- Thread starter Tom_M
- Start date
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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- 13,103
- Location
- CX near Chesterfield
Haynes doesn't cover replacing panels. Cut away as much as you can so you can see what is holding the wing on then get the drill out for the spot welds. Drill through the top layer of metal with something like an 8mm drill to weaken the weld and peel it off with a hammer and chisel through the seam. I use a mole grip once I have broken the end weld and roll it back like a sardine can opener.
the snooper
getting older by the day
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- 21,086
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- Hull UK
if you live near a machine mart go and buy a spotweld removing drill bit they make life easier you will need to remove all spot weld along the seam under the bonnet ,from memory i think you will have to remove the headlight and you will need to unbolt the end of the bumper as there are more spot welds where the wing meets the bumper.
also where the wing meets the door there is usually 1 bolt or nut cant remember which and i think you can get at it with the door open then there are spot welds along the seam where the wing meets the door and at the very bottom where the wing meets the sill oh yes befeore i forget you will have to remove the plastic wheel arch cover completely so its 1 wheel of to start then just drill the wing and spot weld back on.
good luck
also where the wing meets the door there is usually 1 bolt or nut cant remember which and i think you can get at it with the door open then there are spot welds along the seam where the wing meets the door and at the very bottom where the wing meets the sill oh yes befeore i forget you will have to remove the plastic wheel arch cover completely so its 1 wheel of to start then just drill the wing and spot weld back on.
good luck
. But thanks to you guys I think I can just about manage it. Thanks everyone for your advice, it's much appreciated. I wouldn't know what a MK.4 Fiesta was if it ran me over, but...
Couple of things...
Firstly, it's pretty obvious but you'll need to remove some stuff to do the wing, I'm betting that the indicator/head light will have to come off and probably the front bumper too. A lot of the time there's a plastic arch liner too. Possibly the earth lead off the battery?
Secondly, the way you used to go about it was to take a chisel (big bolster and a hammer, or an air chisel) and cut along the wing under the bonnet. The wing comes up to the bonnet, then folds down, and then flat again to rovide a lip for the pot welds. A decent chisel in the corner between the upright bit and the welded bit will usually do it.
Then le the front go, which seems to be a "tab" benath the indicator and behind the bumper most of the time these days, either the chisel or some tinsnips. Metal cutting discs are a bit unnecessary, and tend to result in unwamnted holes and fires.
With the top and the front free, the rear edge is next. Sometimes this is just welded at the bottom, sometimes it's welded all the way down the pillar. Whatever, WATCH THE PAINT ON THE DOOR!!!!
If the wing is just welded at the bottom to the sill it'll come off once you cut that bit free, if it's welded to the door pillar then you'll need the chisel again.
You may have to remove the door to fit the wing, I doubt it, but it wasn't that uncommon when I used to do this stuff. Having a bit of a survey of the job after you've removed bits, but before you cut anything should make it clear.
Strictly speaking, you ought to have the same number of welds in the same place when you re-fit the wing. Not doing so WILL have an effect on the vehicles crash performance, but wherther it's a real world difference or a theoretical one, is a matter of opinion.
Check the panel gaps BEFORE you weld the wing on. Does the door still open? Does the bonnet close? Are the gaps even between them and the new wing? Consider refitting the bumper as part of this check, especially if you're using a pattern (I.E. Not actually got a Ford sticker on it) wing.
If you don't have any suitable clamps, you can temporarily attach the wing using a few self tapping crews positioned where the plug welds are going to go. Once you're happy with the alignment, and you've got a fwe welds in, you can take the screws out, drill through the wing and plug the hole.
Finally, why does it need a wing? Rotted out? watch out for the mounting on the car being rotted too. That can add time to the job like you wouldn't believe.
Been crashed? If you're struggling with the alignment of the new wing, that might be why. Is the bumper, and it's mountings, straight?
Dented in a car park? Watch out for light fitting being broken and that sort of thing. It's a pain when you can't get the lights to stay in their hole at 8:30 on a Sunday evening and you need to drive to work in 12 hours.
Couple of things...
Firstly, it's pretty obvious but you'll need to remove some stuff to do the wing, I'm betting that the indicator/head light will have to come off and probably the front bumper too. A lot of the time there's a plastic arch liner too. Possibly the earth lead off the battery?
Secondly, the way you used to go about it was to take a chisel (big bolster and a hammer, or an air chisel) and cut along the wing under the bonnet. The wing comes up to the bonnet, then folds down, and then flat again to rovide a lip for the pot welds. A decent chisel in the corner between the upright bit and the welded bit will usually do it.
Then le the front go, which seems to be a "tab" benath the indicator and behind the bumper most of the time these days, either the chisel or some tinsnips. Metal cutting discs are a bit unnecessary, and tend to result in unwamnted holes and fires.
With the top and the front free, the rear edge is next. Sometimes this is just welded at the bottom, sometimes it's welded all the way down the pillar. Whatever, WATCH THE PAINT ON THE DOOR!!!!
If the wing is just welded at the bottom to the sill it'll come off once you cut that bit free, if it's welded to the door pillar then you'll need the chisel again.
You may have to remove the door to fit the wing, I doubt it, but it wasn't that uncommon when I used to do this stuff. Having a bit of a survey of the job after you've removed bits, but before you cut anything should make it clear.
Strictly speaking, you ought to have the same number of welds in the same place when you re-fit the wing. Not doing so WILL have an effect on the vehicles crash performance, but wherther it's a real world difference or a theoretical one, is a matter of opinion.
Check the panel gaps BEFORE you weld the wing on. Does the door still open? Does the bonnet close? Are the gaps even between them and the new wing? Consider refitting the bumper as part of this check, especially if you're using a pattern (I.E. Not actually got a Ford sticker on it) wing.
If you don't have any suitable clamps, you can temporarily attach the wing using a few self tapping crews positioned where the plug welds are going to go. Once you're happy with the alignment, and you've got a fwe welds in, you can take the screws out, drill through the wing and plug the hole.
Finally, why does it need a wing? Rotted out? watch out for the mounting on the car being rotted too. That can add time to the job like you wouldn't believe.
Been crashed? If you're struggling with the alignment of the new wing, that might be why. Is the bumper, and it's mountings, straight?
Dented in a car park? Watch out for light fitting being broken and that sort of thing. It's a pain when you can't get the lights to stay in their hole at 8:30 on a Sunday evening and you need to drive to work in 12 hours.
Thanks for the excellent advice, I'll need it when I get to put the new panel on. Yes the wing was completely rotten round the wheel arch and where it joins the sill. It's strange really, as the rest of the car is in an accumulate condition?
I did managed to get the rotten one off, thanks to all the members who advised me. God knows when I'll have enough money to buy a panel and paint to finish off, but luckily I still have the Astra to get about in until the Fiesta gets finished.
Thanks again everyone. I don't think I would of had the confidence to do the job without your help.
Best wishes,
Tom
I did managed to get the rotten one off, thanks to all the members who advised me. God knows when I'll have enough money to buy a panel and paint to finish off, but luckily I still have the Astra to get about in until the Fiesta gets finished.
Thanks again everyone. I don't think I would of had the confidence to do the job without your help.
Best wishes,
Tom
