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MG MGB Technical - Fitting front wing/fender

I've just been trial fitting two new front wings to my '72 Roadster. Needless to say they don't fit but I hope time will sort that. My queries so far are:
1. Where do the large oval washers go? I thought there was only one fitted on the inside at the last fixing point to the scuttle. I.e the fixing immediately above and slightly inboard of the door pillar. However, the Moss kit provides two for each wing fixing set. Are they being generous, or have I got the placing incorrect?
2. During the strip down I also removed two strong rectangular washers from the inside at the other two wing/scuttle fixings, but the Moss kit provides none. Any ideas why? The originals are pretty beefy but other than that I can't see an advantage of rectangular over the new round ones.
3. Should the wing get pulled tight to the scuttle at any point or is necessary/desirable to space it off with washers? Linsay Porter (MGB Purchase & Restoration Guide, page 79) says not to draw the two tightly together but it's not clear to me if this is just at the last fixing or at all three.
Regards
Richard
Richard Coombs

Hi Richard.. I always fit the rectanglular washers to the two bolts which clamp the wing where the beading is. It helps spread the load more evenly and avoids the risk of a round one pushing the top of the top deck panel up. If necssary with the round ones cut a flat. Do NOT tighten the rear most bolt all the way, it will pull the wing too far back and may cuase it to foul the door, use it to adjust the panel gap between door and wing then fit spacer washers between wing and door if you would feel happier with the bolt tighened. Now tighten the other two securely. Regards Jim
jim soutar

The original parts book shows Washer- Oblong- Large AFH2627, 2 required, ie one on each side. It states that these are not normally supplied in a wing fitting kit.

Why would you not pull the wing in tight? When I put the wings on my GT I did everything up tight and didn't space anything. What I did do, was to put lots of seam sealer into the joint with the beading to prevent water from finding a way between the metal edges.

Fitting wings is a tricky job, but you can make them look OK. Might take hours of work mind you. My rear wings were worse. The supposed Heritage panels were nowhere near the right fit. I reckon it took me 20 hours per wing to get them on.
Mike Howlett

Richard should read. spacer washers between wing and scuttle Jim
jim soutar

Thank you both.
Jim, I can't fit the oblong washers at the points you mention because they are too long and foul either the front or the rear of the scuttle respectively. Thanks for the ideas though, particularly about the rear most bolt. Most useful.
Mike, you're right about the parts lists. One of my problems was that a fitting kit for one wing does actually provide two oblong washers which would suit Jim's method, except I can't use it. Thanks for the 'do it up tight' advice. From what I tried today that certainly seems the way to go for the two bolts under the beading.
Regards
Richard
Richard Coombs

I'm removing the wings from my 2 LH roadsters at the moment. One is a rusted out junker the other is in pretty decent shape.
The oval washers were on the rear 2 bolts of the left hand wing, with a round washer on the front bolt. I haven't gotten to the right side yet.
I was able to remove the rear bolt on the good car using a short wrench without removing the dash. The junker was easier to work on as the dash is rusted apart so I just ripped it off.
Andy Taylor

Andy,
Curiouser and curiouser. As you may have seen from my earlier note I've found it impossible to get the oval washers on either of the two positions which sit under the wing beading strip. I was so surprised by your email that I've just gone and had another look to make sure I was not going mad. One will go at the rearmost hole but none at the two holes under the beading. On my roadster the scuttle metalwork at the rear has a U section which holds a stud for mounting the dash. The end of this section is no more than 1/2" from the hole for the wing bolt. At the front there is about 3/4" before more scuttle metal gets in the way; still not enough. Is your roadster the US variety with the large crash roll on the dash. Perhaps the mountings changed and gave enough room for the larger washer? Another thought,I suppose we are talking about the same oval? The ones I have are 2" x 1".
Either way, with four wings to look at it will be interesting to hear what combinations of washers you have.
Regards
Richard
Richard Coombs

Richard
I'm interested in what you are doing because soon I will have to replace the front wing on my GT. I wonder if it might be possible to come over and see what you are doing. Please e-mail me.
Thanks
Bob Marshall
Bob Marshall

Hi Bob,
No problem. As I'm retired I'm around most days. Give me a call on 01747 860700.
Regards
Richard
Richard Coombs

Richard,
Yes, both of mine are US spec LHD. I was not able to get a socket in, even when I removed the brake light check switch. But I think that there is more than a 1/2" between body and the dash bracket, as I was just able to get a wrench in and slowly undo the rearmost bolt. But there again, not a lot more. I went at it 2-3 times in 2 evenings.
The plate washers are 2" x 1".
On to the right (passenger) side now.
Cheers
Andy Taylor

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2008 and 11/09/2008

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