Freelander 1 Front wing repair

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Avocet1

Well-Known Member
Posts
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Location
Cumbria
Long story, that some on here might have seen, but I'm now in a position where I have a big split in my front wing. Car's not worth the cost of a new wing (or even a second hand one) but I was wondering if anyone has ever successfully glued one? Will fibreglass (polyester) resin stick to them? Or epoxy?
 
A pic might be useful for those that know about these things - and interesting for the rest of us :oops:

Have you considered a "parts car" - you can pick them up for the cost of a couple of packets of cigarettes in the UK. You'd want a colour matched one which would make it more trickey.

...and don't listen to Mrs Avocet, they make great garden ornaments :D
 
Long story, that some on here might have seen, but I'm now in a position where I have a big split in my front wing. Car's not worth the cost of a new wing (or even a second hand one) but I was wondering if anyone has ever successfully glued one? Will fibreglass (polyester) resin stick to them? Or epoxy?

You can get proprietor plastic car body repair chemicals. These are far better than off the shelf generic products.

It is far better to simply replace the wing, which can be had for price of a couple of 8 packs. ;)
 
A pic might be useful for those that know about these things - and interesting for the rest of us :oops:

This is a very good forum when it comes to uploading pics - much easier than others I sometimes hang out on!

IMG_20190528_192523s.jpg


Have you considered a "parts car" - you can pick them up for the cost of a couple of packets of cigarettes in the UK. You'd want a colour matched one which would make it more trickey.

Get the behind me Satan!!! Yes, this has a lot of good bits on it - new clutch (but not DMF) new(ish) VCU, propshaft, thermostat, wheel bearing, rear diff mounts, etc) and yes, I have considered it! However, this is a car that I really don't want or need. I just "felt sorry for it" and have now found I'm actually starting to quite like it! True, we live in a rural area and it's always handy to have a 4x4 in Winter and for towing my big trailer, but most of the time, it would just be taking up space and costing a lot to tax.

...and don't listen to Mrs Avocet, they make great garden ornaments:D

She's never really forgiven me for the dark and stormy night one Winter, when a bloke in a lorry turned up with an old Bradbury 2 poster car hoist and dumped it on the drive for me as a Christmas pressie which I subsequently found was too tall to go in my garage....

Long story...
 

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Got a couple of monte carlo blue wings for next to nought!!

Damn your kindness!!!! Stop tempting me! (Just out of curiosity, you understand... where might I find the paint code on my FL1...)? (Mine's certainly some sort of blue.....) And...er....how big a job is it to change front wing...?
 
Stick a wing on and your laughing! These things can carry their battle scars well I think! The look good showing about of use and abuse.
 
I’m glad you stuck around after I saw your post about the crash.

As stated above, I’m sure you could find parts for less than you’re seeing online. Breakers yards are always worth a check.

At all suitable? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROV...837291?hash=item5d661874ab:g:UIEAAMXQudxRY~E5

Says dark blue but looks darker than yours. Wasn’t sure if that’s just picture lighting.


Which wing? Passenger side or drivers?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROV...lander&hash=item4650905efc:g:rxoAAOxyzi9Slk9t

There’s a drivers side. Annoyingly looks darker again.

Another in Monte Carlo https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rov...887021?hash=item3fc12ceead:g:hXwAAOSwLnBX2P4l

As for changing the panel itself, it shouldn’t be too hard, I’m assuming it’s clips and a few bolts. Might just be awkward and stubborn, especially after an impact.
 
Stick a wing on and your laughing! These things can carry their battle scars well I think! The look good showing about of use and abuse.

They do indeed. The Freelander looks good when it's immaculate. However when it's banged up and sporting some battle scars, it simply looks well used.
You also don't need to worry about where it's parked, if it's already got some damage on it.

My own one is looking decidedly untidy now, but it means I can use it without fear of further damage.
 
They do indeed. The Freelander looks good when it's immaculate. However when it's banged up and sporting some battle scars, it simply looks well used.
You also don't need to worry about where it's parked, if it's already got some damage on it.

My own one is looking decidedly untidy now, but it means I can use it without fear of further damage.

If I lived in Scotland, I'd put a drive on some of General Wade's Military Roads on my drives to do list.
 
This is a very good forum when it comes to uploading pics - much easier than others I sometimes hang out on!

View attachment 179416



Get the behind me Satan!!! Yes, this has a lot of good bits on it - new clutch (but not DMF) new(ish) VCU, propshaft, thermostat, wheel bearing, rear diff mounts, etc) and yes, I have considered it! However, this is a car that I really don't want or need. I just "felt sorry for it" and have now found I'm actually starting to quite like it! True, we live in a rural area and it's always handy to have a 4x4 in Winter and for towing my big trailer, but most of the time, it would just be taking up space and costing a lot to tax.



She's never really forgiven me for the dark and stormy night one Winter, when a bloke in a lorry turned up with an old Bradbury 2 poster car hoist and dumped it on the drive for me as a Christmas pressie which I subsequently found was too tall to go in my garage....

Long story...
Reading your posts about it, even from here, I can see the little horned fella carrying a fork on your shoulder telling you to keep this car. You walked away from a crash with a juggernaut in a position to rebuild the car - these are all messages that you need to put it back on the road.

There doesn't look like there's to much damage that would be visible once the plastic arch trim is pushed back on (assuming that's not toast and you need that as well).

So my initial thought is to rivet a plate behind the main split to hold the 2 sides together and pop the trim back on. This suggestion may be idiotic - you can choose.

Its a shame that you're not closer, you could have the wings, bonnet and front valence/bumper off my parts car and have a fetching blue/bright red 2 tone solution.

I've never removed a wing, but have removed the bumper a number of times and IIRC the wing is just bolted on - at least there's definitely a row of bolts along the top and (as I say IIRC) when the bumper is removed there are bolts revealed.

From what you've said previously though, is the rear 1/4 not your biggest problem? That sounded quite mangled and is all chassis/bodyshell plus big (expensive?) plastic bumper panels/trim.
 
Reading your posts about it, even from here, I can see the little horned fella carrying a fork on your shoulder telling you to keep this car. You walked away from a crash with a juggernaut in a position to rebuild the car - these are all messages that you need to put it back on the road.

There doesn't look like there's to much damage that would be visible once the plastic arch trim is pushed back on (assuming that's not toast and you need that as well).

So my initial thought is to rivet a plate behind the main split to hold the 2 sides together and pop the trim back on. This suggestion may be idiotic - you can choose.

Its a shame that you're not closer, you could have the wings, bonnet and front valence/bumper off my parts car and have a fetching blue/bright red 2 tone solution.

I've never removed a wing, but have removed the bumper a number of times and IIRC the wing is just bolted on - at least there's definitely a row of bolts along the top and (as I say IIRC) when the bumper is removed there are bolts revealed.

From what you've said previously though, is the rear 1/4 not your biggest problem? That sounded quite mangled and is all chassis/bodyshell plus big (expensive?) plastic bumper panels/trim.

Yes, Damn that little horned fella!

And yes, the rear quarter is the hardest bit to sort (also the leading edge of the rear wheelarch has a crease in it. That's hidden behind the rear door when shut, but it's still damage.
IMG_20190528_192350s.jpg


It's a complex junction of panels where the boot floor meets the inner wing, meets the rear inner wheelarch, meets the rear quarter panel. I'm not really sure what to do with that! The car is still driveable though. If I did something with the split in the front wing and just folded the rear bumper back round that mangled bit in the photo above, it would just look like a pretty beaten-up Freelander that had been sideswiped at some point but other than that, be perfectly useable. I'm sure the holes in the rear quarter panel will mean the boot area will fill with water if I drive it in the rain though.

But yeah... the seed has been sown... (Damn you all)!

Just a thought, when did the first TD4 engined examples appear? One of the biggest problems with keeping this as a "reserve fun and Winter emergency car" is that the tax is pretty steep. 2001 was when the CO2-based taxation system came in, so I'm wondering whether, if I found a 2000 one with a straight body, whether I'd be better off taxing that as an "over 1500cc"? That would get the tax down to £265 at least....
 
You could get enough money out of the haulage company to rebuild your IRD and a buy a wing. Top car for little money!
That's the first thing, I think. I'm getting the runaround from the haulage company at present. I've been given a different name to try and call tomorrow. As soon as I know what money we're going to agree on, things will become clearer.
 
Have a holiday in Devon - if you remove them you can have them !! Right colour and everything. Is it a 3 or 5 door - got a pair of good doors too - no tailgate though.
 
You're very kind, thanks!

Sadly, after phoning the transport company again this morning, I realised I was getting the runaround, so I've now gone through the insurance company. I'll just have to wait now, to see what they offer me for it and how much they'd want if I were to buy it back. Pity, they could all have been sorted much more quickly and easily, but there ya go... IF the numbers add up, I might start looking around for some 608 blue panels! Unfortunately, mine's a 5 door.
 
And yes, the rear quarter is the hardest bit to sort (also the leading edge of the rear wheelarch has a crease in it. That's hidden behind the rear door when shut, but it's still damage
If it's mostly hidden by the rear bumper? I'd just pull or tap the body back into something resembling the original. Anything underneath will be hidden anyway, so won't matter.
Sadly, after phoning the transport company again this morning, I realised I was getting the runaround
That's annoying.
so I've now gone through the insurance company.
You can push for the best payout like that.
I'll just have to wait now, to see what they offer me for it and how much they'd want if I were to buy it back. Pity, they could all have been sorted much more quickly and easily, but there ya go..
You can almost always buy it back, for a small proportion of the payout sum. You'll normally need to get the VIN checked by VOSA though, so you can put it back on the road.
 
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