Centre section removal

[Pedders]

Hi all,

I'm just about to remove the centre section following bodywork prefit undertaken by the factory. I am wondering whether I could/should leave the doors in place when attempting to lift it off.

The thinking behind leaving them in place is less hassle and more strength. The downsides might include extra weight, more difficult to handle, risk of damaging the door shut areas if the section twists a little as it is removed.

Any thoughts/experience would be much appreciated.

[mt308]

Pedders said:

Hi all,

I'm just about to remove the centre section following bodywork prefit undertaken by the factory. I am wondering whether I could/should leave the doors in place when attempting to lift it off.

The thinking behind leaving them in place is less hassle and more strength. The downsides might include extra weight, more difficult to handle, risk of damaging the door shut areas if the section twists a little as it is removed.

Any thoughts/experience would be much appreciated.

I took them off. It is a fair bit lighter and easier to manoeuvre with them off. Easier to work on the interior with them off too.

[Steve_D]

Safer to take them off.
When you take the body off you will find the lower edge of the dash wraps around the chassis tube and acts like a spring clip. To ease this past the tube you will need access through the door openings so a second reason to not have the doors in the way.

Steve

[Pedders]

Many thanks for the advice - much appreciated.

[Justaredbadge]

I left them on and taped the rear of the doors to the rear bulkhead on the centre section.

much rigidity added and easier not to twist.

Either or, each way has it's pros and cons.

[ROWDYRENAULT]

My thoughts on this are that before you take off the center section for the first time, after the factory has set in in near perfect position, take the time to add several additional mount points. mine came with 4 points at the corners I think perhaps 10 points would give you a better chance of getting the section back in absolutely the right position without any distortion. I believe that mine is tweaked just a tiny amount. May seem anal but the cost is zero and your going to add mounting fasteners latter in the build anyway. Lee

[Pedders]

ROWDYRENAULT said:

My thoughts on this are that before you take off the center section for the first time, after the factory has set in in near perfect position, take the time to add several additional mount points. mine came with 4 points at the corners I think perhaps 10 points would give you a better chance of getting the section back in absolutely the right position without any distortion. I believe that mine is tweaked just a tiny amount. May seem anal but the cost is zero and your going to add mounting fasteners latter in the build anyway. Lee

I think that's good advice - thanks.

[mt308]

Pedders said:

ROWDYRENAULT said:

My thoughts on this are that before you take off the center section for the first time, after the factory has set in in near perfect position, take the time to add several additional mount points. mine came with 4 points at the corners I think perhaps 10 points would give you a better chance of getting the section back in absolutely the right position without any distortion. I believe that mine is tweaked just a tiny amount. May seem anal but the cost is zero and your going to add mounting fasteners latter in the build anyway. Lee

I think that's good advice - thanks.

I "lost" my holes at the back under the alloy skin (silly mistake) as I rivetted this on forgetting to make a note of where the pre-fit holes were in the chassis rail. Found them again with the drill (only about .25mm out where I tried so no harm done in the end) but make sure you mark where the holes are on the alloy panel before rivetting it in place.

Mark

[UltimaFAN]

I kept the doors but secured with tape. We were four to carry it, it is very light, but the four was to do it slowly and avoid distortions.
Good point to check the location of the holes.

[pilbeam_mp62]

UltimaFAN said:

I kept the doors but secured with tape. We were four to carry it, it is very light, but the four was to do it slowly and avoid distortions.
Good point to check the location of the holes.

If you have several people to help, then you could consider leaving the doors on.... I did it on my own, with the doors off, but it was very nerve-wracking, because the dash (as mentioned previously in the thread) is "sprung" under the horizontal rail, and when you are trying to release it, you think that the top section is going to crack somewhere as it takes a lot of force.....

I had my bodywork pre-fit at the factory and I drilled a LOT of extra holes before removing anything. Good Luck.

[Dave211]

Took the doors off, but used some wood to brace the widest part of opening where door goes. Also purchased a small rope hoist and attached to garage rafters , which allowed me to control the lift of the section in a more controlled manner.

[Steve_D]

Further thoughts for you.
Once the body is back on you have lots of work still to do inside so will be climbing in and out so the doors will just get in the way.
Plus you likely have central locking, mirrors, release handles etc. still to fit all of which will be better done on the bench or a set of trestles. In the mean time hang them up out of harms way.

Steve

[Pedders]

Many thanks for the advice, all.