TR2/3/3A TR3 Fender [Wing] Beading

[martx-5]

I'm ready to put the wings on the TR3, and searched through the archives for the best way to do this job without scratching the paint. There doesn't seem to be any general concensus other then having some help with the project. I will most likely have to do this by myself. There was a post by <span style="font-weight: bold">Russ Austin </span>that said he had pop riveted the beading to the fenders, and has had the front apron on and off several times with no problems. Anybody else do this??? It sure sounds like the way to handle this sticky situation.

And Russ, if you're out there, I'd appreciate a little more detail on your procedure. Did you do both the front and rear?? It really sounds like the way to go.

 

[NickMorgan]

My beading is held onto the front wings by small screws that are accessible when the bonnet is open. I put a bit of pvc electrical tape on the bottom of each tab when I fitted the wings so that they would not scratch the paint. I then removed this once the wing was fitted. When I took the front panel off last winter, I managed to scratch the paint with one of the tabs. Maybe I should have left the tape on there!

 

[newmexTR3]

I concur with Nick there on the tape. When I did this years back, I also used electrical tape on the ends of the tabs. I recall that I had some issues with a tight fit as well, and ended up trimming up to 1.5 inches from some of the tabs to make the job easier.

That being said, if at all possible, I would not do this alone. 2 or even 3 people will ensure that you don't scratch your paint as I did even though I taped and tried to be as slow and patient as possible.

Art, when are you thinking of doing this? I wouldn't mind taking a drive out on the island and I could come help you.

Cheers,
Gavin

 

[Russ Austin]

Hey Art; I did not do the rear wings, I did the front wings only. I've had the bonnet off numerous times without any problems or scratching the paint. Man those tabs are sharp!

 

[rlandrum]

Hmm.. Does it make sense to file or grind the tabs so that they don't have sharp points?

 

[newmexTR3]

IMHO, they're too thin to blunt very much by grinding or filing.

 

[Don Elliott]

I use tape to hld the tabs on the front fenders only. And only on the curves where the front valance mates with it. I put each tab just above each bolt hole and tape it to stay there. After the valance is in place and I insert the bolts, the tab is very close to each bolt where it will hold the beading in tightly. The tape - plus placing each tab just above each bolt hole takes advantage of the bolt which prevents each and every tab from sliding all the way down to the bottom - or at least down to the next bolt location.

 

[martx-5]

That being said, if at all possible, I would not do this alone. 2 or even 3 people will ensure that you don't scratch your paint as I did even though I taped and tried to be as slow and patient as possible.

Art, when are you thinking of doing this? I wouldn't mind taking a drive out on the island and I could come help you.

Cheers,
Gavin

I'll be doing the rear wings first, probably this weekend. I'll take your advice and line up a friend of mine from the Long Island Triumph Association to help me out, as he has done this before. Apparently the rears aren't so tough, as everyone keeps talking about what they had to do to get the front together. When I get to that point, (in another week or two) if I feel I need extra help, I'll drop you a PM. Thank you very much for you're offer Gavin...I may be in touch.

 

[DNK]

Dang, wish my cars had wings.
It would beat the heck out of freeway traffic :laugh:

 

[NickMorgan]

Dang, wish my cars had wings.
It would beat the heck out of freeway traffic :laugh:

Put some Red Bull in the gas tank!