Fixing rocker panel rust - 99 s70

Post by **abscate** » 19 May 2020, 03:45

The fact that every junkyard with a Volvo will have a good rocker panel will tell you this is worth fixing

Cookeh · Post by **Cookeh** » 19 May 2020, 04:39

Not really, it doesn't tell you anything beyond that it is an uncommon fault. Whether or not it is worth fixing depends on the cost of the junkyard panel, welding it in (plus other fabrication or repair needed), plus the resulting bodywork afterwards. It may well be cheaper to get a donor car for the shell, or to even find an alternative car all together.

For what these are worth now, and for how little one can pick them up for (in the UK at any rate), getting a new example would work out several thousand pounds cheaper. Unless you're competent in welding, in which case it would only be a couple of thousand pounds cheaper. There will always be the "better the devil you know" argument, but it sounds like this car is relatively new to you, and perhaps you don't know this particular devil as well as you think...

Post by **abscate** » 19 May 2020, 04:42

Sean has out a lot of refurbinto this car so it makes sense to repair

He also has free parts and access to welding at maker space rates

Finding an S70 manual is hard over here

Cookeh · Post by **Cookeh** » 19 May 2020, 06:19

Always forget about the relative scarcity of manuals over there. Opposite scenario over here, autos are far rarer (but still significantly less desirable!).

Manual 99-00 S/V70 is between £500-1000 here, to provide some sort of reference point for my comments. I suppose the market is more different than I thought!

Post by **smacknab** » 19 May 2020, 06:33

Thanks for all the input everyone. Yeah there were plenty of times where I should've walked away from this car and perhaps this is another one of those times, but I'm gonna try to fix it myself and with the help of friends. The pandemic has given me extra time to work on projects anyway.

The friend/maker-space co-member I brought it too said he had dealt with much worse and poked around and marked exactly where it was and where to cut. We dug at the metal where it meets the rest of the frame and he said it was in good enough shape to be worth it, but close enough to the delta end link point to not put off. He works at a specialty body shop restoring 50/60s Italian cars so I feel like he's used to working through rust as opposed to scrapping the car.

I said I was gonna grab my friend with a welder to help me and he offered to come set me up with some of the prep/first welds. So I feel I have everything in place to tackle this, even if it's not the most logical or won't be the prettiest solution.

Thanks again everyone I'll update as I get to the next step with this!

Post by **volvolugnut** » 19 May 2020, 07:53

My first thought when I saw this area was the repair was not worth the trouble. But now I understand your situation better and agree with your plan. You have a lot of time, love, and money applied to this car. It does not have to be a rational decision. Many of my car decisions are completely irrational.

Doing this work will be rewarding. You will learn new skills. When it is completed you can say I did that myself and have more stories to tell about the car.

Have fun and good luck!

volvolugnut

Post by **abscate** » 19 May 2020, 14:41

Sean..do you have metal? The rocker on my 1998 is in perfect shape and mike could help cut it out

Free to anyone who knows what a grinder is.

Post by **smacknab** » 19 May 2020, 15:01

volvolugnut wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 07:53 My first thought when I saw this area was the repair was not worth the trouble. But now I understand your situation better and agree with your plan. You have a lot of time, love, and money applied to this car. It does not have to be a rational decision. Many of my car decisions are completely irrational.

Doing this work will be rewarding. You will learn new skills. When it is completed you can say I did that myself and have more stories to tell about the car.

Have fun and good luck!

volvolugnut

Thanks for the support!

Post by **smacknab** » 19 May 2020, 15:04

abscate wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 14:41 Sean..do you have metal? The rocker on my 1998 is in perfect shape and mike could help cut it out

Free to anyone who knows what a grinder is.

Theres a 2000 s70 in Providence that just got there last week so i'm hoping to go cut a chunk off with a hacksaw (they said no power tools). We're currently looking at homes in Providence so i'm trying to sneak it in with one of those trips. That said if it doesn't pan out i could come out to Albany next time i go visit my parents. Steve have you ever cut off a body panel? Also whats Mike's user name on here?

Post by **abscate** » 19 May 2020, 15:10

Not since Gross Anatomy, but it’s like riding a bike,

Hacksaw will suck, can you bring a battery operated tool?

I’ll put you in touch with mike via text

Fixing rocker panel rust - 99 s70

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