Front pan replacement.........

Airhead · Post by **Airhead** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:14 pm

Got to replace the front pan and fuel tank support on my 912........I have all the information and dimensions of where the suspension mounts need to end up and reckon that I should fabricate a jig that bolts in place first to make sure everything is in the right place to the required degree of accuracy (millimetres).

All the articles I can find on the web though quite scarilly seem to pay no attention to this whatsoever (one guy just wedged it in place with a block of wood before letting rip with the MIG!)

I'm sure I'll manage to work it out anyway but anyone done this or had it done?.........Out of interest how much does it cost to have done by a specialist?.......Got any pics of work in progress or methods used to ensure correct alignment of the front control arm mountings?

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:27 pm

Have a look here

Post by **Bootsy** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:42 pm

Now that's what I call a reply to a question - your site builds all the time Nick, a great resource

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:51 pm

I've got the same job booked in via Nick/Alan in the very near future.
The quote - sorry Estimate is around £1000.
This is for me to have a rusty non roadworthy car taken away & a lovely solid one ready for me to collect around a week later.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Martin

Airhead · Post by **Airhead** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:25 pm

Cheers guys.........Nice site nick! So you managed it without jigging. My car isn't stripped to that level so I wont be turning it upside down but at £1000 to have it done I think I'll be tackling it myself........I aint afraid of much

Airhead · Post by **Airhead** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:13 pm

Okay......next question......where's best to get the panels from. Cheapness is good but they gotta fit! Anywhere in or near Herts I could get them (notice Autofarm is no longer based in Tring

) Barry Curtis perhaps? I see from your site Nick that importing from the States is an option (was worried about panels arriving intact) what was the rate of import duty on panels (I know you gotta add VAT on as well) ?

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:49 pm

I got a cracking deal from Design 911 I think it was £129 +vat

mind that was a few years back and I got it welded in by Dave at Air works at a fraction of the costs mentioned so far. Worth a look at.

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:16 pm

912 UK - Before the costs are presented the wrong way, remember that includes panels, plus the tank support and tank seal which has not been mentioned so far, plus pickup on a trailer and delivery.

Alan.UK

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:08 pm

Alan.UK Who's saying they are wrong. I am not , just saying what route I took when i had the same problem, before the DDK forum.
I think at the time Autofarm wanted upto £2000.

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:44 pm

Alan.UK wrote:912 UK - Before the costs are presented the wrong way, remember that includes panels, plus the tank support and tank seal which has not been mentioned so far, plus pickup on a trailer and delivery.

Alan.UK

YES! Sorry, my fault

.
Not at all well explained on my part. Thanks for elaborating.

Post by **Bootsy** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:47 pm

I've heard £2-£3K regularly quoted by specialists for this repair

gav p · Post by **gav p** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:14 pm

I carried out this repair over xmas. Panels were from Berwyn Services as with Nick's project, and they are pretty good quality. Total parts cost was about £200 including postage.

As far as alignment is concerned, I found that the best method was to measure the locations of all the critical susp mounting screws in the old panel, then use these numbers when aligning the new one before welding.

Also, youre best off hiring a spot welder if you dont own one, makes a really neat job for the joints between tank support and pan...

Airhead · Post by **Airhead** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:36 pm

Okay, yeah I have a spot welder, have to see if I got any arms large enough to go over the tank support though. Any pics of yours in progress?

gav p · Post by **gav p** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:22 pm

No pics at the moment I'm afraid.. Nick's site and dave hillmans 912 site have the best ones I've seen on this subject.

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:53 pm

just reading this through from curiosity !
I ordered some panels from the US- Restoration Design.......
VERY good quality and heavy metal, but i got really stung this end because I had to pay import duty on the box......about an extra £80 !!!!!!!!!!

In the future I should have got them from the UK- at least that way you have an excuse for a nose around a few workshops and get some 'contacts' !!

oh- as for hiring a welder- I did that once, by the time I had paid for loads of cheap gas bottles, plus my own wire, and then the hiring for the welder, I could have bought my own !