Front wing (fender) changing

[Doug Zielke]

Rob,
I did get your e-mail, I'd just like more details as to where I can order a set from. Maybe someone can post the article you mention (page 39, June 2001 911 & Porsche World.)


If anyone from the UK can help me get more info I'd appreciate it.

[Paul Franssen]

Hi guys,
Well, I remembered this post and, since last Saturday, my '88 Carrera is at the workshop. I'd noticed the fore/left garage jack support was sorta collapsed, so I wanted to get that done before it got any worse. Well, the shop phoned me to come and have a look, and (they'd removed the panel covering the rocker panel, so that the oil tubes were visible), so I did. Plenty of rust. So, the front fenders were removed. Today I went back to see. What a bleedin' disaster area! I may get pictures later today, and when I do, I'll post them. Plenty of rust holes in spots quite similar to the pictures of Rob Justice. Even though my wrench claims this is very unusual, I have a nagging impression that it is not uncommon, and -please read Roland Kunz's comment- I commend any "galvanized" Porsche owner to -at all cost- closely monitor the advent of rust. Problem is, it's invisible to the eye unless you take off the "outer skin"! But is it ever scary. I'm now facing yet more $$$ ... and must move forward, no way to go back!

[89911]

Ditto on the wheel wells of 911's being dirt and debri traps. While stripping an 87 coupe for track conversion, we came across piles of fine dirt/mud/grease/stone/track tire rubber lodged in the front quarter panel directly below the headlight. No wonder these cars rust in these areas. This crap gets wet and then holds moisture against the body for extended times. I would recommending blasting this area with a pressure washer if your not able to mechanically reach this area. Your wheel may need to be removed or turned inward. You'll know you've hit it when the junk starts falling. Just make sure your car can dry adequately by taking it on a short run in dry weather. It would be nice it they would of made a small plastic liner to stop this from recurring.

[GeorgeM]

Wow, I had no idea an '80s Carrera would rust that much. I s'pose I had that galvanized false sense of security as well.

What kind of "traffic film remover" did you use to clean the wheel wells? That's an amazing result.

What a great project to look forward to when I return from deployment. The list has begun.

[Siena911]

Hi Rob

I am in a very similar boat, except not as adventurous as you, I will have to get someone to do the welding on mine. My front wings are in a bad state, around the headlights and filler cap etc. It is a project thats going to be done soon (was planned for Feb but just got a "$!"£% tax bill).

I am just curious as to where you sourced the wings from in the UK, did you get new ones or did you go for good secondhand ones or have you not done that yet? Someone described good second hand ones as being scarcer than rocking horse manure.

Anyway good luck with the project, its going to look fantastic once its done.

Cheers Jakes.

[rob911]

Originally posted by GeorgeM
Wow, I had no idea an '80s Carrera would rust that much. I s'pose I had that galvanized false sense of security as well.

What kind of "traffic film remover" did you use to clean the wheel wells? That's an amazing result.

What a great project to look forward to when I return from deployment. The list has begun.

I am going through this pain as well and have been in touch with Rob Justice. I didn't want to buy 30 litres of traffic film remover, and I am cheap so I used washing detergent (like for your clothes). It needed a bit of brushing to get it going but similar results - including the rust .

Fenders coming off soon -

[rob911]

Originally posted by Doug Zielke
Rob,
I did get your e-mail, I'd just like more details as to where I can order a set from. Maybe someone can post the article you mention (page 39, June 2001 911 & Porsche World.)


If anyone from the UK can help me get more info I'd appreciate it.

I can put the article up at the weekend, better than finding more rust on the 3.2

edit:must learn to spell

[Paul Franssen]

So, looks like the "3.2" world is coming to the realization that, after all the "galva dain't rost" hype, it appears that's yet another balloon being pricked... Truth hurts (but it's necessary!).

There are some pretty scary pictures in this thread The problem is, as Roland Kunz and Poul Franssen said, that this is by no means unusual.

I had my front fenders replaced due to rust too (1984 Carrera 3,2). And my door jamb panels were quite rusty as well although not as much as the car in the picture. I had new panels fitted since that was the only option. Had I been able to afford so I would have replaced the whole rear fender on both sides.

I guess 16-20 years of age is where a 911 starts to show signs of decay.

[kepperly]

rob,
i,ve got to find some of that stuff you sprayed on your inner fenders. does the "traffic film remover" have a local manufacturer?
thanks keith

[rob justice]

Sorry for the delay - spent a couple of weeks working away from home and so no e-mail access. The stuff i sprayed in the underside is just your typical traffic film/engine cleaner. I bought it from a local motor factor (Partco) and it cost approx £20 for 5 gallons - i have tried a couple of different brands and they all work the same.

[Paul Franssen]

Inner liner fenders, here's the website

http://www.lokari.de/

I'm going to have a good look at it, and maybe order it. Keeping you advised.

[rob911]

Paul

Keep us posted I will be most interested, there is no way I am dealing with corroded wings, lights and bumpers again.
Just checked http://www.lokari.de/english/index.html
Looks quite good at about 110 Euros per pair or approx £132.

Will dig out the article in a mo.

[rob911]

Just scanned the page - smallest I can get it is 500k.

I scanned it on lowest resolution - 75 dpi

Then converted it to GIF format using Adobe PhotoDeluxe.

How can I reduce the resolution/size more?

[rob justice]

Went and did it today big style - ordered 2 x new wings, filler neck mod piese, 2 x bumber bellows closing panels, all new fasteners, washers and wing sealing strip - all genuine porsche - am i skint or what? Just shows you what buying the wife loads of flowers on valentines day lets you get away with.
This lot should arrive in approx 3 weeks so i'll be like a kid on christmas day very shortly........

[rob justice]

Latest photos: - door latch panel completly cut away



New kidney fitted and primed - drilling out rear wing - sill spot welds allowed wing to be 'pulled' back allowing extra 3" of space to work - painful but it had to be done. Sheets are to keep gringing / welding crap from the interior.

[rob justice]

closing up sill end

New panel
Porsche approved method of door gap checking!!!!!
Welding and grinding complete
Primed and finished

[cary]

Great photos Rob.

My 77 Carrera 3.0 has rust in the same spot that Noah has.
Not real bad. So I cut and patched for this re-spray.
Plan to do a total strip in 4-5 years. Then we'll do new rocker panels.

[ronin]

Originally posted by rob justice
View with front wheel removed - check out all that muck - its a haven for salts and all corrosive matters



Sprayed on traffic film remover ant let it soak in for a few mins



20 minutes with the jet wash - its a pity this process hadn't been carried out to the car on a regular basis by any of the previous owners.

(talk about bringing a thread back from the dead) what is that stuff and where can I get some??

[rob justice]

Its Traffic Film Remover - I bought mine from a Motor Factors - cost approx £5 for one liter but it comes concentrated - one liter makes approx 5 when diluted