Front inner wing replacement

Post by **southerly95** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:04 pm

I'm having to replace both front wings on my dtr's travveler but the o/s inner wing looks rough too. How difficult are they to replace please? Thanks, John

Post by **tortron** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:19 pm

spotweld drill to remove
then plug welds to get it back on - nothing major as long as you keep everything straight

Post by **taupe** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:23 pm

Hi

If youre lucky and the rust is just in the wheel arch area then its quite straight forward as the repair panels are a good fit.

If the rust extends into the A post area (behind where the wing bolts vertically and in front of the door hinges then it gets a bit more complicated.

Have you done any welding before?

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:29 pm

Make sound measurements of the inner wing as they are a dreadfull fit. You may well need to section the panel too. Don't edge weld it to the flitch or tie plate as this is a recepie for increasing rust and does not provide a sound strong joint, as torton says use 8mm plug welds making sure of good penetration of both/all panels. Clean up all surafaces and zinc spray before welding. Use plenty of clamps and you might find that self tapping all panels together first will give you a sound joint

Post by **southerly95** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:30 pm

No MIG welding experience only brazing with flame, getting kit soon though (Clarke 151TE), recent MOT reveals significant resto need to floor, probably to the under sills that have been covered over, both inner wings are 'split' at the point tou mention, i.e. about an inch in from where the inside of the wing joins the main bodywork. All advice welcome, cheers ....

Post by **southerly95** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:37 pm

PS does anyone have a better diagram of this area than provided in the MGM website please? Thanks, John
http://www.mgm-spares.co.uk/catalog.asp ... 7336001347

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:25 pm

Here are a few pics which might help

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Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:43 pm

The attack of the flying Mole-grips!

Post by **cormorant** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:26 pm

Yes he certainly has more mole grips than most of us put together. Are these panels so far out of true that these whopping great darts have to be cut out? Have they not heard of jigs?

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:06 am

Ohhh there are more, would you like me to show some pics

Yes these panels are not particulary good and require a significant amount of chopping , heating, stretching in order to fit. The other side was even worse so we saved as much of the original wing welded the new one to it and refitted them as one panel.
The trouble is , if you are replacing say the flitch ,tie plate and inner wing, and use the panels as presented m your Minor will be miles out of shape.
So, as I mentioned before, make accurate measurements and tril fit (as we have in the pics) before welding. Self tap the panels together to make sure you have everything aligned before getting the welder out. Ohh and for information the inner rears are even worse.
I'd be interested where Taupe sourced his panels as we and many other traders have experienced tis issue for many years now.

Post by **taupe** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:00 pm

Jonathan

I was refering to the flitch panel being a good fit as it has worked out well on mine - I know that the new curved inner wings are not good. I was lucky enough to obtain an old stock original BMC offside inner wing and the nearside is going to be patch repaired. Ive seen some quite big creases in original curved inner wings so I guess even in the factory they required some persuasion to fit.

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:14 pm

Ahh sorry , thought you said inner wing