International Lancia Forums

Dear All,
Having just fitted a new front wheel arch repair section (Off Side) supplied by Omicron, I am wondering how to fabricate the inner wheel arch which is now no longer in existance anymore! Has any one got an inner wing, or adapted something in order to fill this arch. Am I right in thinking that no replacement arches are manufactured as repair panels.
I would appreciate any tips on how you repaired/replaced your wheel arches?
Regards,
Dave Murphy

The only way I know is to weld in tiny bits at a time - takes ages I'm afraid

Thanks Jim,
I kinda guessed that this may be the way to do it, should help me improve my sheet metal work and welding skills though,
Cheers,
Dave

Hello Dave,

if I remember correctly, the inner wheelarch panel is not very complicated.
You should be able to make one yourself. In the early eighties we went to a scrapyard for
VW 1600 wheelarches (to use on a 1300 Coupe) and I think we used inner and outer panels.
But VW1600 panels will be as hard to get now as Fulvia 1600 panels.
Are the Omicron outer panels any good? How much are they and how far down do they reach?
I will have to make repairs to my 1600.

Greetings
Norbert

Hi Norbert,
Your right in that I will have to fabricate the panels myself, does not look too complicated now that I have reviewed it again.
I am pleased with the Omicron lower wing repair panel. I purchased it a while ago now, along with a R/H floor panel which was also a good fit.
The wing panel obviously contains the entire wheelarch, suitably flared as per 1600HF. It extends rearwards to include the entire wing back to the front of the drivers door. Above the wheelarch is sufficient metal to weld the panel to about 10mm below the swage line of the front wing, after I had joggled the panel for a flush fit. Forward of the wheelarch the panel extends to just behind the squareshaped cutout for the bumper iron.
The beauty of cutting the wing off is that all the repairs to the subframe box and sill etc can be tackled with the wing out of the way, do these first before replacing the wing.
Cheers,
Dave

Hi Dave,

thanks for the reply. I'm still furious with myself because the left front wing is the only panel I didn't do
when I worked on the body 8 years ago. So I will lhave to do it now.

Grüße aus Hamburg
Norbert