Ford Fiesta XR2 Panel Work

So, we have managed to get up to the workshop and get started on the panel work. The XR2 is totally stripped. We go from here! But being as fussy as I am about my cars, Danny and I have decided to replace the rusty panels rather then repair them.

Whilst searching on the internet we were very lucky to find a rare set of genuine inner wings. Remember, these are from the 80s, so it's a real touch to get great, proper, real parts.

We also managed to source a set of outer wings and a front panel from the various car shows we went to in the summer. This is a good thing because replacing panels with genuine panels will always guarantee you a better fit.

 

I have never replaced a set of inner wings before which I find quite scary as it is a major section of the car, and as panel work is not normally my thing (Hello, is Julian there please? Yeah, I've got a job you might..... well, you get the picture.)

So, with some guidance from Julian we removed the old outer, inner wings and front panel.

This took some time and is bit of a tedious job drilling out hundreds of spot welds and making note of how many and where they were. There was lots of cutting and grinding. It was just like being at Chop Shop again. Er, but without Bernie moaning about the noise. That's a voice that never goes away! It was hard graft but we got there in the end.

I also found some time to get up to my local Passion Ford meet in Enfield, north London just before Christmas and despite the cold weather there was a good turnout of cars and people manly the newer Fords and a couple of RS Turbos.

But one person managed to bring a Sierra Cosworth out rather then be tucked up in a heated garage like most of the others at this time of the year. Even I chose not to bring my Cosworth out because I just cleaned it (told you I was fussy), so I took my work van instead - which is also a modified Ford. So I practice what I preach. Even my daily runaround is a Ford!