Welding advice

Hi all, I have a disco 1 and it has rotten front inner wheel arches, sills and rear arches. I have access to a garage to do the work but only for 2/3 weeks. I'm not the best at welding and I am disabled (need a new hip and arthritis in the spine). Do you think I would be able to repair it in the time given? Is there any advice you could give me to make the repairs faster?
I really didn't want to have to scrap my disco as I love it to be honest. I can do ok welding myself but I'm not the best.
What do you think?

Take your time and do it bit by bit mate, 3 weeks seems plenty enough to patch it

Ive heard that box section is best to swap the sills.

as iamrobbie says take your time 2/3 weeks is plenty just make sure all joints to be welded are nice n clean and you'll have no problems

forgot to mention get your panels from yrm or easy on panels it's so much easyer than makin your own and they fit. if you use box section for your sills dont forget the blanking plates on the ends the last thing you want is them filling with mud n water

Do you think I should try to patch the front inner arch or replace it?

gazel said:

Do you think I should try to patch the front inner arch or replace it?

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How long is a piece of string?

If you put up some piccies you might get some opinions that are of some worth

blue beasty said:

How long is a piece of string?

If you put up some piccies you might get some opinions that are of some worth

Click to expand...

I'm going down to the garage tomorrow and I'll try to inspect the inner arch's in more detail to see how bad it is. Don't suppose anyone has a guide for repairing the arch's?

btw thank you for all your responses, I'll get stuck in tomorrow and see how far I can get.

gazel said:

I'm going down to the garage tomorrow and I'll try to inspect the inner arch's in more detail to see how bad it is. Don't suppose anyone has a guide for repairing the arch's?

btw thank you for all your responses, I'll get stuck in tomorrow and see how far I can get.

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Not very experienced with Discos but the biggest pain on the inner wing I welded was pulling all the lecky gubbins out the way. That might depend on model though

Patching is fine so long as you can cut out all rot and the rest of the panel isn't doing a credible impression of tin foil. No point in chasing rust and losing

if you look to see how bad they are then cut back to good metal dont try to skimp on it like i say you can get the panels easy enough n just replace what you've cut out, i made mine but i wish i had bought replacements, happy welding

Where abouts are you might help if someone local could see this for them selves.

I did quite alot of welding on mine for this years mot.and did it in 3 weekends on it solid. So 6 days in total. That was stripping back chassis as previous owber wa oild over rust. Sills boot and footwell and arches.

haigy said:

Where abouts are you might help if someone local could see this for them selves.

I did quite alot of welding on mine for this years mot.and did it in 3 weekends on it solid. So 6 days in total. That was stripping back chassis as previous owber wa oild over rust. Sills boot and footwell and arches.

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I live in the west midlands, just outside Wolverhampton. Unfortunately I haven't had much time to do anything today as I have been working on my other car (an old toyota previa), I think it will be Wednesday before I am able to get stuck in.
I haven't even been able to look at the arch's properly yet

how do I get the front carpet out, I have removed the tunnel but the carpet goes under the rear heater blower at the front, Can someone tell me how it comes off because I can't see?
Many Thanks

Take console off and loop carpet over.or cut it out with a knife

i pulled just pulled on mine as much as i could 'n' cut it with a stanley knife when im finished i just poke it back under the centre console with a screwdriver i find it's out more than it's in

Hi. I'm new here but I have the exact same issue. Rotten front inner wheel arches where they meet the bulkhead. I'm handy with mechanics but welding to me is like a new language. Anyone know how much I can expect to pay a garage to fix this.

i know it's not the inner arches but i was quoted £250 to put box section sills on mine so i spent the money on a mig welder 'n' done them myself the trouble with welding is where to stop, at a garage it could end up a money pit buy a mig and learn theres lots on youtube to learn from 'n' you wont regret it plus you'll have a new skill, happy dayzzzz

Just a small update (sorry its been so long but I've been hard at it), I don't think I will be able to finish the work. I have to be out the garage either the end of next week or the week after and I haven't completed one side yet (found out the foot wells were gone also so I have been having to patch those the best I could).
I don't think I will complete it but I won't quit just yet. I have completed a rear wheel arch and drivers side sill with box channel (I'm very happy with how it looks and the work I have done). The problem is I work to slow.
Anyways, just thought I would let you know things aren't looking good

gazel said:

The problem is I work to slow.
Anyways, just thought I would let you know things aren't looking good

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No point rushing a good job - keep your chin up and keep welding.

keep going buddy, can't it go anywhere else after it comes out the garage?

IamRobbie said:

keep going buddy, can't it go anywhere else after it comes out the garage?

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Sorry for the slow response I've been real busy, at the moment it has no where to go no. But I may be able to buy some more time at the garage where it is at. I haven't had my moving orders just yet so..........