----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Hargreave Mawson <OC@46thFoot.com>
> Is there any reason why I couldn't or shouldn't clear away all the rusty
> metal, treat the bare metal with rust-proofer, fold and shape a piece of
> sheet aluminium, rivet this in place inside the bonnet (rivets attaching
> the aluminium sheet to the horizontal section on the bonnet that is all
> but invisible), fill the resulting craters with filler, and then prime
> and paint? (At this point, I should probably admit that my battery
> tray has been repaired like this, and seems to be holding up nicely.)
Ever seen how Aluminium bodywork corrodes on Astons and suchlike? A
metallurgist could give a better explanation, but a current is set up between
the 2 dissimilar metals and one will corrode sacrificially for the other. The
only way of carrying out a proper repair is to cut out the rot and replace with
new (welded) steel. Filler should only be used to smooth out imperfections in
otherwise solid and sound bodywork.
Cheers,
Bill.
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