vauxhallviva.com

Can anyone advise the best method of removing a wing on an HB viva please. Can seem to see any spot welds

Thanks

subscribing here too...inquiring minds want to know. I was quite disappointed when the factory body service manual didn't detail this procedure.

if it is not replaced in the past the welds are fully visible. However, if it has been replaced it is manually welded with mag welding and they are often ground flat.
Such weldings is not that easy to drill out either as the weld is most likely not circular or perfect as spotwelds.

Never done it personally, but somebody advised me that it's easier to replace a section than a whole wing, because of the way the wings are welded.

looking at the wings it seems that someone has replaced them in the past as it looks like two gutters
. Presuming that the doors have to come off to get inside the door shuts.

With welded wings I use a grinder to cut most of the wing off, then attack the remaining welded flange section ie top lip, vertical door shut etc (its easier to work with narrow sections of wing) sand/wire brush paint to find spot welds, use drills then thin bolster chisels and clean up with sanding disc on a grinder.

ps remember to use zinc rich primer between the existing and new metal....its know that Viva wings need to be replaced more than once following restorations.

Having replaced both I used a slim chisel and grinder. Just take your time.

Not overly difficult. Expect the inner wing to be dust in some place and fix this before the outer.

Getting gaps right takes a while.

I hammerighted and undresealed the wing beforefitting and bolted on,not strutural.

Good luck.

Update 8 Years Later

These chisels tools will assist you removing spot welded panels....

Thin body section and very sharp...ask our postman. Use after drilling out the spot welds with a Wurth 8mm spot weld drill....can be used with a hammer to help split the joints...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392434331530 ... Sw3Wldg2dn


Sealey Panel Seam Splitter Set 3 Piece Body Shop Chisels Work Tools AK579

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xtwAAOSw ... -l1600.jpg

As an update, I have now purchased a dedicated pneumatic spot drill.....makes it way easy to remove spot welds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sunpI6vslkQ

Mine is the same as in the video, but other models available from Laser and Eastwoods.