Job for the pros

Ed reckons that when metalwork needs to be replaced on a top-end Land Rover, it’s a job for the professionals

When it comes to body panels, skill and ingenuity are order of the day

AS Alisdair points out in his Discreet Welding feature (p108) blended weld repairs are an option on chassis welding, having greatest importance when restoring a vehicle to look just as it did when originally built by Land Rover. But when it comes to body repairs, hidden welds are essential if the finished panel and paintwork are to look anything like acceptable. And with the thinner material of body panels, skill and ingenuity are again the order of the day. A few months ago I reported on a minor rust repair I’d made on the rear wheel arch of my Range Rover Sport using a dab of filler, rather than welding. I was delighted with the final paint finish, achieved with good quality aerosols by Jayco. The paint match was perfect and the surface texture just right, but the job was let down a few weeks later by shrinkage of the Isopon P38 filler under the paint. Maybe I’d mixed it incorrectly or the conditions weren’t ideal, but the depression it created looked like a botched repair. By this time, I’d spotted rust coming through on the remaining three wheel arches, so I handed the car to my local bodyshop for a long lasting professional job. And that’s given the chance to supplement Alisdair’s feature by showing some lovely hidden body welding.

Worse than it looks

1 The rust on this right-hand front wheel arch looks no more than a cluster of pinpricks, but the corrosion is right through and needs cutting out.

Deep cut

2 After removing the mudflap for further inspection and cutting out the rust, the surrounding area of the panel was found to be good and solid.

Smoothie

5 Weld penetration and strength allows the steel to be buffed back to remove any signs of the weld profile. The repair is strong, and that curve is perfect.

Class welding

3 A steel insert is attached with a continuous MIG weld with zero panel distortion and full weld penetration. Straight edge will be trimmed to the curve.

Discreetly welded

6 Given an expert paint job and body parts refitted, you’d never know anyone had been there. I’m hoping this 2006 body will be good for another 15 years.

Lip service

4 A trimmed and shaped strip of steel is welded in place to form the inner flange lip. This is typical classic car restoration work.

As with the earlier discreet chassis welding, fusing steel in this way takes a lot of skill and practice to even approach professional standards. But it is the way to go for detailed restorations or to maintain a Land Rover’s body in ‘as new’ condition.