fiestaturbo.com

[sikora]

You might of seen this up on Passionford but i love you guys more

I'm almost at the stage in my XR2i project where i'll start replacing panels. I'll be replacing wings, sills, rear quarters, front panel and rear valance. I'm a welder by trade to i'm happy to do the work, however i'n inexperianced when it comes to welding cars.

Once i've stripped the panels off and tidyed up any rust i see, am i best getting it all properly painted (primer & topcoat) or will zinc galv spray do? (which i can get from work). another option i have is to use the stuff i'm using on the underside http://www.rust.co.uk/epoxy-mastic.cfm
I dont have a compressor so any painting will be from rattle cans or a tin.
As for the back of the panels i weld on. Is the black paint panels come in good enough to be left alone? I'm sure some of it will burn off near the welds, which i can use weld through primer on. Been told its not good stuff for coating panels with though due to poor adhesion.

Will be using Hadrian panels. Anyone had experiance with these? Been told they're a good fit. Will probably replace the rear quarters to half way up the B and C pillars. I'll butt weld where they join and flatten with a polishing disc.
Once i've finished welding and grinding back, can i use a 2 pack primer to protect the bare metal? I think it was cellulose primer/paint that a bodyshop told me years ago that wasn't good for painting over.

Finally, any other advice or tips you can offer me? I'm happy with doing the welding and know about progressive welding to prevent distorsion. I just need to remember to be a little more delicate than what welding/fabrication i do in work

thanks in advance

Dan

[sikora]

No one on here ever replaced panels

[DanFraser]

I'm planning to replace some panels on my car. What I've read and soaked in is to fully match everything up so you don't get errors. Unless it's genuine ford parts it won't fit perfect. If you're an experienced welder it won't be difficult in the slightest to do car work. Get some metal parts from a scrapyard, say a door or bonnet to practice. Zinc etch primer, use 2 coats. 2 thin coats are better than one, 3 is better than 2 if you have to do 2 coats minimum.

[sikora]

Are you sanding the back of the panels down and etch primering them?

[DanFraser]

I'm painting and sealing the damn lot!

[Dave G fsi]

Put zinc primer on the backs of all my replacement panels mate

[rs_fiesta]

Been a panel beater for over 10 years.
As already said use weld through zinc primer on the backs of panels and the car where you have cleaned up all the flanges.Obviously you are used to welding and when you are doing the quarter cut the old one off and over lap your new one(cut the new panel so that about 2" overlaps)and lign it up with the door and tailgate.When you cut the old one off try to leave markings where it has sat so that you have an idea roughly where the new one should be,any excess old sealer can be scraped off before painting.Like you said you will need to stop and start when welding.When you have a nice gap to weld tac the joint right across and obviously dont just weld 2" then stop then 2"etc else itll end up needing 2 tubs of filler ,then just join up the tacs.
Any more questions just ask.
Matt

[sikora]

when you are doing the quarter cut the old one off and over lap your new one(cut the new panel so that about 2" overlaps)and lign it up with the door and tailgate.

Once lined up everywhere else, just cut through the old and new bits where they overlap?

[rs_fiesta]

when you are doing the quarter cut the old one off and over lap your new one(cut the new panel so that about 2" overlaps)and lign it up with the door and tailgate.

Once lined up everywhere else, just cut through the old and new bits where they overlap?

Yeah,when its all gripped up in place cut through both panels so that you get a nice join to weld,then take the panel back off and take the old bit of panel off that you have just cut through.Then offer the new panel up making sure it fits nice and flush where you are going to weld(particually edges and if there are swage lines on the panel).
Dont forget to waxoil all the penetration inside when you are fitting the car back up.Another tip is to have the car on its wheels and not jacked up when you are welding,makes the panel easier to lign up.