Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

discussions about bodywork, paint, interiors, trim, audio, electrical components, wiring, etc.

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Brownwood
Keith Montague

(176 posts)

Registered:
01/25/2014 08:08PM

Main British Car:


Best metal cutting tool for fender flare install
Posted by: Brownwood
Date: April 03, 2014 10:10AM

I received my MGB Huffaker Flares from Steve Lilves yesterday. I am ready to begin the daunting, for me, task of installing them. I have looked at metal cutting shears and saws but Im not sure what tool is best for this job of metal removal?


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Best metal cutting tool for fender flare install
Posted by: Moderator
Date: April 03, 2014 07:12PM

Keith, if you haven't already discovered these articles you might want to give them a look:

[www.britishv8.org] (scroll to the bottom)
[www.britishv8.org]
[www.britishv8.org]

One thing they show is that a variety of tools will work, and that you can use them in combination. From my experience, most MGB bodywork can be cut up easily with aviation snips. Buy a good brand (e.g. Wiss) and buy BOTH left-hand and the right-hand cutting variety. A small reciprocating saw and an angle grinder are both very handy, but a hack saw and a couple files do the same jobs. Sometimes using slower and quieter tools gives me more time to think.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Best metal cutting tool for fender flare install
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: April 03, 2014 10:29PM

For cutting sheet metal body panels few tools can beat a .040" "zip" blade in an angle grinder. Personally I like the 6" wheels on a 4-1/2" grinder but it's a dangerous tool and you have to be careful with it. You can slice the metal cleanly without deforming it in any way and with practice can cut curves as well as straight lines. It's fast.

Jim


Preform Resources
Dave Craddock
Redford,Michigan
(359 posts)

Registered:
12/20/2008 05:46PM

Main British Car:
72 MGB V6 3.4

Re: Best metal cutting tool for fender flare install
Posted by: Preform Resources
Date: April 04, 2014 07:04AM

Kieth, here's our rear wheel arch conversion system.using a 90 grinder with a 3" cutoff wheel and a recipro saw (HF)and our bond in FRP inner wheel arch, then trim it to suit whatever flair you're putting on.
Dave
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P1010016 small.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2014 07:07AM by Preform Resources.


Grant70B
GRANT Matthews
La Conner, Wa
(6 posts)

Registered:
02/24/2013 10:38AM

Main British Car:
1970 MGB Roadster V6 conversion 3.5L

Re: Best metal cutting tool for fender flare install
Posted by: Grant70B
Date: April 20, 2014 09:20AM

I use a 1/16 inch thick, 3 inch wide grinding wheel on a die grinder. Works great. Goes around curves easily and is pretty easy to control if you are careful.


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