(Quote)"As a matter of interest... why aren't repro panels galvanised or similar?"
The zink coating on galvinized steel causes very poor quality welds, The zink vaporizes and leaves porous bubbles in the welds, (also toxic fumes) unless the coating is completly ground off beore the pannel is welded in place. On late model cars, the pannels are welded first then the zink coating is put on over the welds and seams.
Unless the replacement pannel is bolted on, the zink coating would be of no real value, The most vulnerable to rust places are also the places that would have to be ground to bare steel to be welded together.
I'm riding 50Km. on my Unicycle 18 May, 2008 in the Tour de Cure.
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Al Lieffring