Hi All,

On my car, a white 1984 Silver Spirit, the inner edges of the wheel arches were painted 50/50 body colour and black.

What should they be?

Should they be all body colour or white, then black from 50% of the width inwards?

I'm talking about the edge that I've tried to circle in this photo. I notice that they are body coloured on this car, but I think it's been resprayed.

Thanks!

Andrew

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Hi Andrew,


To the best of my knowledge the whole inner return flange as the picture you put up should/would be body colour and then only black where the inner wheel arch liner is fitted.


The inner edges of the flange are prone to stone chip and general damage to the edge so are the first sign of rust on the edges so someone may have just covered this up or felt it worthy of adding extra protection on the edge.


The picture you show looks about right on the inner return flange of the wheel arch lip but again the lower black area along the sill and front valance again usually a sign of either a special stone chip paint or some do this to cover up rust already formed. It does not look on the picture like a painted feature to match the dual top colour but again it might have been if same body colour but does look black.


I certainly left mine all body colour when the car was repainted but will probably just do a very small Stone chip return on the front and rear lower valances but not so it will be seen or maybe just do it in a clear colour rather than black.


All the best


Steve

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The "return" as circled should be the body color. Beyond the metal fender is the inner fender-well which is fiberglass in the front and steel in the rear. They are sprayed with a "chip/stone guard" coating which can be found in any autoparts store. I used a lo-profile pebble appearance when re-coating mine.
A clear "stoneguard" application is useful on the lower sill and lower half of the front and rear fender openings.

Awesome, both! Thank you so much! The guy at my proposed bodyshop was correct then

I've not taken the car to a RR specialist, so I'm surprised the guy knew that. Sounds like he knows his stuff then!

My sills are black stonechip but appear in good condition. I don't fancy repainting them at the moment. Something to consider. Wheel arches are the 2nd priority after the leaking rear screen. Just waiting for a quote (as I bite my nails in anticipation of the cost).

Thanks,

Andrew

Andrew,


A white car will always show the faults up worse.


You will need to think of a new rubber if doing the rear screen. Also generally if the rear screens have been leaking usually you will see ghosting on the rear lower corners where water has penetrated by capilliary action into the laminated layers.


Boot seals though are also a bad area that can let water in if old and deformed or not been fitted correctly.


You could also be suspect of seeing rust through from inside if water has been getting in from the boot where the inner panel on the rear wheel arch is joined to the rear bulkhead. It happens roughly around the 2 'o' clock position on the RHS and 10 'o' clock on the LHS.


The rear of front wing where it joins the sill is also a prone area for rust and why often you will see the whole sill just blacked off to cover that up too..




Steve

The rear parcel shelf may exhibit stains from a leaking window seal.

Thanks again, guys. I have the new rear screen seal. Water has been leaking into the boot and down the carpet over the wheel arches. It's also rotted out the valance on the right-hand side underneath the boot, behind the rear wheel arch.

The rear window is fine AFAIK - no misting!

Will check where the inner panel on the wheel arch is joined to the bulkhead...

My parcel shelf is OK! It's actually leather-like material (which I believe was a custom order item).

Andrew

Andrew,


The leather can be a bit more friendly in not showing through water stains.


The window removal and refit process needs to be done a special ways or you can risk breaking the glass.......ask if in doubt as both wraithman and I have done a few over the years.


Also don't under estimate your boot seal as a water ingress problem especially if the far rear inner panels have rotted as usually most from the rear screen ends up between firewall and wheel arch.


All the best


Steve

Yep! I'll get my bodyshop to remove the window. I'll also provide them with the excerpt from the manual that details it. I'll remove the trim ready for them and I am very, very worried about any rot that's happened because of these leaks! Not sure how to find it all and confirm that everything is ok.

And will double check the boot seal.

Thanks so much for your advice, Steve.