Today I started with removing the RH boot door.  This once again required the screws to have their heads drilled off.  Having removed the door, I was able to remove panelwork along the top of the boot opening and down the RH side.  This revealed extensive wet fungal rot in the base of the two pillars at the RH side of the boot opening and this will need to be repaired by jointing new lower sections of timber.

Right-hand boot door frame timbers

RH corner of boot door frame

I started the job of replacing the rotted timber by cutting both the pillars just below the corner horizontal (with the hole) visible in the picture.  I cut a step into the good wood in order to make a strong joint with the new timber.

Today’s work continued where I finished yesterday with removal of the nearside (LH) boot door.  Having drilled the heads of the fixing screws for the hinges, I was then faced with the problem of extracting the remains of the screws.  In order to give something for the mole grips to grab onto, I dabbed the Mig torch on the ends of the screws and built them up a bit. This had the additional effect of introducing heat into the screw and they came out with little trouble after this treatment.

Next I removed the LH panel work surrounding the boot opening.  Final part of the day was spent removing the remains of rusted screws and drilling and plugging the holes with dowels.  A survey shows far more rot in the RH side of the boot opening and wall timbers.

Left-hand rear corner and boot door frame timbers

Timbers forming the top of the boot opening and base of the rear window

I completed assembly of the new steelwork for the nearside framing today and apart from the boot closing panel, this means the nearside framing is repaired.

Work now continues around the corner, in the vicinity of the boot doors.  I removed the nearside boot door today, this required the heads drilling off the screws but proved that one of the hinges is seized and may have bent, causing the door to not shut properly.

The following series of photos shows the new steel (painted blue for protection) in place:

Reinforcement behind the wheelarch

Intermediate vertical, rear

Corner vertical, forward facing

Corner vertical from the rear

Intermediate vertical/bearer joint from underneath