Repairing flat inner wheel arch

[Trafalgar blue]

Could anyone who's repaired this area point me in the right direction, I've got the lower hinge repair panel tacked in place. Today the Original LMC R/H Flat inner wing with hinge pillar cover attatched panel arrived. It wasn't quite what I expected has anyone else used one of these from Bull Motif? http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc14 ... 9360fc.jpg

[chickenjohn]

These inner wings with the A pillar/hinge panel "cover" attached are a but crude, being just a flat sheet. Just cut off the bit you don't want to use and use the flat inner wing with captive nuts- as much of it as you need to replace the rust on your inner front wing. If your butt welds are good and you are good at grinding, with paint and seam sealer the results will be very presentable.

I prefer to use the separate hinge pillar finishing panel that has the curve and flat flanges, or if just replacing the bottom section, I fabricate my own to suit the repairs that are needed.

Most important thing though is to tack the flat inner wing in place then bolt on the wing to check the fit with door and bonnet lines before you fully weld it in place to ensure all the panels will fit well afterwards and give a quality job.

[Mark Wilson]

I agree that trial fitting was important, but you have to make some allowance for a bit of flexing in the a pillar until the cover plate is in place. Although the flexing was considerably less once I realised the inner wing needed to be plug welded to the kidney panel!

Mark

[Trafalgar blue]

Ok thanks, I'm gonna send that panel back & get the one without the cover attached (as they call it). I need to replace some rotting/missing steel behind where the lower hinge repair panel go's. Is there a stepped repair panel for this? I'm thinking of removing the door, repair this section then fit the lower hinge panel to the door then refit the door, check alignment, tack hinge panel in place

[chickenjohn]

No as far as I know, these small repair panels are not available.for small areas like behind the flat inner wing you have to make up your own repair sections.
The parts in question being the lower part of the kidney panel , the front end of the sill boxing panel and also the front end of the inner sill step. Front ends of the sill floor edge and sill outer might also need making up. Use 1.2 mm steel and put the folds in with a hammer, vice and a few pieces of angle iron.

Do you think there would be a market for these sections???

[mogbob]

The answer has to be yes but.....
The area is a favourite for rust but it is always several panels that are affected at the joining points.
An inexperienced fabricator / welder would be advised to seek guidance/ help before starting.Taking all the usual precautions, bracing, numerous measurements, etc .

I guess it would have to be a composite end box section with " staggered " ends for greater strength.
It would rather take the fun out of fabricating something a sheet of steel though.

It's always back to basics....what cost is a repair panel / section ,compared to the time/cost it would take you to make one yourself ?
Bob

[chickenjohn]

A composite box section would be over complicating the matter. A few years at some inexpensive rust prone sections were available for some areas of the minor such as the inner wing bowl bump stop , but now all you can get is the full panel.

I was thinking of all the bits that rot, where the rest of the sill might be fine.

Would save someone buying a full set of sill panels just to cut the ends off and repair this area, which BTW is the repair I've done by far the most on Morris Minors.

[Trafalgar blue]

This area -[frame][/frame]

[Mark Wilson]

I used this inner wing from ESM - includes the angle which spot welds to the kidney panel under the door seal line. Includes the holes for the door stay fixings, but I can't remember if it includes captive nuts for these or if I had to weld these in. The hinge pillar is welded to the angle - the rigidity this panel will give you is important.

[url]http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pop ... 500496[url]

Mark

[Trafalgar blue]

I've managed to get a bit done in between decorating. I decided to cut out & replace the rot in the inner arch. I've tacked on a repair section at the bottom but I think it needs to go in further at the bottom[frame][/frame]

[Trafalgar blue]

Will fit the wing next to see how that looks. [img][IMG]http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc14 ... 21a487.jpg[/img][/img]