Strange Monty rot

[Ed]

Guys, I have had over a dozen Montegos but i have never had one with rust in the area pictured below. It is the only rust under my new Monty and i need to know if this area can be renewed or if it can just be welded up? The area you are looking at is the passenger side about halfway up the vehicles underside. I have never welded so any advice would be most helpful. Cheers.

[Mat_C]

I seen rust there many o' time (on Maestros) - it's just that you don't see it until it gets really bad.

You could patch it up with lots of pieces but I think you'll be better off cutting the whole box section out and welding another in. This box section provides rigity for the rear passenger footwell so it doesn't bend etc when a passenger gets it.

I'm not sure if I you can get them from Rover. But you could easily make another out of sheet steel and spot weld it on (thats all AR did!) - it doesn't have to look the same just do the same job.

HTH, Mat

[E_T_V]

Just make sure you make it look original as I've been told that spot/tack welded replacement panels are now not MOT passable unless they are original manufacturer ones.

[talkingcars]

A repair patch must be seam welded (although a continuos set of spot welds is acceptable).

If the whole panel is replaced with a complete new panel then it can be spot welded as when the car was built.

The underside of the car could do with a good coat of paint before you get more problems.