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MG MGA - Source for fender repair panels?

Has anyone purchased repair panels for their fender doglegs? I'm going to need panels for both rear fenders and for the left front and would like recommendations on where to get them. Moss has them for a reasonable price, but I'm more concerned with the fit and quality.

Thanks, you guys are the best.
MGA Larry

Hi Larry,
I used Moss panels for both my front fenders and had no issues with fit. I also bought the rear fender dogleg (right hand) but ended up replacing the whole fender. I still have the dogleg part; e-mail me if you're interested in it.

John
leonard(at)svsu(dot)edu
J.P. Leonard

I used the Moss doglegs in March of this year and the front driver's side repair panel in September. All three have worked out fine.

The front repair panel was a little bit harder to fit, but this was also due to the fact the fender was involved in an accident some years back and poorly repaired with fiberglass at the time.

I have to admit I didn't carry the work out myself, a local body & paint guy did this, but he said there was no trouble for him at all.

The doglegs require a small amount of bending to get the right curve to them, but the actual fit and look is quite nice.

Cheers,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

Larry,
I bought the Moss dogleg and was not at all pleased with the shape. Quite different from the orginal fender. I wound up leaving as much of the old dog leg as possible in place and cutting pieces from the Moss panel to fit. I also used their front patch panel the same way for the same reason, although it wasn't as bad as the rear. I have some photos I could attach when I get home, if you're interested.
Cheers,
Gerry
G T Foster

OK, not the best pic but here is one of the front repair panel before going on and the dogleg in this pic is the replacement.

I think it looks OK.

I'll try to find a better picture when I get home.

Christopher

Christopher Wilson

Gerry’s advice is very good, the rear repair panel is not likely to fit both the rear door line and the rear wheel arch well. Keep one or the other if you can.

David werblow

Here is another shot showing the Moss dogleg in place.

Christopher

Christopher Wilson

If you consider these parts a basis for fabrication and not a finished product you will be fine. They are a lot easier to use than to fabricate out of flat steel. Retain as much of the original body pieces as you can. Trim out the minimum to get rid of rust. Use only as much of the repair panel as you need. The rear dogleg is not curved enough, relief cuts in the flange that are later welded and ground smooth allow you to make the proper radius.
R J Brown

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your contributions.

Does anyone have experience with non-Moss fender panels? If so, where did you get them and what's your opinion of them?
MGA Larry

Larry,
Although the dogleg and front fender panels I purchased were from Moss, I've purchase other panels (inner rockers, sills, sealing plates) from both Moss and (dare I say it?) Scarborough Faire. In every case the ones I got from SF were better quality and fit.
Regards,
Gerry
G T Foster

If you are in need of panels that Todd Clarke makes, I would go with his. Unfortunately, his are mostly interior sheet metal panels and not fender patches.
David werblow

So RJ & G T,

I have a question, does my dogleg appear incorrect for the MGA?

Is there something about the shape I am missing here?

I'd appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

Chris,
Your dogleg looks fine. Whoever did the work did a nice job getting it to blend in. That's all that matters. As David said the replacement rear repair panel (dogleg) is not likely to fit both the rear door line and the rear wheel arch well. I will add..."without modification". Whoever did yours apparently knows what they're doing. The Moss panel I recieved was poorly formed, but useable. I'll try to remember to post some photos.
Cheers,
Gerry
G T Foster

A manufacturer/supplier well worth condidering is Kilmartin Automotive Sheetmetal. Their panels are of a very high quality and fit well. They have an extensive range including door pillars, boot floors, sills etc and will sell direct. If you search via google you will see many recommendations, mainly from Austin Healey owners, as that is their main focus.
Garry
Garry Kemm

This is a picture of my MK11. There was no rust. These are original un touched doglegs. The hardest part to match with Moss doglegs is the curve of the rear edge. In this picture you can see the radiused curve of it. Often people make the front edge curve right because it is up against the rocker panel. But they make the rear have too sharp a bend at the top and too flat from there down.

R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 14/12/2008 and 19/12/2008

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