Firstfives.org

Hi,
My ‘77 has a pretty significant amount of rust on the rear right wheel arch / tower. Specifically where the shock mounts and into the trunk. I understand this is a common location for rust to form.

Anyways, before you tell me it is beyond reasonable repair, I am stubborn and like my car. Before I spend a lot of time fabricating up a new wheelhouse / tower, how different are e28 rear wheelhouses as compared to the 12? If they are the same size with only minor differences, would it be worth locating a repair set for an e28 and welding them in as an entirety?

Along with this, if I do decide to completely remake the wheelhouse myself, would it be worth adding provisions for a rear strut brace, meaning are they actually effective enough for me to consider as an “upgrade”?

I’m not looking for show quality finish, I just like my car

anything is repairable.
Both sides on mine were completely shot and I did repair it. I knew before I started rust repairs on my 76, I`d be way better off using a rotisserie, but stubborn / lazy me told me; Nah... no need...
Well, just the repairs on those shock towers would have made it worthwhile to get the car on its side. Cut out the outer panel to access the inner. Repair the inner, fix the outer, weld the outer back in... all above the head cramped in the tub , and that was with rear suspension out. I don`t know how old you are but I`m way past my flexy twenties... Should have build a rotisserie. Would have been a lot quicker.

IIRC E28 springs are smaller in diameter than E12, although E12s seem to be able to take larger tires without rubbing. They are likely similar in size and shape, but how similar I don't know. So it's possible it might work, but you would need E28 rear springs or coilovers. Possible, I'm not saying for sure, just something to look at.

Good luck with saving it!