Reply to "Cleaning up engine bay wiring/hoses"

Garvino, if you do seam-weld that area, you'll find that the rear end of your car is now consideably stiffer than it was before. That panel overlap continues clear into the weatherstrip channel (covered with 'factory' bondo), and I believe the whole panel is a major contributor to the "standard" paint cracking we usually get only inches away near the gills. The welding will be cheaper and lighter than adding a complete rear-chassis stiffener kit and quite possibly as effective. A good welder can do the job neatly; don't pay much attention to making the engine bay look like it is seamless extruded plastic. As a motorhead, I find well-done welds to be attractive, pointing out that these are real-steel machines.