Has anyone that's undertaken their own body restoration removed a front wing in tact with minimal damage to enable it's successful re-fit (say after a sill replacement, splash closing panel etc) ? If so, how did you accomplish it?
I performed a forum search but nothing relative to my question came up.
My LH wing in question appears to be solid in all the normal trouble areas as it had been replaced in a previous repair back in the late 80's due to collision damage so hoping to save a genuine panel. If not, then at a minimum I'd cut the bottom rear of the wing to expose the sill end and A-post then either re-use this original portion or a SOCTFL repair panel 907071RLR.
I am in the process of a full restoration and my experience so far in removing the rusted RH / Drivers front wing has proven very difficult and destructive due to how badly it had been previously replaced in early 80's by a so called 'professional' body repairer. See pictures.
IMG_3355.jpg Before7.jpg
It would appear that the repairer (probably wearing boxing gloves to work in
) had bodged the job by bashing the granny out of the RH end of the front forward panel (907073), then applying a heavy braze in the indentation to attach the new wing then cover with a thick layer of body filler, over 3/8" at its maximum depth ! I'm replacing said front panel anyway so I had to take a grinder cutting wheel to it to enable detaching the old wing. Similar heavy brazing method was used on the wing attachment to the top deck of bulkhead, resulting in more mis-shapen metal and damage to repair. The RH end of the top headlamp panel will need rebuilding too due to damage and deep pitted rust.
My dilemma is, should I bite the bullet, as I'm doing a full body restoration, and also fully remove what appears to be a good, solid LH wing giving me an opportunity to expose, check and epoxy zinc prime the inner wheel arch cavities? But I'm reluctant due to the issue found with the RH wing and the resulting damage to surrounding areas. As said, I'll be replacing the front forward panel anyway so I'd also get an opportunity to check that a more conventional attachment of the LH wing at this joint was undertaken by the other body repair shop involved in the later repair.
It's all about damage limitation vs doing the job right. I'd hope to avoid the cost of a new LH wing and any possible issues of today's ill-fitting replacement panels.
Cheers Ray.
I performed a forum search but nothing relative to my question came up.
My LH wing in question appears to be solid in all the normal trouble areas as it had been replaced in a previous repair back in the late 80's due to collision damage so hoping to save a genuine panel. If not, then at a minimum I'd cut the bottom rear of the wing to expose the sill end and A-post then either re-use this original portion or a SOCTFL repair panel 907071RLR.
I am in the process of a full restoration and my experience so far in removing the rusted RH / Drivers front wing has proven very difficult and destructive due to how badly it had been previously replaced in early 80's by a so called 'professional' body repairer. See pictures.
IMG_3355.jpg Before7.jpg
It would appear that the repairer (probably wearing boxing gloves to work in
) had bodged the job by bashing the granny out of the RH end of the front forward panel (907073), then applying a heavy braze in the indentation to attach the new wing then cover with a thick layer of body filler, over 3/8" at its maximum depth ! I'm replacing said front panel anyway so I had to take a grinder cutting wheel to it to enable detaching the old wing. Similar heavy brazing method was used on the wing attachment to the top deck of bulkhead, resulting in more mis-shapen metal and damage to repair. The RH end of the top headlamp panel will need rebuilding too due to damage and deep pitted rust.My dilemma is, should I bite the bullet, as I'm doing a full body restoration, and also fully remove what appears to be a good, solid LH wing giving me an opportunity to expose, check and epoxy zinc prime the inner wheel arch cavities? But I'm reluctant due to the issue found with the RH wing and the resulting damage to surrounding areas. As said, I'll be replacing the front forward panel anyway so I'd also get an opportunity to check that a more conventional attachment of the LH wing at this joint was undertaken by the other body repair shop involved in the later repair.
It's all about damage limitation vs doing the job right. I'd hope to avoid the cost of a new LH wing and any possible issues of today's ill-fitting replacement panels.
Cheers Ray.
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