New side skin on a roadsport

[phunterdale]

Does anyone know where I can get a new side skin fitted to an 07 Roadsport? Somewhere Up north prefered.

[rj]

Not quite up North, by Arch will be the best.

[Noger]

Agreed, even if you got someone to transport it down there for you, it will be far better to get Arch to do it. Although there time planning is not always the best, the work is.

[phunterdale]

Thanks for that, I've used Arch before and they do great work, I'm just trying to reduce the hassel of transporting the car down there.

[Fat Arnie]

Fiting a new side skin is not highly skilled. I have fitted both sides to my car.

Its a simple case of (quite a few) rivets to be drilled out, cut the panel where it joins just under the rear wheel arch and rivet the new one on. Then find someone who can aluminium weld to weld it, grind the weld back smooth and paint.

Aluminium welders who can do this are easy to find. Call a few classic car restorers.

This will avoid you having to transport your car the length of the country to Huntingdon.

[phunterdale]

Thanks. What about under the scuttle area? Do you have to remove the scuttle?

[Fat Arnie]

Yes, scuttle has to be removed. Just a few bolts and a silicon bead to slice though (unless you have a full cage)

[phunterdale]

Cheers I'll give it a go.

[Epimetheus]

A little tip . . . . the side of the car, the bit behind the door . . when you bend the ally over the chassis tube, use a piece of wood held on the outside of the car with a couple of G-clamps. You want the wood running along the chassis tube, the top level with the outside of the tube. When you bend the ally, the wood stops the panel bending out below the chassis tube. That's the only 'trick' I know that will help you fitting a side skin, the rest is easy. BTW, do the bending bit last when the panel is in place.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[phunterdale]

Cheers it's a winter job so will be a couple of months yet before I start.