Front lower valance on a roundtail

[Tinweevil]

The front valance on my '68 GT6 Mk II is rotten and bodged beyond use so I've bought a new Heritage panel.  The new one has square holes for the chassis to protrude through instead of slots open at the top like the old one has.  

I thought this was just part of the bodging the old one has had, there's a good kilo of filler in it.  However I did a trial fitting and I cannot see how this is going to work, it's just not possible to get the bonnet brackets into place as the holes are too small.  The only way to make it fit is to cut the ribs from across the top of the holes.  But that's mad!  Heritage panels are electrocoated so cutting one immediately gives you edges with inferior protection.

So I tootled off to the Ace on Saturday and Bromley yesterday to see what I could see.  The only round tail at the Ace had custom mounts so no use there.  Sunday at Bromley there was a gitfire and and a GT6 MK II both of which have open slots not holes.


It this really the only way?

[JohnD]

TW,
If you look around your workshop or garage, or the hardware store, you may find that there is a handy tool hanging there, that you will find most useful.   It has a sort of frame, like a metal bow, with in place of the string, a thin metal strip with a cunning toothed edge!  It's called a "hacksaw" and is remarkably useful for cutting metal, either sheet or solid blocks.   Hard work, but you'll soon get used to it!

Pip, pip!
John

[Richard B]

Probably stamped for MkI &II Spitfire and MkI GT6.

Same profile, different brackets!

[sparky_spit]

And also possible that it is made that way to facilitate transport/delivery. Once those top portions are removed it becomes quite floppy and could easily get bent in transit.

[JensH]

Mike is right   8)

Have had a few NOS ones, they all had the small strip to be cut off with the special tool by mr. Monkey named a ... hack saw  :P

Btw - new ones are very good copies of the originals.

[Tinweevil]

Thanks folks, I may need a stiff drink after taking said tool to a brand new panel.

[James1500]

You get used to abusing new panels, obviously you'll be painting it after the edges are cut so you will still have protection on there, was very tempted to change mine as it had been bodged in the past but I settled for a repair as money was tight  :)