Can this panel be saved

[nick]

I know next to nothing about body work. And since the car is not running I can't take it to a body repair shop. So What do you think, can this panel be saved or should I start looking for a donor?





[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[Neil_W]

Hi - the panel is creased at the front which maybe dificult to push out plus access is not great from underneath.
The sides unbolts from the front wings then spot welds drilled out to remove the panel.

The panel is readily available in the UK as they have been remanufactured using the original BL press.

$290 plus shipping although Moss do the panel at $520 so might be a cost saving from the UK.

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-WKC4077

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProd ... exID=48150

Could of course buy a Bra for it to cover the dent.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-1981-Trium ... 436wt_1137

For UK fans this is a cover you slip over the front to stop road rash.

[silverseven]

they are not the best pics to properly view the damage, but in my opinion I'd say no.....

The nose panel area is rather soft up there, and the panel is buckled all the way past the tr7 decal. You would have to re+re the frt bumper, beat out what looks like a square crease of a trailer hitch receiver, then have to correct the 3 angles + the point of the nose .... by the time its completely repaired 3/4 of the panel will be with plastic!
(I'm also certain the reinforcement is buckled under the sheetmetal, which would also require more repair time ....)

New skin is rather hefty in price, and I'm pretty sure does not include the underpanel reinforcement..... so in my mind a used frt panel clip would be the way to go, and they are available often on ebay .......
btw just out of curiosity , are the fibreglass frt panels still available ???

Ron.

[supercass]

I would think a skilled panel beater could make an acceptable job using minimal filler. Problem is skilled panel beaters are now few and far between as most repairers now just replace panels. supercass

[Workshop Help]

It's a fixer. About 4.25 hours by a decent metal man. If he starts at 8:00AM, it can be in the paint shop after lunch. And, there won't be that much bondo on it, either.

Mildred Hargis

[mb4tim]

Is this panel structural? I ask, because this cold be a candidate for a fiberglass replacement piece. Bolt holes where it bolts, rivets or epoxy where it spot welds.

It looks like a bear to lay up in glass, but it would be locally available for guys on this side of the swamp.

-Tim
http://www.morSpeedPerformance.com

[Beans]

Agree with Mildred, repairing that damage should be easy for someone who knows what he's doing.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="3"><font color="red">My full Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size3"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[John Wood]

It's not structual, both metal and fiberglass replacements are available. It would take a skilled guy to get that back in shape, they are out there though.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[Cobber]

<font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">I'd rather look at dents and stone chips than have one of these hideous condom things on my car

The cure is worse than the complaint!</font id="Comic Sans MS"></font id="size2">




"Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"

80'Triumph TR7, 73'Land Rover (Ford 351. V8),
'89 Ford Fairlane
'98 MG-F, 69'Ford F250.
76' Ford F100

[dursleyman]

You just need to find a decent bodyshop. The metal all looks good so a skilled man should be able to do that no problem.

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

[nick]

Thanks for all the responses. Access to the area is complicated on this car by an air conditioning installation. I was hoping to keep it in tact but I have started removing it. Once the condenser is out access should be pretty good. I guess I'll get the car back on the road and start visiting a few shops and see what kind of response I get. But that won't happen for a while. Lots of work ahead from engine to brakes to who knows what else.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[nick]

[quote]Hi - the panel is creased at the front which maybe dificult to push out plus access is not great from underneath.
The sides unbolts from the front wings then spot welds drilled out to remove the panel.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When installing the new panel would you re-weld the spot weld areas or could fasteners be used?

Also, if the panel is easy to remove, would it facilitate a repair by first removing it from the car?

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[FI Spyder]

UK guys say can be repaired, N/A say not. It's true that in N/A we tend to remove panel and install new. In this case a used one would be good. The crux of it is finding a panel beater, a lost art these days and if you find one (here) you'd have to see end result before skim coat goes on or you might find a couple of pounds of Bondo there. If you were to remove it for repair, at that point you might want to replace it as Ron says. Easy to say it can be fixed but ultimately you'd have to take the advise of the person doing the job who would be willing to have his work inspected before finishing.



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[whitenviro]

If you want to repair it, the panel should stay in place. But if you remove it there wouldn't be much sense in trying to repair that panel. The time it would take to pound it back into shape would cost more than a replacement part. Once you have it off half of the work of replacing it is already done.

There is a guy in Portland breaking at least one car. He might have a good panel, but I think it would be from a DHC. I know there is a difference to the front grille trim but I think the panel is the same. I'll send you his info if I can find it.



[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[tr7sprint1]

Looks like a receiver hitch was backed into it. It's definitely a fixer.

I see my plan of attack to fix if it were mine.



<b>"GETTING SPEED OUT OF A LOW POWERED CAR IS OFTEN MORE REWARDING, THAN WITH TIRE-SMOKING BRUTES" </b>
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