Got rust?
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:16 pm
I've been encouraged quite earnestly by rtcb65 to post about the rust repair panels we've been welding into our Subies here. I made the decision a couple of months ago when a friend asked me to make up replacement sections for his son's MY Subaru, that I'd put the effort into making left and right dies for that area. This came about because all MY Subies have a habit of rusting out in basically the same confined area at the bottom corner of the windscreen frame, and since this is a major structural part of the car, it should be fixed properly.
So, over a few days here and there, whilst doing other things including fabricating a new front corner (3 separate layers) for the cab of a motorhome, I shaped and welded some scraps cut out of a bit of RHS house stump, and made a die up for either side of the Subie. New sheet is easily hand formed over the die using hammer, clamps and drifts, meaning there's no real tension in the replacement part, so it'll behave properly if it's caught in an accident.
The finished part fits perfectly, and only needs the thinest smear of surface filler or some spray putty in order to blend it in. The first test piece I made was actually formed from a bit of old Subaru bonnet skin (featured in the first photo).
If anyone needs a new bit of steel for their MY Subaru windscreen frame, even if you're going to get a panel beater to weld it in (if you can find one that can or will do it properly), then give me a hoy and I can knock up the panel for you and post it. Price is $40 per side, or $70 for left/right pair, plus postage.
So, over a few days here and there, whilst doing other things including fabricating a new front corner (3 separate layers) for the cab of a motorhome, I shaped and welded some scraps cut out of a bit of RHS house stump, and made a die up for either side of the Subie. New sheet is easily hand formed over the die using hammer, clamps and drifts, meaning there's no real tension in the replacement part, so it'll behave properly if it's caught in an accident.
The finished part fits perfectly, and only needs the thinest smear of surface filler or some spray putty in order to blend it in. The first test piece I made was actually formed from a bit of old Subaru bonnet skin (featured in the first photo).
If anyone needs a new bit of steel for their MY Subaru windscreen frame, even if you're going to get a panel beater to weld it in (if you can find one that can or will do it properly), then give me a hoy and I can knock up the panel for you and post it. Price is $40 per side, or $70 for left/right pair, plus postage.
