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MG MGA - body flexing?

Hi,
I was talking to a guy from a body shop the other day, investigating having a respray. He thought that the cracking of paint across from the wing to bonnet might be the body flexing due to it not being mounted , shimmed correctly. (see picture attached)

The paint has micro blistering plus cracks, but I don't want to go ahead with the respray if the body needs shimming / mounting / packing first.

How can I check its mounted properly ? and has any other member had this problem ?

Kind regards

D J Joy

Hi, Cant see that this is an issue with the body flexing. If it was flexing to the extent that the paint cracked I think a problem like that would manifest itself in a more obvious and serious way. My read on the picture is just a reaction between the bodywork and the paint, maybe water got underneath the joint between the wing and body. Best way to check would be to grind the paint off a small section of the cracked paint and see what's underneath. My bet is that this is just old paint falling off.
AR Terry

The body has been over sprayed in situ as the wing piping has also been sprayed. I agree with AR, with moisture getting under the over spray. Needs cutting back with the wings removed.

Steve
Steve Gyles

You should really get rid of all the rust (there will be more you can't see) under the paint or else a few years down the line it will start coming through again. I'm afraid, like Steve says, you will have to remove the wings.................Mike
m.j. moore

Yes, the piping should be installed after the spraying. Don't spray without removing the fenders!
Art Pearse

There is only one route which is, as others say, wing off and back to bare good metal. I suspect welding will be required. I have had a car looking like this and that is what I had to do.

An interesting point is that back in the 70s almost all MGAs had oversprayed piping, including mine. Back then I used to be very impressed when I saw one that wasn't oversprayed. Now clearly it is the opposite.

Paul
Paul Dean

Thanks for the prompt replies.

I was going to take of the wings then back to bare metal and prime.

Do you put the final colour on then fix the wings back ?
If so when aligning the wings is there a danger of chipping the colour coat ?

jonathan
D J Joy

When I painted my car I finished spraying all the parts separately i.e. wings, body tub, splash guards, dashboard , battery cover,etc. waited a month or so for the paint to harden and then reassembled. I don't think I got any chips. Don't forget to spray the radio blanking plate - they look much better in body colour than leaving them crackle black................Mike
m.j. moore

Hi Jonathan,

Well at least you know from the consensus that you don't need to worry about body flexing being the problem. Amazing how 'experts' come up with crazy explanations when they don't have a clue. You sure you want this guy to paint your car?

Alan
AR Terry

This is a direct result of painting over the piping. There is no way to clean into the small corners, so dirt will be trapped under the paint (not to mention rust between the panels). The only solution now is to remove the wings, sand down to bare metal below the cracks, and repaint.
Barney Gaylord

Thanks again, that's reassuring I was starting to get worried !!
Incidentally it's a mk2 1600 1962, it has vinyl rear of the screen and crinkly dash.
I was thinking of taking off the vinyl and painting back to the dash but this is probably then not original, but I quite like the look of earlier mga s with paint after the screen, has anyone done this ?
D J Joy

ps whats the best method for removing the paint?
D J Joy

DJ.... Remove the wing... put the wing on saw horses or similar... buy yourself a gallon of paint stripper (the cheap stuff, not the environmentally frendly "green" stuff) and strip the paint using it. When down to metal use some stripper and clean off with a stainless steel pot scrubber and Varsol. Wipe down with an old rag to remove any residue.

It is not hard, but takes some time, and it is the best method, Stripper will soften any "bondo" you come across for removal as well. Do the inside as well.
C.R. Tyrell

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2014 and 04/09/2014

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