mk1 front wings(fenders)

[ateichert]

Just removed the front fenders on my 61 countryman. Mine were weld where they meet the scuttle. I have watched many videos and nobody has ever mentioned rewelding then to scuttle. I don't even see how you could even if the closing panel is removed. What do people do in this case?
Thanks Mike

[bwaminispeed]

Factory stopped welding them, I think early mid 70s......They did it to let water drain through better, and, help prevent rusting in that area.....

[Peter Laidler]

That's very interesting. I noticed that there was quite a gap on my 2000 RCSport 500. I sprayed a lot of SUPERTROL-001 down there. I don't know where it all ended up but it was a VERY convenient place to add the rust preventative.

[MrNoo]

I tend to braze the gap there then clean out with a round file

[Costafortune]

Use 3M panel adhesive - with both surfaces primed you can get the wing fitted and wipe off what is squeezed out. It's stronger than spot welding.

[redrobbo]

Just removed the front fenders on my 61 countryman. Mine were weld where they meet the scuttle. I have watched many videos and nobody has ever mentioned rewelding then to scuttle. I don't even see how you could even if the closing panel is removed. What do people do in this case?
Thanks Mike

Just in the process of fitting the front on my 62.

Do you have a picture of the welding please?

[bwaminispeed]

It's on the flange that folds over at the Scuttle corner, there are 3 or 4 spotwelds before the closing plate is put in......

Factory stopped doing this somewhere in the mid seventies, to help forestall rust in this area.....This area was left totally unwelded, and, no seam sealer was used either, it is left completely open to allow water to more easily drain away.......

It seems to have worked to some degree, as, all my "open seamed" cars have much less rust in this area compared to any of my welded and sealed ones.......

My recommendation, would be, trust the factory on this, and, leave it unwelded, unsealed, and, only use oil type products for rust protection in this area.....

[nick@dunsdale]

Came across a few over the years that have a two or three welds through the downward flange on the rear of the wing to the forward facing area of the scuttle.

Back in the day with bad fitting panels and just not as much care taken people used to fill this area with a filler and sand a groove, this was never any good as the filler always cracked

Also seen them seam welded here and the use of a dremel cut a groove to a metal finish, looked quite effective and no water penetration, but best way would be an open joint with the scuttle joint and back edge of the wing primed with an epoxy primer before fitting the wing