Is it a big job...

[binhoker668]

....to remove the front wing of an '87 Mazda, and then put it back?

Smal beans to most of you guys I know, but I'd like to get rid of the dents afer that twunt drove into me last year. Just wondering if it'd be a job I could sit and do roadside outside my house - without it turning into an OMG nightmare...

It's really not a mahoosive dent scenario, but it cannae be pulled from the outside. It pisses me off! It kinda feels like a mint car of that age is instantly relegated to 'old banger' status when it gets a bump.

Just wondered!

(No sneering please).

[trigger]

It should be straight forwards enough, watch out for rusted up bolts which might snap and make sure you have a little cup to put all the bolts in when you remove them as you always seem to end up losing them if not.

 

You most likely will have to remove the front bumper and splash sheld if it has one but i doubt that you'll find too much to swear about.

[Rocket88]

Depends if it's welded or bolted on. Welded wings can be a nightmare [much drilling of spotwelds] bolt on jobbies usually not too bad, but look for the hidden bolts behind wheel arch liners and other obscure hiding places. Easiest cars to do are big old Yanks, You can get the wings off most sixties stuff in about 15 minutes............

[dollywobbler]

Sorry, easiest car to do is a 2CV Colc! Takes seconds, especially on the old Ripple bonnets, where you can use the starting handle to undo the bolts.

 

Quite a lot of J-tin seems to have wings of a bolt on nature though.

[Rod/b]

I did a wing on my 87 Camry easily enough. Hardest bit was getting at the bolts that were partially hidden behind the door but that was fiddly rather than ball-breakingly difficult.

[Richard]

A magnetic bowl is a good investment.

[shite_meister]

A magnetic bowl is a good investment.

 

Also has the bonus of allowing one to eat their Frosted Shreddies at a jaunty angle.

 

My advice re:the wing is;

 

 

+

 

 

+

 

 

=

 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Check down the side of your radiator for the mallet.

[AnthonyG]

If it's a bolt on wing then yes, if its not then no. I have a feeling it will be a bolt on job being an 1980s Japanese car.

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure the front wings on a BF 323 are completely bolt-on, might have a pop-rivet somewhere though.

[Alexg]

Check down the side of your radiator for the mallet.

 

[Alexg]

A haynes manual or similar may tell you where the bolts are but otherwise just keep searching for them, there are always more than you can initially find!

 

Good luck!

[eddyramrod]

All good advice so far; I would add though: make sure you find the connector for whatever lights/repeaters may be mounted on the wing, before you drag it off the car. You don't want to leave it hanging by a couple of flimsy wires while you search for the plug! A Jap car of that age should be bolt-on, so as long as the bolts will actually turn, and you find them all, it shouldn't be a nightmare. You'll probably find they'll be 10mm...

 

Good luck!

[retrogeezer]

30 minute job really, front bumper and indicator off, side repeater off (should slide forwards/backwards and pop out if it's not screwed on, I can't remember) and then all the 10mm bolts not forgetting the one on the sill and down the door shuts.