The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I am contemplating doing a repair on the inner front panel of my car, twin headlamp style, if it is feasible do it with the outer wings still fitted has anyone done it this way before?, the panel is rusted where the outer headlamps are fitted.l have taken the headlamps off to examine the area from the front and it appears that the eyebrow is OK although I do have 2 metal replacements if needed.
I would suppose that the eyebrow cannot be replaced with the wings on, and would have to be removed and refitted in several pieces if it had to be replaced, it looks like the headlamp mounting panel is spotwelded to the inner, is it? The problem would be separating the eyebrow and inner panels from each other without too much damage to the eyebrow especially if it is OK on closer inspection. So can the job be done well enough with the wing on, I would by the club repair panels which I assume are used to overlap the original panel.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

You would have to trim the repair panels for the inner valance to fit them with the wing/outer front panel in place but it can be done; it all depends how far your rust has progressed...

You would need both wing and outer valance removed to replace the eyebrows.

Yes, the headlamp mounting panels are welded in place.

Some pictures here showing the extent of the repair sections:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=22570&start=45

Removing the wings is a pain, easy to get at the spot welds on top, but the flange near the door is very difficult to access.

Saying that you're between a rock and a hard place, because welding in that confined space will not be fun. Odds are there will be more rot lurking than you can see at the moment. I have repaired both sides in that area, but I replaced the front panels with GRP.

To be honest that area of the car is a terrible design, pretty much guaranteed to rot from day one.