rear panel replacement

So after stripping down the rear panel I noticed it wasn't sitting right. After a bit more investigation it appeared that it had been taken off and put on again badly, with bits of weld not doing much and the alignment was shocking. Plus added rust as it hadn't been sealed properly.

I've removed it and managed to to keep most of the original flanges, i think, and the new one has arrived.

I've removed all the rust with wire brushes and treated it all with weld through primer.

So what's the best way of tacking the rest of it?   Anyone got any pics with the rear panel removed so I can check if the all the flanges are still there?

Cheers

Ian

 

Do a search on user "hairyarse".  He had a pic on hear a few years ago showing the rear panel removed iirc
 

Thanks mate

Hairyarse  can you help me out mucker?

Hi borednow - so sorry for the late reply!!!

This link should take you to it - https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=projects%2Fyour-mk1-golfs_2%2Fat-last-hairys-resto&start=160#post_905293

If not, it starts on page 9

Let me know if you need any more help - it was only 8 years ago so I should remember!! lol  

Hairyarse  You're a gent. Thanks for the help

Looks like my flanges are a bit more moth eaten than yours.

I also had to do the same repair to the wheel well. Although perhaps not as well as yours!

Just out of interest when you welded the new panel in, did you start at the bottom or the top?

My panel seems to fit well at the bottom and because someone has been in there before they've made a mess of the top area (where the C pillar joins to the boot flange) there may have been too much material cut out before, this means I have no reference points as to where to start (if that makes sense).

Do you have any close ups of this area by any chance?

By the way is it finished yet?  

Cheers Ian

borednow said

Looks like my flanges are a bit more moth eaten than yours.

That made me snigger Ian, I'm such a child!!  

From memory when I fitted it, I just put half a dozen or so tack in around the panel so I could then check the fit of the tailgate and rear lights. I had done the same when I clamped it and I think it worked out just fine.

Then I think I just went mostly on the flange of the boot floor, welding from inside the boot.

The C-Pillar to rear panel area was a bit of a nightmare for me - it still needs some finishing off now! I'm sure the panel I took off was original and I didn't cut away any steel, just removed welds, but there seemed to be a bit of a gap between the two. Also, due to the rubbish MIG set I had at the time I did burn a few holes through.

I'll see if I can find some old pics for you

And no, it's not finished!!    

These may help?

First off you can see from the outside on the top corner where it's a bit messy - I still need to tidy this.


…and from the inside, you can see the little plate I welded on - it's not pretty so will need tidying, plus there's still a bit of a whole to fill



Maybe these will be jobs I'll leave for the body shop to do - when it eventually gets there!!

Perfect! Thanks Andy.

It confirms that my panel is the same as yours with the tabs on the inside of the new panel that land on the inside of the C pillar bit.

You've also got the little strengthening tabs in there still to so that's good.

Mine seems to fit very similarly to yours so I must not be a million miles away.

Those extra piccies really helped a lot.

Just got make my flanges a bit more presentable! After all can't let the old girl go out with minging flanges      

Cheers

Ian

Enough of this flange talk, I can't keep my tea in my mouth!!  

No worries Ian. It's a shame you're not closer to me (Peterborough) to take a look at it. But that said, you're still welcome any time if it helps for comparison

Thought you'd like that comment  

Thanks for the offer. I might just pop in one day. You've invited me now, you fool! I'm like a Vampire  

borednow said

Thought you'd like that comment  

Thanks for the offer. I might just pop in one day. You've invited me now, you fool! I'm like a Vampire  

No worries mate, welcome any time!