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MG MGB Technical - Front wing difference

This'll undoubtedly earn me a numbnuts award, but I have to ask. Along with a lot of other work on the car over the last several years, I had repaired the minor rust damage on the lower section of the front wings on my '68 GT, then primed, remounted, and undercoated them. Somehow, throughout this whole process, I never noticed the 1-1/2" or so difference in the placement of the turn signal mounting openings, even after looking at the car from the front on a good many occasions! Reading a recent thread on the subject, I thought that I should go out and check my own fenders, as I knew the car had been wrecked on the right hand side and the fender repaired or replaced. Sure enough, the right wing turn signal placement is closer to the grill than that on the left side. I suppose this is a later model replacement fender, the earlier one being unavailable at the time.
I looked through the archives, hoping not to have to brong this subject to public light, but there was no solution found there except to change out one of the wings. I'm not so sure that I want to go this route due to all the work I've put into restoring these particular ones. So, has anyone cut out the surrounding area of one of these openings and moved it successfully? It looks like it could be moved inward, using a small patch and rewelding. Then, either filler or leadload to smooth the outline. I'm tempted to try to overlook the discrepancy; after all, I did that for several years! It's kind of a part of the car's history. I'm trying to convince myself that I'll be able to overlook it again after awhile. Any experience with doing this change? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Joe
Joe Ullman

Sounds like after doing a lot of work on these fenders you want to do MORE to correct this by patching. To me the easier fix is to replace one of the fenders and have right if its that much of a problem. You should be able to find a good rust free donor
william fox

Joe, you're absolutely correct. The early models had the turn signal closer to the grill than later models. To date I have not heard any other way to resolve a situation like yours other than replacement of the complete fender. Something else for your contemplation is that the current fenders have a different layout of the holes for tunsignal assembly attachment if you are reusing the original turnsignals.
Luis

I believe that Luis meant to say that the early cars had the wide gap between the parking lens and the grill. The later fenders have the narrow gap. I have not tried to correct this by splicing in a different front section, but have had a car with "mixed" fenders. I happened to have several of the correct type and just replaced one.
Ron Smith

My 1970 GT has mismatched wings. The mounting method for the headlight bowls are different and the little BL badges are also different colours!

I'm never sure what's original on my car and what isn't!

Simon
Simon Jansen

Joe - There is another consideration regarding fixing this situation - don't do anything untill one of the wings need replacing. Consider how long it was untill you discovered the problem after all the work you have done on the wings and all the times you have washed the car and not noticed the problem. Now, how many people are going to notice the problem from just a casual glance (I doubt that it is even noticed at the ABFM show). If anyone ever does notice it and comments on it, you can always tell them that, being a British car that is normally driven on the left side of the road, they are built with a slight right hand bias to make up for the difference. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I like that, Dave; I was thinking of an explanation along those same lines. I think what you have said is good advice! Everyone, thanks for your comments. I think I'll look at the upcoming swapmeets for a reasonably priced one to stick away till I need it, or I can't stand it anymore. Come to think of it, I better get one of each type, or sure enough the one that needs replaced will be the other kind...

Joe
Joe Ullman

Joe,
If the wing itself is OK and all is working as it should I would leave it be.
As you said it went un noticed for a long time and to be honest I was totally unuaware of it myself until I read the comments in Clausagers book adentifying the difference.
Enjoy the car!,
Cheers, Pete.
Peter Thomas

Thanks Ron, for that correction. Didn't have enought coffee before answering that question.:)
Luis

I knew what you meant though, Luis.
Pete, thanks for your comment. I think I'll leave it for the forseeable future unless I can get a good deal on a fender that I can carry home.

Joe
Joe Ullman

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2002 and 20/06/2002

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