Rear wing replacement GT6/Spitfire

[SteveA]

So I'm considering replacing the rear wing of my MkIII GT6, does anyone have any hints or tips on how best to do this? I plan to hire a spot welder with all the appropriate arms, so hopefully that should allow me to reach all the right areas, but how does the front of the wing attach to the sill?

 

Thanks

[JMH]

A good MIG should be adequate; if using a spot welder you need 100 % clean surfaces and a lot of trial and error....

Rear wings was originally brazed to outer sill but only 2-3 small welds.

 

You might find some rot at the lower inner B-post panel - and a good repair require removing of the dogleg (or entire wing).

  

Take a look at some of the pics on my blog (2008 and earlier), about the same amount of work as for an early spitfire.

[SteveA]

Thanks for the info. I'm guessing that it is best to keep the door in place as it allows you to line it up properly, but should I be bracing anything as I cut the old wing away? I've a feeling I will end up completely removing the outer wing on the other side of the car, so I can make a better job of fitting the inner wing, there is a good 150mm between welds at the moment no wonder there is a gap between the panels at the seams.

Also, how do you recommend fitting the new wing with MIG? just drill holes in the new panel (6mm?) every inch or so and plug weld?

[JMH]

Yep - keep door in place. You don't need to bracing up doors imho. Do you have to replace the inner wing??? Or is it only outer wheel arch repair panel (btw - they are a good repro for later cars...)?

 

Buy or borrow a punch tool (best a combined joggler/punch), a danish produced quality tool is about �50; should be cheaper in UK though!

 

Make lots of plug welds!

 

*edit*

aaaaaah - good old ebay  8)

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Joddler-with-Punch-%28Joggler%29-Edge-Stepping-Tool_W0QQitemZ260531540395QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=161997075450&rvr_id=161997075450&cguid=43ad190d11d0a0e202c5d8e5ff0fa3c8

 

(danish btw - I have one of these)

[Mark]

I replaced the rear wing on my MK2 GT6 recently. I always take lots of pics before I start anything because inevitably these things can take longer than expected, and although everything seems straight forward when you start its good to have something to refer back to.  Be prepared to find rot when the wing is removed. I ended up replacing inner wheel arch and making numerous other repairs. I always start by painting a bit of stripper around al the seams and then wire brush off to bare metal, makes finding all the spot welds and braising easier when drilling out. There was lots of original lead loading by the door striker plate and door shut which must have been done at the factory to get the door gap to rear wing gap even which I had to melt away so the new wing could be welded on. I have always used a hole punch and mjg to weld wings on. If you set it up right the welds appear virtually the same as spot welds with very little grinding. When plug welding make sure the two surfaces are perfectly flush and clamped tightly together, otherwise the seams will open up, look a mess and tricky to rectify.

 

Blue