Well, this has escalated quite quickly. Long story short I went to remove a piece of the wrap and it just pulled the clear coat right off with it. This happened even with the aid of a heat gun right from the get go. I knew one of the 1/4s was butchered and needing replacement and that i wanted to undercoat the floor. So i decided to get the entire shell blasted, with the remainder of the sheet metal at a later date.
Shell after media blast and epoxy primer by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
Dodgy 1/4 panel repair attempt 1 by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
1/4 panel drop offs rusted right through by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
Dodgy repair attempt 2 by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
Dodgy repair attempt by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
As it turns out, both 1/4s require replacing as well as the boot floor / tail light panel. So I've ordered basically the entire back half of the car, door skins, twin headlight / RS nose cone and cowl panel. It's a shame so much needs replacement but it leaves me open to do some custom touches to the 1/4s and rockers, as id like to have a bit of functional aero on this car including a large splitter, flat floor panels, diffuser and spoiler.
Going to try and attempt as much of the repair work myself as possible, other than the 1/4s as I'm aiming for quite a high standard with the fit/finish/quality now to match the stout suspension / driveline.
Have begun by removing the cowl panel to repair the inner structure rust on both corners.
Old cowl removed, inner structure repairs required by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
I also received my new outer wheel halves from the states to make the overall size an 18x12, fits with a surprising amount of room to spare with the minitubs.
Forgeline test fit 2 by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
Forgeline wheel test fit by
Jake Baldwin, on Flickr
Now away again for work until late November, then hoping to really get stuck into it during Decemeber when I have some time off. The remaining replacement sheet metal is about to leave the states but I can tidy up the rest of the small areas that need attending too, along with the cowl without having to rush.