Body Work Order of things

[Seventy7INa45]

Hi, it's been a long time since I posted here about my MGA project. It is getting a 2.3 ford cosworth motor built to around 250 hp. Right now though, my primary concern is body work.

The frame has rust around the inside of the door areas and it needs to be taken care of. The hood surround and nose has a lot of bondo on it, and since this restoration no longer has a small budget, it will also be replaced. The sill and pillar areas are also very rough. I know that to allign these properly, it needs to be welded with the frame still in place, but would it be better to remove the body, fix the frame, fit the body back and do the repairs? Or do the body repairs, then remove the body, fix the frame, and then re-attach the body? I am planning on fitting the drive-train without the body in place to get it to sit where it needs to be. Any information is helpful. Thank you


John


also I almost forgot, where is a good place to get a spot weld cutter bit? I know harbor freight has one, but is there anywhere else with a better quality one? Thanks

[spridget]

Eastwood sells one but I don't know about quality. I would guess your local nut/bolt/tool store or autobody supply would have one. When you find one you are happy with please make a post. I will also need one in the future.  Bill

[Bill Young]

John, my advice would be to first reinforce the body tub across the door openings either with some weld in pieces or a bolt in section then pull the body off the frame and make the repairs needed there. Then reinstall the body and do the sills with the body on the frame using it for a jig. The final body work can be done off the frame after the sills are complete. Plenty of good photos of MGA frame and body repair on the Eclectic Motor Works site and I have some photos of the work I've done on my car if you want I can send them. The important thing is to maintain the alignment between the front and rear sections of the body while you do the work on the sills so the doors will fit correctly after you're done.

[Preform Resources]

John, you neede a BLAIR spot weld cutter , they come in different sizes they have a spring loaded center to locate the thing
(use a sharp center punch ) and definitly as Bill said, try to stiffen up the body before removal, just tack weld some 3/4 conduit
across the cockpit and the door openings,good luck !
Dave Craddock