Wing removal and front end overhaul

[ToledoZombie]

hi good people, here's a little photo update. Seems about every 6 month or so that i manage to get some work done. I'm currently working on the drivers side. I finally got round to ordering the headlamp panels from Alun this week so when i have tidied up the rest of the welding i shall try and get these fitted

[ToledoZombie]

No sooner said, then delivered! i just had to put a picture up of these as the quality is pure perfection. Very pleased and thanks to Alun for sending these to me.

[ToledoZombie]

Would anyone know the dimension of the angled mounting tab that fits between the headlamp panels and the inner front panel?

[xvivalve]

It protrudes 54 mm from the inner valance and is 76 mm high. The top of it is 80 mm from the top of the front panel and it is located 28 mm inboard of the circular headlamp hole. The front facing flanges are 19 mm wide.

[ToledoZombie]

Alun
That is brilliant! Thank you very much!

[ToledoZombie]

A little more progression this morning! The box section under the wings looked a little ropey so while I've got the wings off I thought I would chop out the old and put in some new

[Pippin]

Nice work!

[ToledoZombie]

Thanks. Its nice to have made a bit of progress!
I shall be finishing the last bits of welding this weekend and trial fitting the fibreglass panels

[ToledoZombie]

Welding has been finished, and Chuckie has been moved back home ready for the next part.
After crudely fitting the fibreglass front end with self tappers i can see i need to do a bit of fettling here and there to make it all fit.
I think the front panel will be the hardest part as it looks like it needs to be fitted and then pulled down a little.
If anyone can give me any tips on this before i start i'd appreciate it.

Thanks as always

[ToledoZombie]

here she is back home

[Carledo]

With regard to the front panel fitting, having done it twice now, you will need to tap the top of the inner front panel down slightly in the area of the "step" inboard of the headlights. Then make some reasonably generous holes for the bonnet mounting bolts and fit the bonnet, sandwiching the front panel in place. This will also allow you to get the bonnet/front panel gap right and consistent. Once you have that correct its just a matter of pulling the front panel down and screwing it in place, work from the top down. Dont worry if it has to come off more times than a tom's drawers, that's how it works! Don't forget to get the wings fitted simultaneously.
When you are completely happy with the fit, take it all off again, add a generous seam of Tigerseal to all the mating surfaces and refit with the screws then leave for the Tigerseal to set. Once its dry its there for good and you can, if you want, remove the screws and fill in the holes with more Tigerseal, however, being a belt and braces man, I left my screws in place except for a couple that fouled the grille fitting. The wings may need thinning a bit on the top face and just forward of the second bulkhead.

Steve

[ToledoZombie]

Steve
Many thanks for the great advice, Once i get the new fuel tank from Ken i will be able to get her in and out of the garage a bit more easily and so with some good weather i will progress with this.

[ToledoZombie]

With regard to the front panel fitting, having done it twice now, you will need to tap the top of the inner front panel down slightly in the area of the "step" inboard of the headlights. Then make some reasonably generous holes for the bonnet mounting bolts and fit the bonnet, sandwiching the front panel in place. This will also allow you to get the bonnet/front panel gap right and consistent. Once you have that correct its just a matter of pulling the front panel down and screwing it in place, work from the top down. Dont worry if it has to come off more times than a tom's drawers, that's how it works! Don't forget to get the wings fitted simultaneously.
When you are completely happy with the fit, take it all off again, add a generous seam of Tigerseal to all the mating surfaces and refit with the screws then leave for the Tigerseal to set. Once its dry its there for good and you can, if you want, remove the screws and fill in the holes with more Tigerseal, however, being a belt and braces man, I left my screws in place except for a couple that fouled the grille fitting. The wings may need thinning a bit on the top face and just forward of the second bulkhead.

Steve

You weren't kidding with the front panel fitting!! after 6 months of looking at it I started to have a fettle last night, its certainly going to need some pulling down!

What did you do to mate the lower wing edges to the front panel? I'm thinking speed fasteners?

[Carledo]

With regard to the front panel fitting, having done it twice now, you will need to tap the top of the inner front panel down slightly in the area of the "step" inboard of the headlights. Then make some reasonably generous holes for the bonnet mounting bolts and fit the bonnet, sandwiching the front panel in place. This will also allow you to get the bonnet/front panel gap right and consistent. Once you have that correct its just a matter of pulling the front panel down and screwing it in place, work from the top down. Dont worry if it has to come off more times than a tom's drawers, that's how it works! Don't forget to get the wings fitted simultaneously.
When you are completely happy with the fit, take it all off again, add a generous seam of Tigerseal to all the mating surfaces and refit with the screws then leave for the Tigerseal to set. Once its dry its there for good and you can, if you want, remove the screws and fill in the holes with more Tigerseal, however, being a belt and braces man, I left my screws in place except for a couple that fouled the grille fitting. The wings may need thinning a bit on the top face and just forward of the second bulkhead.

Steve

You weren't kidding with the front panel fitting!! after 6 months of looking at it I started to have a fettle last night, its certainly going to need some pulling down!

What did you do to mate the lower wing edges to the front panel? I'm thinking speed fasteners?

The bit I mentioned above about tapping down the top of the inner front panel is surprisingly crucial to making it fit! I held the wings to the front panel the same way as everything else, self drilling tapping bolts and Tiger seal, you just have to be a bit more careful drilling into the GRP. I guess a spire nut would give more security and spread the load better, I just didn't have any handy at the time!

Steve

[ToledoZombie]

Wow , 3 years goes so fast! Work takes over and before you know it , you realise not much has happened!
I decide to clear out the garage and finally found some motivation. The petrol tank Ken sent me had sat in primer for so long. So out came the paint and the tank and boot got a shiny new look. I then acquired some battery cable, new battery and tray and set to work ....