Patch it or replace it?

[Dreamcar]

First, i'll get this out of the way...most of the outside panels on my car will be repro or donor. Because of this, I like to try and save/patch as much as I can that is still original and usable. However, I have a slight dilemma with the rear wheelhouses. Do I patch or replace completely?

I got a really good deal on both inner and outer repro wheel houses for both sides, so I bought them. My thoughts were to just use them to patch the originals, therefore only cutting out the rusty sections. The outside outer edge is rotted out pretty bad, and the top of both the inner and outer pieces have rust pits at the very top (on the inside/in the trunk area). The car had leaks everywhere and it sat outside for years, so moisture got in to the inner areas of the car.

Given the amount of replacement sheet metal i'm needing for this project, I know this will seem like a stupid dilemma to have. Most of you will understandably say that at this point, it really doesn't matter and the easiest thing would be just to replace them in full. The inner wheelhouse still has the factory part number stamped on it so patching it is the only way to save it.

I dunno what to do. Comments?

[Cncguy]

I guess it depends on how much labor your willing to put in it.

[charge69]

Your pictures are a little hard for me to decipher but,  my outer rear wheel wells both had rust on the outer 3 or 4 inches of them so my friend who did the body work used a plasma cutter to cut both the outer 4 to 5 inches of the wheel well off and cut the proper section of a repro wheel well to size.  He then welded and ground smooth the new wheel well patch on and it worked perfectly! 

[Brock Lee]

I would be absolutely sure you have the correct repro wheelhouses before making a decision. There have been issues for years with vendors selling other B body outer wheelhouses when the Chargers are slightly different.

[hemi-hampton]

As far as I know or can tell in the past they would sell the same part # wheelwell for all b-body's meaning one size fits all. One size does not fit all but some in here say they do? LEON.

[redgum78]

If the section containing the number is in good condition I would only replace the shitty bit. This is the first half of a patch I made for my Challenger inner wheel well. I like to keep as much original metal as possible (hopefully the pic uploads!). 

[Dreamcar]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to try and patch them and save as much as I can.

[charger_fan_4ever]

If its just those pinholes in the pic patch it. Be more labor trying to fit a complete repro outter wheelhouse in there.

[qwick68]

From the pics they don't look too bad....I would fix most definitely