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Replacing Capri Wing

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:59 pm
by tommurphy73
Hi,

I have to replace my Capri front wing. I have already removed it by drilling the spot welds on the top and removing the bolts connecting to the front panel. I had to cut along the rear part of the wing as I could not get at the welds at the back because of the door. My question is if it is possible to replace the wing without removing the door? Also the fit at the rear of the wing was not too good and the door gap appears very wide. Any tips on improving this. The wing is from Hadrian car panels.

Regards
Tom

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:07 pm
by Coops
for best fittment you will need to remove the door to make it look factory fit mate,
you may have to weld a strip on the back edge of the wing to close the gap up,

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:57 pm
by Capri2.8i
Good advice, best to remove the door.. although i know the drivers side is a bugger.

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:09 pm
by tommurphy73
What is the difficulty with removing the drivers door?

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:05 pm
by Capri2.8i
To remove the drivers door you need to remove the full dash to gain access to the top mounts of the door. (3 nuts)
So lots of dismantling.........

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:25 pm
by tommurphy73
Removing the dash does not sound like much fun. It feels like I have been taking the capri to pieces since I got it. It all started off trying to fix a dent only to find that there was a huge lump of filler at the back of the wing and the best option was to replace it.

Tom

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:19 pm
by fleurbygerby
removing the dash isn't too much hassle, I'm a girl and I've managed to remove two dashes now without breaking a single bit, just think methodically and its all cool. Oh and keep a pot nearby for putting the screws and bolts in!

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:07 pm
by jamesok
I need to replace my wing also

Where is the best place to get one or are they made by the same person

I have had a wing replaced before by a so call pro comp

But it was not lined up prop the to edge did not match the stuttle

Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:07 am
by fleurbygerby
I have been told by a whole bunch of peope that your best bet is if you can get an original wing, rather than a more modern replica...

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:53 am
by chiefcapri2.8
I hate to say this but, unless you're 1) made of money, and 2) lucky enough to find one, then a genuine wing is pretty much a pipe dream!
Yes of course genuine is going to fit better, but some of the pattern stuff is not that bad. I've replaced around 5 or 6 wings on the capris i've owned over the years, unfortunately it something your going to have to learn how to do if you want to own a capri!
The best advice is;
1) remove the old wing as carefully as possibly, drill out the spot welds instead of just trying the rip the wing off. It takes longer but the more metal your left with underneath the better your chances of getting the new one lined up.
2) obviously prep the inner wing ready for the new panel.
3) when you order a new wing, don't be scared to take it back!!! You have rights as a customer and if the thing is a mile off demand a refund!! There are loads of companies doing pattern panels, try someone else if your not happy!!
4) try offering the panel up to the inner wing. Use mole-grips or clamps to simulate where the welds will be so you can get a good idea of the position the wing will sit in.
5) for the best fit the door will have to go on and off many times so you can adjust, check the lines, re-adjust, re-check. Unfortunately that's the way it is, no avaoiding it if you want it to look right so just get on with it!
6) now it's time to get the hammer out! :shock: If you want it to fit, the wing will need 'tweaking'. bend and shape the edges uses hammers, pliers, etc until you close all the fitment gaps up and your happy.
7) don't be afraid to 'tweak' the inner wing! Pattern panels are well, patterns of original panels (usually moulded from the inside) and tend to be smaller, hence they fit a little 'tighter'.
8 ) use strips of steel as spacers or to fill wider gaps, just remember to weld them ALL to each other though!

If you give yourself a weekend to work with and are prepared to tweak the wing till it's right, then there is no reason why a £60 pattern panel cannot be made to fit very, very well.
At the end of the day, with all things Capri, the job you end up with is only as good as the time you put in! :D

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:30 pm
by IanD
Yep, and here's a crap fitting pattern passenger wing :evil: :evil:

Image

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:53 pm
by allfords
fleurbygerby wrote:I have been told by a whole bunch of peope that your best bet is if you can get an original wing, rather than a more modern replica...
I have just put new pattern wings on my capri which cost me £116 the pair
and Nos ford wings are roughly £350 each.

With the right amount of playing with and preperation you can get that factory look with all the right gaps and lines and wing height.

you got to work out your labour getting the job right against the cost of genuine wings and i saved bundles.

Food for thought!

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:53 am
by MKIII24V
What make of wings did you get?

Wings

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:42 pm
by guardianangel
Hi Guys, read through the thread, but i have been told the quality of the metal is also a factor. Can anyone advise the best company to deal with or make of pattern wings to go for? The two names I have had so far are Haidrians and express steel.