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andydeans3 V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1994 Posts | Posted - 08 Mar 2019 : 17:55:23
| I've just refitted my wings after the various recent welding/restoration work.
I've always had a problem to get the rear wing beading right up tight into the corner below the rear window. This is made worse with fibre glass wings. Came up with this little trick.
Drill a small hole up at 45 degrees, right into the corner. Go inside the car, and having removed all the trim below the rear window, (Which I had already done), use a Dremel to cut out a little access window, to give you access to the inside end of the hole you just drilled. Do it carefully and it will be hidden behind the trim.
Fit an oblong washer to a long thin countersunk head screw, and use it to pull the beading right up tight into the corner. I made the washer out of a rail meant for 1/4 drive sockets. See photos below.
1978 LHD SAAB 96 1978 MGB Roadster 2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo 1991 Nissan Figaro |
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melle V4 Guru
United Kingdom 3830 Posts | Posted - 08 Mar 2019 : 21:31:46
| Great idea, however, wouldn't it be easier to use a pop rivet instead of a screw? No need to cut a window on the inside that way.
www.saabv4.com | |
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andydeans3 V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1994 Posts | Posted - 09 Mar 2019 : 10:15:47
| It might work with a pop rivet, depends how much good metal you've got there. Rivnuts would be better, because it's better to draw the wing in slowly.
I had all my trim out already, and had already cut an access window on both sides, to clean up, and treat the little box section that's hidden there, so it was easy just to drill a small hole through.
If you don't want to remove all your trim, and cut access windows, it would be worth trying a pop rivet, or perhaps a rivnut first.
The key is to use a flat, oblong, slightly dished washer. What you see in my photo is actually part of one of those rails that you keep sockets on. Small, 1/4" drive sockets.
1978 LHD SAAB 96 1978 MGB Roadster 2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo 1991 Nissan Figaro | Edited by - andydeans3 on 09 Mar 2019 21:58:41 | |
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Derek V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2187 Posts | Posted - 09 Mar 2019 : 11:51:24
| I don't think I'd want to be drilling new rust traps in that area. A hot air gun would likely soften the trim enough to get a neater corner but I'd guess that 99% won't notice a slightly rounded corner anyway. | |
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andydeans3 V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1994 Posts | Posted - 09 Mar 2019 : 21:45:55
| Derek I think it's easier to get a neat corner with steel wings. My rear wings are currently fibre glass, and it's a lot harder to get that seal neatly in there with fibre glass wings. I have the steel wings, which are slightly "religious", and plan to have them fettled, re-painted, and re-fitted as a medium term project... ie 1 to 3 years.
As far as rust traps are concerned - I'm very conscious of not making rust traps. I filled the hole with paint, followed by wax from the inside. I also spread vaseline on the underside of the rubber seal.
Andy
1978 LHD SAAB 96 1978 MGB Roadster 2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo 1991 Nissan Figaro | Edited by - andydeans3 on 09 Mar 2019 21:52:41 | |
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