What do you think about this approach??

[cudadave72]

A few weeks ago I posted about my dilema on how to go about repairing the rust around my hood hinges. The problem is other than that area my car is still in great shape and a very nice driver. My issue was I didnt want to take the car apart to fix it because that would most likely result in me going overboard and tearing the entire car apart. After weeks of thinking it over I have decided that this fall I would carefully take the front end off the car, pull the engine and replace the entire aprons on both sides. From there I would completely restore the engine compartment so that when I got ready to restore the rest of the car that would already be done. From that point I would carefully put the front end back together and enjoy the car for a few more years. The good news is that I was already planning to pull the engine and have Shady-Dell do some more work to it so I'd be killing two birds with one stone. What do you guys think?

[Challenger III]

Sounds like a good plan... Are you sure you need to replace the entire inner fenders? Patches would be pretty simple if it's only the hood hinge area that needs attention.

[quapman]

I agree with the "patch only" route. No point in breaking perfectly good factory spot welds and spending unneccessary time and cash for two 4 x 4 rot spots.

[cudadave72]

I thought about that but the panel looks pretty easy to replace and there is a ton of undercoating on them.

[73EStroker]

You can buy the patces you need to just fit under the hinge. They measure about 12" x 12".
Not cheap though as they have compound curves which makes them expensive to make

[cudadave72]

The patches dont have the reinforcement made on them. That is the part that is most screwed up on my car. I know I could fabricate those. I studied how the panel is put on and it just seems to me it would be as easy to replace the panel since I would have the fenders off anyways. It also seems there would be less room for era as opposed to cutting the panel and patching it. Plus with my luck I would buy the patches, tear the front down and then find more rot somewhere else. I'm new at this so if my logic is wack please let me know.

[the_engineers]

I'd be pretty hesitant to start breaking factory welds to replace panels that are mostly OK. Most folks on here recommend leaving as much factory metal intact as possible.

[cudadave72]

Point taken. As cheap as the full panels are I'm still going to get them and use what I need out of them.

[the_engineers]

  (I needed the post to break 1800 )

[cudadave72]

(I needed the post to break 1800 )