Front inner wing / Dome panel

[BobM]

Has anyone experience of replacing the front inner wing dome panel. The replacement panel I have, like so many,
looks well made but when offered into place has the wrong contour in critical positions. This is at it's worst where it meets the curved edge of the bulkhead above the cross member.
Does anyone know of a supplier of a Dome Panel that fits satisfactorily with minimal adjustment?

[Steve Phillips]

In my experience its very rare that you need to replace the whole panel as often its only the flat face that joins the inner wing / A post and the bottom 1" where it joins the sill top that's rusted through,
so normally I just replace those two sections, if these repairs are let into the original panel correctly it will be invisible and just as strong,

Why do I go to the effort of repairing rather than replacing? For the simple reason as you say the repair panels often don't fit that well,

Sorry I don't know of anyone commercially producing good panels anymore, you may have to cut and shut your repair panel to get a good fit, or at least bend it to suit on the bench before welding it in, but always remember to check and double check that the body hasn't moved at all when you cut the original panel out,

Regards

Steve

[ManyMinors]

On my car I too simply repaired the edge of the domed inner panel where required as I couldn't find a well made complete one.

[Rolomorris]

I have replaced both front inner wing dome panels and you are right in that the fit is awful. I started with the near side and decided that the only bit which was correct was the 2 inch hole that is on the right angle strengthing panel onto the front bulkhead so I made up a jig to line up and clamp the panels together. Then by cutting welding and bending I fitted each flange of the new wing to existing panels and moved on to the next part each time removing the wing to adjust it and using the jig to line it up, it took a long time. I seem to remember I had to take about 20 mm of the outside edge. When I came to fit the inner wing to the off side I had stretch it to fit, again it took a long time. Would I do it again, probably as I am pleased with the result.