Front offside wing repair pt5...

So a first time for me... lead loading. Cleaned the surfaces with flux paste and started melting the lead sticks along the joint and over the spot welds - the first few inches I had more lead on the ground until I got the right melting point figured out.

Using a flat and half-round file I quickly removed the excess lead and started reshaping the edge.

Since these photos I've used a dual action sander and found that the spot weld will need body filling as the lead is too soft even using by hand a fine wet and dry paper unless its my skill level?

5hrs

Front offside wing repair pt4...

Spot, spot, spot... a day out of the garage with parts that needed spot welding. Over to Dick's garage to use his welder.

Started by marking out where I needed the swages at the ends. We then starting at the centre point on the edge down towards the ends removing cleco's and clamping on the way to ensure a good contact.

With the front section done we repeated the process towards the back. After a break to the let the welder cool down and give our arms a rest - (it's bloody heavy!) we flipped the wing to see the overlap and welded along the flange edge.

Even thou there's still a far amount the finishing to do - the results look good.

4hrs

Front offside wing repair pt3...

Both ends of the repair panel needed work to make them fit correctly. I started by reshaping the outer flange which needs to follow the shape more accurately. Cutting small V slits in the flange allowed me reduce the amount of material making it easier to achieve the profile.

With front done, I repeated the process at the rear – both will need final trim once the main section has been spot welded.

A quick fit back on the car reveals the inner wing arch will need some additional adjustment at the front.

2hrs

 

Front offside wing repair pt2...

Change of plan from earlier post, after talking to a chap who's replace a few wheel arches on 7s I'm now cutting along the upper edge of the face.

Cutting off the swaged part of the panel and spot and welding it in place. Then finishing off the edge face by lead loading.

I started by using masking tape to give me a line along just past the return of the face. Using a angle girder with a cutting disk on remove the old arch.

I've used cleco pins to hold in place for welding. Both ends of the arch need extra work and cutting to help fit.

2hrs

Front offside wing repair pt1...

I've been thinking long and hard about this... repair or replace? . . . . . . . Finally decided to have a go at repairing and it looks crap replace IT!

The wings has been off the car for a while now as I still haven't found a suitable inner wing panel yet.

I was thinking back to the days when helping my dad in his wood workshop - he always made a jigs to hold things in place while assembling projects.

So with an old table (out of the green house) I place the wing on top and using some wooden battens as stops and clamps the hold it. I guess with the lip removed the rigidity of the wing will suffer and welding the repair panel in the wrong place would course fit issues later.

I ordered a repair arch from Robsport and lead sticks and solder paint off ebay for filling and repairing the rear lower flange edge.

I clamped the new arch in place and scribed a edge which need to cut back from by 5mm. Both ends of panel will need some work to get it to fit.

4hrs

Inner front wing...

I had fun with the 'descaler' - found lots of rust around inner wing and turret.

Looks like the two inner wing 'support brackets' that are spot welded to the inside of the turret (damper side) is the result of all the rusting - well done Triumph!

I think the best way forward is to replace the whole inner wing which gives me good metal to weld to especially when repairing the hole in the engine bay behind the turret and this also gives a good arch edge to work to when repairing the wing arch or lead loading.

Couple of small holes either side of turret – I will cut out squares and use the flanger on patches so they are not visible after painting.

2hrs