removing mk1 escort wings? guide?

[bamo]

any guides for removing mk1 escort wings? id like to remove them and see where i stand with regards to rust :stu:. cheers

[Dave]

Spotwelds alog the drip rail- drill them out.
Best to take the doors off as they are welded to the A post and the tag underneath to the floor.
Welded inside the front panel/wing seam. Grind them off.
To be honest, if you have a good look at them it is obvious how they are fastened.
Cutting through any welds with a 1mm thick cutting disc will probably do least damage.

[bamo]

cheers mate, whats tools are recommended for stripping the paint to find the welds? i know theres several options but dont know which is best?

[Dave]

You should be able to see them without stripping the paint.
If you do want to strip the paint, these are best
http://www.rightlines.ltd.uk/products.aspx?lineID=2&groupID=5#7
Available from Halfords

[bamo]

brilliant, cheers mate, i had a little glimps the other day and didnt really see any, but didnt look too hard tbh lol

[Dave]

If the wings are original they will be spotwelded along the drip rail and need drilling out with a spot weld drill (google it)
If they are not original they are likely to be welded on so need cutting, or brazed, which can be a pain unless you have oxy-acetylene to unbraze them.
If the wings are worth saving, cut through the drip rail if other means aren't possible, and sacrifice the drip rail which can be replaced much cheaper than impossible to find/afford wings.

[bamo]

i think the drivers wing is poss a genuine mexico wing so dont want to bugger it but want to remove them and check underneath and if not too bad get a mate to mould them and make them in carbon fibre to lighten the front up :), cheers btw

[dangerousdave]

I would go wire brush in a drill to find the welds. Those paint stripping disks dont like edges in my explosive exerience :D