T323 JHB

[sleag40]

Done a thousand miles since purchased - piss poor effort on my part for not getting stuck into it yet! Should be massively easier to do than the grey one was as the only welding job required is that battery tray. Hopefully the original backbox splitting this week will help me towards getting my act together!

[sleag40]

It's out. Been flying round like this today!

[sleag40]

A bit more stripping - and the horror revealed. Worst I've seen - will get pics up when I've removed the fibreglass "repair".

[sleag40]

This is how not to do it - a piece of steel sheet had been shaped and tacked into position. It was then fibreglassed over and seam sealed leaving the rusty remains below to carry on rusting. Shite. Anyway its gone now - proper job to follow!

[sleag40]

My guess is that it was sat out in the weather in Malaysia for years. Must have been sat with the passenger side lower down than the drivers so that the water couldn't get out of the drain hole. It was laid up in 2006 because of this so it only lasted for 7 years use before the battery went South!

[sleag40]

Started moving all my polo crap into the unit today. Just got to shift a load of skyline crap out and the job can properly commence.

[sleag40]

Bought a 1litre cheaply to break for parts. The battery tray is 100% sound so will be removed and grafted into T323 JHB.
Stripped a fair bit today - should be able to start cutting this week.

[sleag40]

Some serious cutting and grinding and its free. Gonna unpick the spot welds now its out as access is much better now. Left a big hole!

[AdzCM]

That's one way of fixing the battery tray haha. Never crossed my mind that it could be cut out completely and replaced. Impressive.

[sleag40]

Wings and bonnet off, then wipers and wiper motor. Removed the remains of the original battery tray - just need to cut the back wall when I get some more discs. Need to cut the back wall of the replacement tray to match where its cut on the car. Should be welding it in this weekend.

[sleag40]

It's welded in now - just need to treat it to some POR15, seam sealer then paint. It was a big old pain in the cock but totally worth it. Big thanks to John Willy for welding skills.

[z3i]

Decent mate! You get the repair panel from vw? Was it hard to drill out the old one? I welded a plate to mine and sealed it in but it's still annoying me, would like to do what you've done
Taylor

[sleag40]

No repair panel available - need to cut a good one out of another car as shown above then unpick all the spot welds to free the actual tray itself. Getting the poxy one out involves drilling and chiselling all the spot welds and cutting the back wall all with very restricted access. Sounds a lot easier than it is! Took about 30 hours including stripping both cars to have access to everything neccessary.

[Etches]

Great job dude! Looks awesome 

[sleag40]

Getting all the shittiest jobs done first - today I have been mostly scraping bastard seam sealer off. My hands are wrecked. Just need to do the other side then the worst stuff is over (hopefully!)