Rear Wheel Arch Repair and Door Gaps After Restoration

[peterjfox69]

Here are a few more photos of the arches and doors following on from my previous post called Rear Wheel Arch Repairs.

Any idea on costs to do the rear wings and recommendations as to where to go?

IMG_0989.jpg IMG_1004.jpg IMG_1009.jpg

[APS]

Looks good to me, seen so much worse. The stripe on the door in first pic does not look straight, but I am guessing that is a trick of the light.

[richardthestag]

be nice to have it all in one thread, but I understand why not. The arches on the blue car and the paint look outstanding. The door gaps on your car above look as nice as I have ever seen them. Commonly there is a mismatch between SOCTFL door skins and generic stock front wings. The fault is with the wing - door edge profile, near the top.

For the rear wing, there have been a few odd panels made over the years and even odder restorers who get it all totally wrong. Not saying that your car looks odd, because I am not sure it does from the photos, but if you do look at the it and think "that doesn't look right" then it may not be! It also may not be the restorers fault as they are dealing with the best that they can get. Colour makes it tricky to see whether there is an issue or not from the photos.

What I might be inclined to do is find a friendly stag owner who has arches that look fabulous. stick a stripe of masking tape vertically from the centreline of the hub, then use a profile gauge to record the shape from the arch lip to the top of the wing. plastic foot long tools are available. you also use a spirit level to ensure you are on the vertical. Transfer the shape to a piece of hardboard and compare against your car.

There are few things worse than spending a load of money and not getting what you want. But be sure that it isn't before pursuing any claim.

[trunt]

Maybe in pictures the profiles on a dark car look more obvious than a white car? As Richard says I would do those measurements first.

[peterjfox69]

26EBE5B3-5F47-487C-B926-F319D73A1B9F.jpg 1E463BCC-BFB1-4306-B553-F851CA4C2B76.jpg 75576EB1-7EF6-4859-9D4D-59905F0AAEA8.jpg

be nice to have it all in one thread, but I understand why not. The arches on the blue car and the paint look outstanding. The door gaps on your car above look as nice as I have ever seen them. Commonly there is a mismatch between SOCTFL door skins and generic stock front wings. The fault is with the wing - door edge profile, near the top.

For the rear wing, there have been a few odd panels made over the years and even odder restorers who get it all totally wrong. Not saying that your car looks odd, because I am not sure it does from the photos, but if you do look at the it and think "that doesn't look right" then it may not be! It also may not be the restorers fault as they are dealing with the best that they can get. Colour makes it tricky to see whether there is an issue or not from the photos.

What I might be inclined to do is find a friendly stag owner who has arches that look fabulous. stick a stripe of masking tape vertically from the centreline of the hub, then use a profile gauge to record the shape from the arch lip to the top of the wing. plastic foot long tools are available. you also use a spirit level to ensure you are on the vertical. Transfer the shape to a piece of hardboard and compare against your car.

There are few things worse than spending a load of money and not getting what you want. But be sure that it isn't before pursuing any claim.

Hi Richard,
Thanks for your reply. Only five images per topic unfortunately.
Here are a few more pics. Looks like bit too much filler to me compared to the same wing before it went into booth.
The Blue Stag is coming back to the restorers so we can compare both then. I think maybe a bit too much spray filler before painting? Maybe they used different panels? I'll know more in a few weeks.


The BF9F3C8F-D1C4-424A-A9C0-D59E7BFA882E.jpg

[trunt]

I see what you are saying, here’s mine. It’s about 10-12 mm out to the edge of the lip from the top line of the tape


E5F29A77-510D-4861-BA4F-F766122998B1.jpg

[peterjfox69]

Looks good to me, seen so much worse. The stripe on the door in first pic does not look straight, but I am guessing that is a trick of the light.

Nope, it’s wonky, another thing that needs sorting.

[peterjfox69]

I see what you are saying, here’s mine. It’s about 10-12 mm out to the edge of the lip from the top line of the tape


E5F29A77-510D-4861-BA4F-F766122998B1.jpg

It’s definitely not as good a panel as yours but even so, the replacement panel on mine has definitely lost its definition somewhere in the process.
Thanks for your comments.
Now the fun begins…

[trunt]

11A4B39D-64E2-4DC3-B05F-43650B179A02.jpgHere’s a wider view, both taken from the rear of the car..

[trunt]

It’s definitely not as good a panel as yours but even so, the replacement panel on mine has definitely lost its definition somewhere in the process.
Thanks for your comments.
Now the fun begins…

Mine is original panels and has very little filler if any at all.
I know because I did it!

[peterjfox69]

Mine is original panels and has very little filler if any at all.
I know because I did it!

Original panels have way better arches.
I’ve spent so much money on this it’s just so very disappointing and stressful!
I’m hoping they see sense and do the right thing otherwise it is going to be a bit a long journey…

[peterjfox69]

Mine is original panels and has very little filler if any at all.
I know because I did it!

Thanks for the feedback. Classic cars!

[jbuckl]

I don’t know how much was spent on the white car body repairs….. it has some bearing on what can be expected.
However the profile of the rear lip wing is poor.

The blue car does look like it was done in another place or with different panels or by a different panel beater. Far closer to ‘correct’

My car had inaccurate rear repair panels fitted but the final result was much closer to original shape than those.

the coach line is a tell tale about the place too.

can’t really tell how bad the door fit is.

mk1 & mk2 door on the same car sounds mad / unusual / unique or couldn’t care less / don’t know any better.

sometimes a
n experienced / reputable marque specialist is worth the extra.

sorry to say.

hope some resolution is forthcoming.

[peterjfox69]

I don’t know how much was spent on the white car body repairs.
However the profile of the rear lip wing is poor.

My car had inaccurate rear repair panels fitted but the final result was much closer to original shape than those.

the coach line is a tell tale about the place too.

can’t really tell how bad the door fit is.

mk1 & mk2 door on the same car sounds mad / unusual / unique or couldn’t care less / don’t know any better.

sometimes a marque specialist is worth the extra.

sorry to say.

hope some resolution is forthcoming.

They have used too much spray filler by the looks of it.

Coach line is a joke!

Mk1 door v MK2 a tad annoying but it’s the lock that’s different.

Believe me, spent proper money with a specialist to be mucked around as well!

The joys of classic cars…

[peterjfox69]

I don’t know how much was spent on the white car body repairs….. it has some bearing on what can be expected.
However the profile of the rear lip wing is poor.

The blue car does look like it was done in another place or with different panels or by a different panel beater. Far closer to ‘correct’

My car had inaccurate rear repair panels fitted but the final result was much closer to original shape than those.

the coach line is a tell tale about the place too.

can’t really tell how bad the door fit is.

mk1 & mk2 door on the same car sounds mad / unusual / unique or couldn’t care less / don’t know any better.

sometimes a
n experienced / reputable marque specialist is worth the extra.

sorry to say.

hope some resolution is forthcoming.

Blue car done by the same guys! Better panels by the looks of it.