Panel repairs - cut in new steel or replace?

[hollow]

I am receiving conflicting professional opinions so I want to widen the poll!

The scenario:

My near side rear quarter section had a previous filler repair on the wheel arch that was subsequently knocked and allowed rot to set in. There is some seam rash around the arch and along the top of the panel, but the rest of the panel is solid.

I have been offered 2 solutions..

1. Cut out rotten section on the arch and replace with new steel, minimising disruption to the factory seam weld

2. Replace whole section with schofield replacement panel.

What do other members think is the best approach for repair?

[Plasticman]

post a picky up, but if you have visible seam rash then you either remove all the rot and then repair accordingly ,
mm
where are you based

[hollow]

here you go mm.. i am in oxford - a fair way from you .. but i would value your opinion..

to me it seems the seam rash is superficial... it is occurring to a similar extent on other seams, and there is little to no sign of it on the inside of the panel. I certainly wont be replacing all the body panels to sort the other rash out .. the question is whether this one deserves to have special treatment..

[boatbuilder]

Doesn't look too bad to me. I would grit blast it really well and rake out the seam and treat with vactan or similiar before welding in any necessary repairs... I wouldn't necessarily weld in a new arch just yet.
Hard to know what the underlying metal is like though when it still has paint and filler on it.

[hollow]

thanks for your advice bb.

[Plasticman]

Hard to be certain from the one picky, but that seam looks to be partly made / cut into filler, eitherway you have nothing to loose, grind,sand , whatever, remove all the mess from the arch and go into the seam but not up the wing above and see what is there (or not)same at the bottom, go down to the last vertical fold/lip that joins the inner sill,
and a few more pickies then or even now would help,
Ah Oxford, that place where most of the politicians are taught to lie and wheedle..(of all parties)
mm

[jimpainter]

it definatly looks like a lot of filler in that area. It could clean up ok , but it might be really bad. That filler is hiding something obviously but your not going to know until you clean it up.

[hollow]

quite right chaps... filler in the seam.. its coming off.

Cheers

mm - oxford does indeed have its quota of apparent do-gooders with devious self-preserving alter ego.. fortunately it doesnt rub off!