Rear valance replacement

[nthomas1]

Hello all - I am considering replacing the rear lower valance on my Series 2 Coupe.  There is rust in places, and I think the car may have had a mild rear end bump at some time and I'm not sure how square the valance and rear panel are, so I may end up replacing the rear panel as well.

Can anybody advise whether replacement could be handled by a competent local body shop, or is it a job that requires specialist jigs or fixtures to hold panels in place while being welded?  Also, when the old valance is cut away, should it be done in such a way that flanges can be made where the valance meets the rear wings, or should the valance be seam-welded (if that is the right term) to the rear wings?

Finally, can anybody tell me the depth of the concave curve on the rear panel, measured at the centre point, (measured from an imaginary line from just below the top flange to just above the bottom flange) .  It looks very pronounced on my car, but that may be normal.  There are some other measurements that would be useful but I'm hoping there'll be some S2 and S3 cars at the AGM so that I can take a closer look, and take some measurements there.

As always, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Scott]

Hi Norm

I don't know how useful will be but since no-one else has replied...

There is a chap in the UK called Dave Ashworth who makes (very good) replacement panels for the Fulvia. If you go to ebay and just type 331857371855 in the search box you can see that he currently has a rear valance for sale under this item number.

These pictures should go some way to answering your questions: yes with the rear bumper removed any competent body shop can weld this in without special jigs. And yes this would be seam welded to the wings to leave a seamless sweep from valance to wing.

Now to the rear panel and again Dave's panel pictures might be useful. Now search for item number 331866882942 on ebay. Yes this rear panel does have a curve at the bottom as it curves to meet the valance; is this what you expected? If you still think you need measurements let me know and I'll try and help by taking them at the weekend.

Regards,
Scott.

[Angle Grinder]

Not sure if it really helps you much, but I had rear valance repairs done on my Flavia and a local (but talented) engineer made the panel sections himself and just cut away where necessary.

[nthomas1]

Thanks Scott and Mike for your input.  I think my valance has been damaged or badly repaired at some stage as the lines that should be horizontal run at an angle.  See pictures one and two below.   Scott, the dimension I was looking for was the depth of the concave curve on the rear panel.  I've measured it on my car and it is 17mm.  I've studied a number of pictures using Google and I think the curvature is probably about right.   See picture three below. 

[nthomas1]

Oops! Forgot the three pictures:

[Scott]

Hi Norm

I've repeated the measurement you asked for against my S2 (which to the best of my belief has the original rear panel and that appears undamaged and unwarped) and I make the measurement 10mm to your 17mm:


As you've already mentioned ... it might be worth getting things checked against other Fulvias at the AGM then you can be more confident ... and in case my panel isn't the epitome of a good reference model!

Regards,
Scott.

[nthomas1]

Thanks for doing that Scott.  I'll do as you suggest and take a tape measure along with me to the AGM.