In the last few years the rust area shown in the photo has got much worse, I want to stop it getting out of hand, so am reaching out to the members for advice, being a 2004 car I don't want to go mad and cut everything out, I know it's a common problem, and would like an economical way to sort it, any ideas ?

Click image to enlarge

Wheel arch repair panels are available, there's a number of suppliers on ebay right now selling them, I did mine last summer buying from one of the suppliers there

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Last edited by Phoenix on 23rd Dec 2023 9:48pm. Edited 1 time in total

Found them

https://www.carpanels.com/parts/LAND%20ROV...CrashParts

not too bad £130 delivered for both rear wheel arches - then what it will cost me for body shop !

Phoenix wrote:

If you don't cut out all the rust, not only will it come back but it'll also eat into the new parts. That area is / should be an MoT advisory as it's within the specified distance of a seat belt mount.

Noted - thank you- will alert the body shop that is down the road from me

A body shop should already know that, I mentioned it in case you were looking at a DIY solution.

Unfortunately you'll probably need some of the inner wheelarch and/ or sill fabricating as it's unlikely the rot will have stopped at the plastic trim, even if the repair panel does.

ouch, it looks like the Car Panels product does not go down to the sill of the car, it stops at the green line shown below - they obviously didn't get much info or feedback from many of the suffering 20 year old L322 owners that have this very common problm - stupdity at its highest level !

Click image to enlarge

why would they stop just short of the sill, does anyone know if these panels can actually be placed down to the sill, and not use the upper half - basically I only need the last 6 to 8 inches ??

Yes just cut off what you need after you have removed paint from the existing wheelarch to see where the rust stops and you will be welding to clean metal

good to know, I just about have enough clean metal up the wheel arch to do just exactly that James, thank you !

Those arches are to fix the rust that develops at the top of the arch just next to the door...

Your sill will have a hole in it that is certain, and there will be extensive rust within the sill and box section behind and alongside it, the only correct way to do it is as Phoenix says, every last minute speck of rust has to be cut out back to solid non rusty (either side) metal, new metal has to be butt welded back in.

If I were you I'd check both subframes as well as there is a good chance they are both excessively rusted.

Sorry to say but rust like in your picture has written off many an old 322... it will cost several thousand at a bodyshop if done correctly...

Have a look at this video, this is the correct way to do it, albeit on a Datsun, anything else is just a sticking plaster and will not last....

 Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

OMG Pete, that's highly impressive work on that old Datsun - so skilled and talented !

In the meantime I have sent a text message to my body shop guy and he is going to have a deep dive and see if we need the full length 6ft sills or the half length 3ft ones which are half the price

The fronts are usually OK, if not dig deeper before you order the panels....

Good luck...  Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-