Hi I am new on this site and it looks like I will have to change the rear wings on my 1971 2 door Morris minor. But it looks like the old wings have never been removed . What I would like to know is it a hard job and how would I set about removing them.
Thanks for any help given.
Rear Wings
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
-
- Minor Addict
- Posts: 720
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2003 9:28 am
- Location: Inverness
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
Welcome to the site this is the place for all Minor related issues.
In theory rear wings unbolt, cant remember how many bolts (about 6/8) there are but you will have to jack the car up and support it on stands so you can take off the back wheels. Then spend some time cleaning all the accumulated yuk and off the inner & outer wings where they join together on the car so that you can see the bolt heads. Clean up the bolts as much as you can so that your spanner or socket can get a good grip and avoid rounding off the heads and undo the bolts until the wing is free from the car. Thats about it really.
In reality you may find that bolts are seized so may need some release oil (from inside the boot) and leave them overnight and in some severe cases the gentle application of heat but be very careful as you don't want to set your car alight. Once you get the wings off you will need to swap lights over and check the inner wings for corrosion as usually the flange rots just depends on how well it is all protected.
On your profile add you location as you never know a willing helper maybe nearby to provide assistance if you need it that is.
In theory rear wings unbolt, cant remember how many bolts (about 6/8) there are but you will have to jack the car up and support it on stands so you can take off the back wheels. Then spend some time cleaning all the accumulated yuk and off the inner & outer wings where they join together on the car so that you can see the bolt heads. Clean up the bolts as much as you can so that your spanner or socket can get a good grip and avoid rounding off the heads and undo the bolts until the wing is free from the car. Thats about it really.
In reality you may find that bolts are seized so may need some release oil (from inside the boot) and leave them overnight and in some severe cases the gentle application of heat but be very careful as you don't want to set your car alight. Once you get the wings off you will need to swap lights over and check the inner wings for corrosion as usually the flange rots just depends on how well it is all protected.
On your profile add you location as you never know a willing helper maybe nearby to provide assistance if you need it that is.
-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 7845
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:18 pm
- Location: South East London
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
Start as soon as possible with the penetrating oil, use Plus gas or similar not WD40, inside the boot and around the bolt heads under the wing, and repeat until you start the job.
I'm pretty sure the bolts are 1/4 Whitworth, if you can find one, get a 6 point socket (may be called an impact socket) and tap it onto the bolts with a hammer.
A torque wrench on maximum or a tube slipped over a breaker bar and wacked with the hammer should get them started which is more than half the battle.
Make sure you keep the torque wrench, or whatever, at right angles to the bolt
If any bolts that don't succumb to this treatment, get the power tools out.
I'm pretty sure the bolts are 1/4 Whitworth, if you can find one, get a 6 point socket (may be called an impact socket) and tap it onto the bolts with a hammer.
A torque wrench on maximum or a tube slipped over a breaker bar and wacked with the hammer should get them started which is more than half the battle.
Make sure you keep the torque wrench, or whatever, at right angles to the bolt
If any bolts that don't succumb to this treatment, get the power tools out.
"Once you break something you will see how it was put together"
-
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:04 pm
- Location: west lancs
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
Mine where so rusted I used a 1mm cutting disc ,went through them like butter. 

-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 7845
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:18 pm
- Location: South East London
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
How did you fit the new ones?
Glue?
Glue?
"Once you break something you will see how it was put together"
-
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:04 pm
- Location: west lancs
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
new nuts and bolts,easy. 

-
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:04 pm
- Location: west lancs
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
p.s. cut through bolts not wings lol 

-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 7845
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:18 pm
- Location: South East London
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Rear Wings
I'd suggest reserving this type of treatment for any recalcitrant bolts, there may not be any.
Angle grinders are useful tools but the destruction can spread further than you expect like metal fragments in paintwork, glass or plastics.
Also the habit of cutting things off may leave one up a certain creek paddle less if it turns out you can't get bolts that size or the part you have been sold doesn't actually fit.
Angle grinders are useful tools but the destruction can spread further than you expect like metal fragments in paintwork, glass or plastics.
Also the habit of cutting things off may leave one up a certain creek paddle less if it turns out you can't get bolts that size or the part you have been sold doesn't actually fit.
"Once you break something you will see how it was put together"