Concave wings, advice please

My Defender 90 is original, runs perfectly but the body and interior needs a bit of TLC. I do want to keep it looking as original as possible but the front wings are concave. I am toying with the idea of putting chequered plate to hide it.... IF and I stress if I did I would have about a half inch gap in places between wing and plate.
I have read about people putting this plate on to hide dents etc.

Can I ask your valued opinions please on the following...see attached pics

Drivers wing has a side vent and a blank vent on top. I cant see how cheq plate would fit over the blank with a half inch gap or do you blank the plate off?

Same story for the nearside wing but this has a vented black cover on the wing.

Do I try and remove the wings and have them beaten out or get new ones?

Or.... should I just call it 'character' and stop trying to tart up the old girl?

I have only owned her for 3 weeks.. so a complete novice.. thank you

If ye buy the CP wingtop kit then it comes with the holes cut out for the plastic covers.
Ye can probably get away with sticking some silicone on the cp and using slightly longer bolts to slightly pull the wing up

what year is your defender?


you know this is just a sign the that the landrover has been used rather than sat in someones garage doing nothing

Thank you Busterbus... that is a good idea. I wasn't sure the plates would take the covers... I have never seen one up close.
G man its a 1994 Defender 90 300tdi.... engine etc seems very well looked after but body does look well used!

If ye have a look in here...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/n-s-wing-removal-75562.html

ye'll see what ah mean.

bustersbus said:

If ye have a look in here...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/n-s-wing-removal-75562.html

ye'll see what ah mean.

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That is really helpfull.... far clearer than the Haynes restoration manual. Thank you very much

our works landy's have the wings like this. not sure how they get to this stage but they do! standing on them to get to a roof rack?

as above, you could use chequer plate ontop. if the gap is big, use expanding foam filler to take up the gap. not pretty, but it works.

G

get one of the sink unblockers or a suction clamp (the type they use to carry windows) and pull it - I've done this plenty of times

or, if you are wanting to fit CP, drill a small hole in the center of the dish - feed a butterfly fixing (the type used in cavity walls) and attached a slide hammer to it

any panel beater worth his salt would have those pulled out within minutes

mine had about an inch between bonnet and wings drilled small hole to help pull back up then hid with the dreaded cp. bonnet was also well bashed by oiks standing on it

get a length of angle aluminium (or iron) not very big, and then rivet or bolt it to the underneath of the wing panel, front to back, along the deepest part of the dish.

Will strengthen the wing, pull it straight, and wnt look like tarty chequer plate sorted!

Thank you all very much for your help on this one... I really do appreciate the help that you all offer. I have only owned the Defender 90 for 3 weeks but I am hooked on her. I have re-discovered the fun of driving and I look forward to the day I may be able to offer advice rather than just taking it.

:welcome2:

MrJC said:

Thank you all very much for your help on this one... I really do appreciate the help that you all offer. I have only owned the Defender 90 for 3 weeks but I am hooked on her. I have re-discovered the fun of driving and I look forward to the day I may be able to offer advice rather than just taking it.

Click to expand...

Excellent, we'll save you a chair. You may have to get a round of bacon butties in though... and take more stick than an Anarchist protestor.

It's not a car, more a way of life.