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MG MGA - My Bad Day(s) *Not as bad as steve's below!

After spending sooo much time making my inner fenders look good it all went out the window. Seems as though to pass inspection here you MUST undercoat the inner fenders. I tried to find some translucent undercoating but was unable to. Had to go with black Waxoyl Hardwax.
(I should have chip coated, primed, and then panited but was so short on time that I was unable to. Well, next time.)

In any case, while I was re-fitting the rear-rear splash plate I was having a tough time getting the plate mounted to the lower fender. I tugged ever so slightly on the fender, heard a crack and suddenly a nice crack formed in the fender ruining lots of paint and hours in the process. Goes to show that these cars are solid but 47 year old metal can still fatigue. Think I will braize the crack and re-paint. Huge setback as this, too, needs to be fixed prior to passing inspection.

Could be worse, I know. Just a bit frustrating is all.
Tom Baker

Ouch. I feel for you. :(
Steve Simmons

Hi Tom. I would advise against brazing if at all possible, and opt for MIG welding instead. When brazing body panels, brazing flux residue is left behind, no matter how carefully you wire brush and chemically clean the area. The new paint will go on and cover OK, but in several months, the paint usually starts to blister.
Glenn

Hello Tom - I agree with with Glenn but also even if you do decide to braze the pannels and you get all of the flux off, paint will still not stick to the braze. But lead does stick very well and paint does stick to lead if you decide to go that route. I have read that the Japanese are tough on car inspections and that they encourage you to buy new ones every few years. Is that true Tom? I was told that is why in magazines like Autoweek you used to see ad's for low milage engines and transmissions from Japan. Gary
gary starr

Hi Gary, Glenn, Steve, and all,

I have a mig welder. Got pretty proficient with it during the restoration but I cannot afford a gas tank to use it. Maybe I can contact one of my car friends and see if I can at least find a good gas weldor since I am no good as gas welding. Thanks for the info about braizing, you may have saved me lots more aggrevation.

Glenn, to answer your questions, yes, it is true that the Japanese are very strict on the inspections, much like Europe I'm sure. And yes, they do encourage people to buy new cars every couple of years. Better yet, the tack on so may fees and regulations that it's almost easier to get a new car. The typical Japanese does not like second hand anything so the cars end up in junkyards and auctions. Ironically, the used car market here booms as well. Usually targeted to young people or the financially challenged.

You routinely see nice new looking cars at the junkyard. This is where i can find hoses, clamps, fuses, wire, you name it. My daily driver is a 1994 Toyota Carina, like a wide Camry.
It had one year of inspection, one-owner, only 1K Km (6000) miles, a mound of maintenance receipts (why?) all for $700.00. A Nice mga will bring $20-30K.
Tom Baker

Two alternatives to your welding. One is that uou con gas weld usong steel welding rod. No flux needed. A good idea to practice on some spare metal before you tackel the fender though as you need to heat the rod and material to be welded to a temp where the rod will melt into the material without melting a hole in it. Its not as hard as it sounds. I did the entire sill and rockers on an A I did back in the seventies befor I had mig. The disadvantage of this is that the heat from welding will likley distort the panel. The other potion is to use wire that is has a shielding agentin it. check with a welding supplier. John
J.H. Hall

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2004 and 09/11/2004

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