Inner Wing Repairs

[victorvan]

I need to carry out some repairs to my 1968 saloon inner wings. The rear quarter of the wing (hidden behind the outer wing) has gone , also a bit of the wheel arch at the bottom where it meets the inner wing, and I believe I will have to replace the door pillars as well ! Does anyone have any experience of this repair ? Can it be done with the car still sitting on its wheels or will the body distort when I satrt cutting things out ?

[bmcecosse]

You can do it on it's wheels alright. It's a VERY common rot area. Obviously start by removing the wing - and very possibly the door.

[mogbob]

If you have to remove the door and the A post ( front edge of door ) is badly rusted, then I suggest bracing the A post / cill
gap with a flat metal bar ( welded temporarily ).That way, re hanging the door , will be a lot easier.Soak the door hinge bolts
with Plus Gas ( several applications ) before attempting to remove the bolts.
The bolts go into a flat plate that is free to " float around" a little within the A post unseen.A ledge, particularly at the bottom, rusts out and gives way.The first you will know about it is when you release the last hinge bolt and there is a metalic " clonk " as the metal falls to the bottom.
Replace the plate in position and weld in a new ledge to support it,once the back of the A post is accessible.It will be too late went you have welded everything back together again !!

Study the suppliers' websites for a clear idea of what panels join what before starting.An awful lot can be done with a sheet
of metal ....if your fabricating skills are up to it !! On the other hand ..the more complicated the panel, it sometimes pays to
buy the panel because of the " saving " in time.Quite often you can" cut down" the full panel to size, to solve your problem.
Clean everything up well ,so you are clear where the bad finishes and the good ( to weld to ) starts.Assess fully and then decide on your course of action.Photograph from every angle and take loads of measurements, from solid points that you are not going to cut out.
It's all do-able if you take care and don't rush it.

Bob

[stag36587]

Good advice from mogbob and as bmc says a very common rot area. I absolutely recommend bracing door gap with steel bar, not least because rot maybe a little more extensive than first appears. It's all relatively straightforward and the wheel arch section is a great place to test your panel beating skills. I was a complete novice when I did mine and it turned out - with patience- into a sound and cosmetically good repair. All the best with it!