ByronJ
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- Jul 7, 2012
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Removing the front wings of an 80 series is a straightforward, if somewhat fiddly, process. The biggest challenge is locating the fixings then coping with removing corroded bolts. The bolts are mainly 10mm (M6) and 12mm (M8) heads, I found a 3/8” socket set a bonus as some of the fittings are in tight spots. I would much prefer to do this job under cover, especially if you plan to go on and remove the inner wings.
My suggested approach is documented below:
Remove the windscreen wipers.
Remove the scuttle under the wipers by undoing the six screws and slide the scuttle forward to remove it, this will reveal the wing bolt hidden underneath. A 90 degree screwdriver makes this job easy (or even possible) without having to remove the bonnet.
Remove the nut holding the aerial onto the wing.
Remove the centre grill. Two screws on the top, 3 along the middle of the grill.
Remove the trim on top of the headlight, two screws.
Remove the sidelight. One screw at the top then pull the whole fitting directly forward. The screw holding the sidelight in place is the rusty looking one to the far right (it's actually Moroccan dust not rust) . The one to its left is one of the headlight trim screws and the bolt above and to its left is one of the four holding the headlight in place. It will probably be hard to pull the sidelight forward as there is a location fitting as well but that is just an interference fit. Be patient it will move.
Remove the indicator. Two screws on the indicator face..
Unbolt the headlight. Four bolts. Two bolts are in plain sight, one is behind the sidelight and one behind the indicator. You should be able to leave the washer pipe attached and just move the headlight a few inches away from the wing.
Remove the 5 bolts on the top of the wing, note that one locates a rubber stopper.
Remove the bolt hidden behind the door
Remove three bolts at the front of the wing
Remove the mud flap. Three hex screws. You may need to replace the fixings if rusted badly.
Remove two bolts close to the side step at the underneath and rear of the wing. The bolts pass through a plastic spacer clipped to the wing.
Remove the nearby nut and bolt linking the wing to the inner wing.
Now remove the 5 bolts linking the outer and inner wing. These are the most likely to give trouble as the corresponding nut is held captive in a clip.
If the nut is turning within its plastic housing then you may have to cut the bolt off.
With all the fixings removed you will probably find the inner and outer wings are glued together along the arch where you just removed the last 5 bolts. I cut through this with a sharp knife and off came the outer wing.
The five holes along the bottom arch of the wing are where it attaches to the inner wing
The inner wings look like this when fitted.
And like this when removed.
Corroded fittings excepted, It is a simply enough job to remove the inner wing as all fixings are in plain sight (if some are in tight spots). However there is a lot of stuff bolted to them (especially the passenger side) that has to be detached. This includes the bonnet stays so be prepared to tie the bonnet to the roof of your garage.
Refitting is pretty much the reverse of the above procedure. I used a sealant between the inner and outer wings rather than a bonding adhesive. Any damaged fixings I replaced with stainless in M6 and M8. Always handy to have some of them around…
Though perhaps it is not a job for the faint hearted as the car looks like this with both inner wings removed.
Passenger side
Drivers side
My suggested approach is documented below:
Remove the windscreen wipers.
Remove the scuttle under the wipers by undoing the six screws and slide the scuttle forward to remove it, this will reveal the wing bolt hidden underneath. A 90 degree screwdriver makes this job easy (or even possible) without having to remove the bonnet.
Remove the nut holding the aerial onto the wing.
Remove the centre grill. Two screws on the top, 3 along the middle of the grill.
Remove the trim on top of the headlight, two screws.
Remove the sidelight. One screw at the top then pull the whole fitting directly forward. The screw holding the sidelight in place is the rusty looking one to the far right (it's actually Moroccan dust not rust) . The one to its left is one of the headlight trim screws and the bolt above and to its left is one of the four holding the headlight in place. It will probably be hard to pull the sidelight forward as there is a location fitting as well but that is just an interference fit. Be patient it will move.
Remove the indicator. Two screws on the indicator face..
Unbolt the headlight. Four bolts. Two bolts are in plain sight, one is behind the sidelight and one behind the indicator. You should be able to leave the washer pipe attached and just move the headlight a few inches away from the wing.
Remove the 5 bolts on the top of the wing, note that one locates a rubber stopper.
Remove the bolt hidden behind the door
Remove three bolts at the front of the wing
Remove the mud flap. Three hex screws. You may need to replace the fixings if rusted badly.
Remove two bolts close to the side step at the underneath and rear of the wing. The bolts pass through a plastic spacer clipped to the wing.
Remove the nearby nut and bolt linking the wing to the inner wing.
Now remove the 5 bolts linking the outer and inner wing. These are the most likely to give trouble as the corresponding nut is held captive in a clip.
If the nut is turning within its plastic housing then you may have to cut the bolt off.
With all the fixings removed you will probably find the inner and outer wings are glued together along the arch where you just removed the last 5 bolts. I cut through this with a sharp knife and off came the outer wing.
The five holes along the bottom arch of the wing are where it attaches to the inner wing
The inner wings look like this when fitted.
And like this when removed.
Corroded fittings excepted, It is a simply enough job to remove the inner wing as all fixings are in plain sight (if some are in tight spots). However there is a lot of stuff bolted to them (especially the passenger side) that has to be detached. This includes the bonnet stays so be prepared to tie the bonnet to the roof of your garage.
Refitting is pretty much the reverse of the above procedure. I used a sealant between the inner and outer wings rather than a bonding adhesive. Any damaged fixings I replaced with stainless in M6 and M8. Always handy to have some of them around…
Though perhaps it is not a job for the faint hearted as the car looks like this with both inner wings removed.
Passenger side
Drivers side
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