Removing & refitting front wings ...

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:38 am

Wondering, as cant be bothered to go back to work this week so though something constructive was in order.
Both wings are really sound, apart from the obligatory rusting down the edge that meets the door.
Had a good poke with a screwdriver and reckon they are quite salvageable with glass/filler or whatever is to hand.

Am i right they are bolt on bolt off?
Course that probably wont be so easy as daresay the bolts have never been undone.
Anyway its worth a look and at least have a go at salvaging them before putting fiberglass wings on the wish list.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:14 am

Yes. You also have to take the hockey sticks off.

Post by **aupickup** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:10 am

you can also check for rust etc on the back of the hinge pillar

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:16 am

Yes : -( who knows what might be found !
Its actually not too bad - theres some glass bodgework on the drivers sill so when it comes round to the doors that will probably be new sill that side - others fine.
Was just pricing pattern steel wings, think the sensible thing to do is get a pair of them and do a straight replacement, then fix up the existing for the next one that comes along needing saving

Post by **Willie** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:10 pm

If you do get new steel wings then take time to prevent the rust at the door join recurring. It rusts there because there is a folded over seam which is the perfect rust trap. I stand a new wing so that it is upright with the rear edge on the floor and then pour in any old paint which I have to hand and slosh it around to coat the hidden area. It has worked well for me.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 2:37 pm

Also be prepaired to find rot on the A panels and kidney sections of the door hinge pillar. Take time to repair/rustproof this area before fitting new wings, otherwire the rot will quickly set back in. Also worth cleaning up and rust proofing the inner wings for the same reason.

Oh it's all FUN FUN FUN

Post by **chickenjohn** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:40 am

And in the inner wing/ kidney/ door pillar area, please weld in new steel rather than use fibreglass. Also a good idea to repair the wings in 1mm steel.

Post by **Orkney** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:49 am

Well had another good look at the whole thing, think there might be all sorts of evils to be discovered.
On the passenger side the door edge of the wing is not far from flapping around, and pulling it back can see where some fool has just plied lots of fiberglass in there.
The idea was going to be get a pair of new ones, paint and fit one at a time - dont forget its used pretty much daily.
After a bit of a think, maybe the best thing to do is get the wings as planned, then have it off the road for a month or howerver long it takes, the floor at the bottom of the rear doors needs doing too, so will be better to do it all properly rather than try to do half a job.
Chassis wise its fine surprisingly enough, but do need to box up 2 areas at the frond where its been indented with jacks over the years.
Thats leading me to think of flipping it on its side and get some decent protection all over whilst its there.
it will all come together with patience, just a bit of an uphill struggle when its in daily use, but having said that its taken what 6 months so far and still finding a new thing that needs sorting every week which wouldnt have if it wasnt being used.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:02 am

Sounds a good plan Orkney, keep us posted!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:02 pm

It can be amazing what you find (missing) behind a wing.
When I took the n/s wing of the 54 Minor I found very little at all! Actually not strictly true - I found a plate that had been brazed on so that they could screw the bottom edge of the wing on to something (there was no A post or inner wing there at all).

I only had to repair 7 structural sections before putting the wing back on...

Post by **Orkney** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:12 pm

Cheers Ray mee old beauty

nothing like a bit of optimism to spur the enthusiasm to get it done

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:52 pm

Appart from the front Hockey sticks where are the other bolts that hold the front wings on?? I also need to take them off to replace the beading that runs round the top of the wing.

Post by **Nadir** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:12 pm

Along the top edge of it ('wrong' ends visible on the bay) and down the rear edge. You'll need to work with hand inside the arch.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:14 am

All but the smaller one at the top front corner should have captive nuts. If you're unlucky some of the ones at the back may have seized, which is awkward because the captive nuts are inside a closed box section.

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:16 pm

Right ok! both front wings were unbolted today, they came of a treat! all the bolts were easy to undo and where relitively clean.

My next question is what is the original method of sealing the wing against the car along the top edge?? I have seen people use pannel beading along the inside but mine was annoyingly done with some kind of mastic?

Which is the original method??

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:18 am

Depends on the age of the car. Wing piping was used up until a certain age (late 50s I think, the early 1000 period, but I dont have a book to hand to check this), then it was, erm, 'some kind of mastic'....
Up to you really; mastic is a better seal (make sure to leave the drain channel near the back edge clear) but wing piping looks neater and is less messy if you want to take the wing off at any time.