Hi Seth,

A club member has asked me to reply to you and I will address your question in general. It maybe of help and awareness to other club members who may be considering undertaking panel work or repairing their own cars. The first thing to do in ascertaining any rust repairs, is work out what panels in the general area of repair need repairing and or replacing? There are usually at least two or more in the sill area of a car where rust appears. Often you can't tell until you pull things apart. It is a matter of working out the degree of difficulty to facilitate the repair and whether it is easier to obtain after market replacement repair panels or a need to manufacture them. You need to be able to copy them or have a good eye to manufacture replacement parts if damaged or missing. Don't take anything apart to start with until you have ascertained the procedure for replacement. Then there needs to be a process in disassembling your car. Sometimes the ability to recreate panels is restricted by a degree of difficulty due to other specialised equipment required. The clubs workshops are continuing to grow and expand the range of workshop equipment to achieve it's goals of assisting members with their repairs. We continue to try to assist with most requirements and are becoming more proficient in the process. We are limited by the time available of 4 hours on a Wednesday morning, (but with Covid, nil at present). Most volunteers are also gaining valuable experience on manufacturing parts on some very old cars. Your car is of a more modern era and should be reasonably easy to deal with, but any rust repair work takes time, patience and a good eye. We will look to try and run some more courses like we did last year, if and when things get back to normal. The aim is to neatly replace and make it as good as new. I commend any member who wants to try and achieve results themselves and the sense of personal satisfaction in achieving a good result, is invaluable. I have offered a little insight into the panel shop on the back page of the latest club's Early Auto Magazine. I would welcome you giving me a call on 0412 629 228 sometime and discuss your requirements and the possibility sometime soon of viewing your car and advising.

Rob Calcott

Hi Seth,

We are back in operation at the clubs restoration sheds on a Wednesday morning. The red R/H example you have shown in an attached photo does not appear too difficult to be able to replicate into L/H. I would suggest you might like to come in and let us have a look at it and perhaps guide you with how to achieve a L/H copy and a result that you can work with. Bookings with current Covid requirements are essential and a club requirement. You are welcome to phone me on 0412 629 228 to discuss anything pertaining to repairing your car, or make a booking and come in and view what we are up to with some of our parts recreations. 

Rob 

Hi Paul,

It is a 1973 Chevrolet CanAm which I imported from South Africa. 

The body is essentially a Vauxhall Viva HC Coupe. 

I have managed to get some sills made in NZ. I haven't trial fit them yet but I am hoping the profile will extend nicely into the guard. 

I have since had a 'misadventure' in a Rallysprint and also need a floor section made. I have a mate in Sweden who may have a floor section for me. If that pans out the next step is to find someone with more skills than myself (hopefully learn from) to get it into place 

I have also got a rust repair panel for my Scorpion to put in, and I have the 'flutes' from a GE Sigma that I want to add in for a bit of a custom look.

Cheers,

Seth