>>>>Sikaflexed full front panel!!!>>>

[Andy McS]

Hi i was wondering if people could please back me up on this as i am sure im correct but want to know for certain befor e i go down to the body shop.I had a front end bump in my Nova Sri just before christmas.The front panel was slightly bent under one side.just enough to bend the anti roll bar slightly and knock the tracking out on one side.The landing panel was fine,there had been no contact anywhere on the top of the bumper /grille.as it was a large kerb i hit!
So i took it down to the bodyshop (where my astra is at the moment)to get a whole new front panel welded on.The reason i got the full panel was there was a bit of rust on the original landing panel so i thought why not get the whole front end minted again.I bought the front panel myself and took it down to him.
I then get a phonecall when it is down there to come and see it.There is some rust on the but where the leccy arial sit,another common fault, and also one of the sills has a hole in it.He asks for another 100 if i want all the bad metal cut away and plated.I agree.
So when i get the car back i give him the 500 quid (labour only i supplied the parts)
It looks a good job from the outside but i went this morning to put sill on.as he said it would require replacing,he couldnt patch the full sill up!
When i took the wings off i had a really good look at the job around the front panel and it HAS BEEN SIKAFLEXED,BASICALLY JUST SEALED ALL THE WAY ROUND,NO WELDING WHATSOEVER!!!
I am a confident welder myself,the only reason i did nt fix myself was i was quite flush at the time and i had enough on my plate trying to get the other car fixed.
Please anyone with any knowledge tell me im right.I have replaced front panels before and always use all the welding points the whole way round the full panel.
I dont always seem weld them but i at least do half an inch weld to inch gap and always round any edges etc.
Another thing,how would that cope with crash damage?If i had another front ender would the engine have been sitting where my dash board usually sits???
I could easily weld it myself but why shoudl i when i have payed a decent amout of wedge for a sub standard job!
I have spent two grand on this guy in three months when the astra is finished!!!!
Any body any help please?
Andy

[astraderv]

It's probably just spot-welded in place a 'la the original. The silkaflex is a good idea where metal is overlapped, stops moisture collecting etc.

Have a really good look for the small, round spotweld marks before u challenge him about it!!