Rear Fender Rust, For those who know. - Honda Prelude Forum

95_5speed · 07-28-2005, 01:47 PM

I've got to find a remedy for the rear 1/4 panel rust which was caused by the stupid trim that was adhered to the wheel wells. I removed the trim, and found some rust which will be to be cut out.

1.) Should I cut out the rusted part in a good arc shape, and Make a piece of sheet metal to go in it's place, Weld it in do what needs to be done to make it smooth and perfect again..

2.) Do they make a patch panel anywhere for this rear fender rust problem? Or am I own my own?

3.) Anybody have a Prelude body, they can cut rear fender pieces off and send them to me as directed? (rust free)

4.) Anybody paid to get this done? I mean pieces cut out and repaired, how much did it cost.

After the body work, time to put on a custom paint color, so I weant to get the rear fenders repaired right, and quick.

~ Brett

Mark94 · 07-29-2005, 07:48 AM

1. Yes that is what you should do and what needs to be done.

2. You're on your own, no patch panel available unless you get new quarters

3. Had a Prelude that was rust free but sold it so I can't do that for you.

4. I had this done on my first Prelude. I had it done 6-7 years ago at a friends shop and it cost me $400 cash. No problems after that. They cut the infected area out, made the patch panel and welded it in, then sanded everything flat and primed it, then painted and cleared the quarter panel and blended into the doors. Looked great.

DO NOT fill in the area with bondo. You must cut out the area and replace a panel if you never want to deal with it again.

Once finished, make sure to spray your wheel wells with undercoating to protect the panels against this in the future.

Mark

95_5speed · 07-29-2005, 08:53 AM

Definitly, Thanks man! I figured after a 4 hour search on many websites I wasn't going to find a patch panel.. but I was hopeful!! I am pretty good at fabricating things, and mi have acess to a welder or someone to weld for me if necessary. Hopefully I can take care of all the rust for about the same price as you did. (May cost more overall for me because I have other body scratches and what not that I'm going to get rid of too, before an exterior re-paint.

96LudeSR · 07-30-2005, 12:31 PM

I am in the same boat as you are. My Lude also had those stupid strips on it. Mine is very minimal at this point though so I am wondering if removing the rust and putting in just a little fiberglass filler would be fine in my case.

I just don't see how it's possible to replicate the perfect shape of the panel with some simple metal shaping hand tools. It seems impossible to me.

95_5speed · 07-30-2005, 04:25 PM

seems near impossible to me too. but I kinda get how its done, make a mold of the original fender, or you need a uhh . whats it called.. I saw it on some chopper show they roll fendrs on this wheel its neat!

96LudeSR · 07-30-2005, 05:45 PM

Oh I think you're talking about the English Wheel.

Gotta love those Chopper shows. OCC is my favorite (gotta love Paul SR).

But if you look closely at your fender you will see there is a lip which is maybe less than 1 inch high. Here is a pic of the rust on my rear fender, you will see what I mean by the lip:

I don't understand how I could just reproduce that shape, I don't think it's done by hand at the factory, it has to be done by machines.

How bad is your rust? Is it worse than mine?