Rusted out spare wheel well - options?

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aeronotix

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Hi,
Following the thread by Gransin that documented an impressive job on a csi shell, it was questioned what spare wheel well was used as a replacement.
I'll have to replace mine as well, as it rusted out due to a failed tailight gasket.
Any previous discussions on this topic?
I heard of the option of using a e24 well. Is it a good solution?

Any other option available?
Question for Gransin: does Ford Mondeo Wagon come with wood grain on the sides? :)
 
aeronotix said:
Question for Gransin: does Ford Mondeo Wagon come with wood grain on the sides? :)
Click to expand...

Sure they do! :mrgreen:
8yubeg.jpg
 
The E24 spare well will also hold an Alpina 16 inch rim. The downside is that you would see it from behind.
 
Nicad said:
The E24 spare well will also hold an Alpina 16 inch rim. The downside is that you would see it from behind.
Click to expand...

Nothing that a pair of well placed truck nuts couldn't help steer the eye away...
 
Anyway - back to the point..!

After this slight digression (though entertaining)
There may also be a solution proposed by bmwclassicparts.com
There is a repair kit available.
Anybody of you know if it's good or not?
My E9 is a '74 so getting a $700 well that will need to be cut to fit seems wastefull..
Any thoughts?
 
If you have pinholes, a well executed repair using the right prep, POR15 and fibreglass cloth will last for a decade or more on a well stored car. I have some repairs on my Corvair that are 16 years old and it lives outside.
 
aeronotix,

Have you considered an E3 well? You can get an E3 parts car for $800 or less (asking $900 to $100). Although that is more than a new wheel well from another car, there are numerous other interchangeable parts that you could keep for your coupe. If you part it out, you will have a 'free' wheel well.

I almost did this with an E12 based E24 simply to get the leather seats. The seller dropped the ad and stopped taking calls. I was cringing at the though of parting a car, but I'm wishing that I went through with it now.


aeronotix said:
Hi,
Following the thread by Gransin that documented an impressive job on a csi shell, it was questioned what spare wheel well was used as a replacement.
I'll have to replace mine as well, as it rusted out due to a failed tailight gasket.
Any previous discussions on this topic?
I heard of the option of using a e24 well. Is it a good solution?

Any other option available?
Question for Gransin: does Ford Mondeo Wagon come with wood grain on the sides? :)
Click to expand...
 
Walloth and Nesch are having a special on e9 wheel wells now, though it may be for the desperate at 359 euros plus shipping.
 
I pay 100 for e24 part from salvage yard and make the well 2" deeper to fit newer wheels
 
sfdon said:
I pay 100 for e24 part from salvage yard and make the well 2" deeper to fit newer wheels
Click to expand...

Don, do you weld in the whole panel or just the wheel well part? If so, where do you put the seam?
 
Just the well.
I'd go look for the seam but the shop is closed for 2 weeks
 
Nicad said:
Don, do you weld in the whole panel or just the wheel well part? If so, where do you put the seam?
Click to expand...

When a friend replaced the well in a 2002 he cut the vertical wall where it meets the curve at the bottom and just replaced the base. He also made it slightly deeper.
 
I think I would like to do that with mine one day. I'll be on the lookout for 6 series well so I can carry a spare Alpina rim. Pretty sure I don't have the welding skills to pull that off neatly though. Haven't had good results with sheet metal.
 
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