Club 80-90 Forums

My pickup's been running around for months now with a temporary patch to the panel above the rear o/s wheel, which was fitted last year at Pete M's. We were just going to plate a rusty patch on the panel, but when we opened it up we could see the vertical brace behind was badly holed so decided to replace that. I've finally got around to finishing the job off. The panel itself is deleted, but I got and Aircooled one off Gunzl £40, and modified that.

Pete was busy yesterday but kindly left me use his workshop, and I completed phase one of the job which is to remove the old panel and make good. I was expecting horrors inside, but the aside from the brace, the rest of the steel was sound, so less welding will be needed than I feared. Next weekend we're planning to weld in the new brace, and permanently fix the panel which is currently held in with self-tapping screws.

Right, all done bar waiting for the paint to harden so I can rub it down. Very lucky with the weather here, dry all weekend apart from a light shower overnight.

After a thorough prep of the surrounding area, the replacement brace was trimmed to fit and welded in place. The new panel was fixed with a number of carefully placed plug welds (thanks Pete). After a base coat of etch primer, the seams were sealed with Sikaflex 221. The inside was coated with Dinitrol 3125 brown wax. Today, the primer was given a final fettle and rub down, then finished with a couple of cans of L90D.

That looks good with the extra vents What you gonna put behind them?

Not decided yet, but good to have the option. The extra vent was an unplanned bonus of using the Aircooled panel.

I was thinking of putting the oil cooler rad there but I've been put off this by a certain chap who sells cooler kits which has the rad at the front. The charge cooler rad is already at the front so a bit tight for space.

I read somewhere theres a reasonable flow through the side vents due the pressure differential side to rear when at cruising speed. What do you reckon ?