Major body damage - repair

Where serious damage has occurred or large areas need renewal due to neglect, it means that completely new sections or panels will need welding in, and this is best left to professionals. If the damage is due to impact, it will also be necessary to completely check the alignment of the bodyshell structure. Due to the principle of construction, the strength and shape of the whole car can be affected by damage to one part. In such instances the service of a dealer with specialist checking jigs are essential. If a body is left misaligned, it is first of all dangerous, as the car will not handle properly, and secondly uneven stresses will be imposed on the steering, engine and transmission, causing abnormal wear or complete failure. Tyre wear may also be excessive.

    See also:

    Engine/manual gearbox assembly - removal and separation
    Note: Refer to the warning at the beginning of Section 5 before proceeding. A suitable hoist and lifting tackle will be required for this operation. Removal 1 Proceed as described in paragraphs 1 ...

    Door trim panel - removal and refitting
    Pre-1986 models Removal 1 On Ghia versions only, remove the panel capping by carefully prising out the retaining clips using a forked tool. This can easily be made from a piece of scrap metal. 2 ...

    Examination and renovation
    1 Clean all components using paraffin and a stiff brush, except the crankshaft, which should be wiped clean and the oil passages cleaned out with a length of wire. 2 Never assume that a component ...