Being a TIG welder, I can tell you that it would be ugly to try to weld it in the vehicle. It would have to be oil free. On the Sprint Car cyl heads I've fixed I require that they be hot tanked first.
In this case, another part is a far easier repair.
I agree completely, when welding aluminum it is very important that the base metal be clean. To weld it properly you would have to remove the panel anyway and clean it very well, so you may as well replace it.
Hey, ntsqd, you mentioned you were a TIG welder, do you mind if I ask where you work and what you do? I'm an aspiring welder myself, graduate welding school in June, and I'm very partial to the TIG process. It'd be my dream to get a good job TIG weldin'.
