holes into the horizontal section, just larger than a section of steel tube, taking these tubes through both layers so they exit at bottom, then making sure tubes are flush at top, weld them in. This will ensure any water which gathers has at least one or more routes out and doesn't compromise deformation zone in any way.

Notes for this were added to the WIKI today. Cheers.

[Plasticman]

As ^^^^^^^ says, need a picky to see exactly what your refering to,can easy do a template but you can just as easy do it yourself if we show you what to do,
cove, funny but as we speak I a fitting drain tubes to the syncro for this very reason
mike