A while ago i wanted to clean and check the bottom side of my Rover Vanden Plas. I asked my boss if i could use the lifts and that was no problem!
First i sprayed a cleaner on the underside and then hosed of everything. It was not very dirty but the loose stuff was gone.
Of course one hopes not to find rust but i did came across some areas that needed attention. At first i was a bit shocked but then i understood that a 38 year old car always has rust, especially an SD1.
This was the floor on the right side. The left side was almost as bad. On a few places it rusted all the way but the main area was the circle. It looks worse than it was because of the rusty moist that got in and left its colour around the car. Besides the rotted circle there were some holes that i welded shut with a plate or with the welder.
I cut out the circle bigger and made a new circle of fresh steel.
This circle was welded from the bottom. Because fire is a hungry and fast ellement i covered the interior to be sure no fires could start. Also a mate was present so that he could help with pressurized air or a fire hose.
After this is applied a rust preventive primer and sealed the seems with sealent.
Right side:
Left side:
Additional primer so i could apply colour:
Coloured and old plugs re-installed. Every thing was cleaned after all the work.
Because i had to remove the old sound deadening i installend new one:
Bottom side of the welded circles with rust preventive primer and sealer:
Next place was the left rear wheel arch. The edge behind the wheel spat was completely rusted away. I had to make all the parts new.
From the left rear wheel well you could see the inside of the boot.... Not good! Behind the towing eye rust formed.
First i cut open the steel from the boot. After i cleaned the steel properly i applied zink coating on the inside of the outside plate.
After this, i welded a plate and applied rust preventive primer:
After this again used sealer to make sure everything is sealed.
Then i welded a small plate on the outside and coated everything with body coating:
The right, rear wheel well was not as bad as the left one. Wheel edge was fine so only had to weld a plate at the back of the wheel well.
Just as on the left side, rust formed behind the towing eye. Not as big as on the left side but still enough to cut open the steel and clean it properly and apply zink primer:
Making new pannels!
Everything welded up and ready for rust preventive primer:
After this also sealed everything with sealer.
In the left front wheel well there was a mean spot that took some Macgyvering. It all worked and it was welded shut with fresh steel again. Primed, sealed and stone chip body spray applied.
In the right sill there was a weak area that i cut open and welded a new section in. After this re-coated bot sills and painted them.
The old boy looked like this during the last weekends:
Today i removed surface rust from the wheel arches and coated them with rust preventive primer and paint
Looks quite good don't you think?:
All that is left are some details and ad rust preventive wax. Cherry on the cake as you would say it.
1989 Rover 827 Vitesse.
1982 Rover 3500 Vanden Plas.