destins 1964 fj40 FST restore thread

[AATLAS1X]

OK then...I was beginning to worry

Shane, like I said, I love the work that you do, so I was floored by your comments.

Hug accepted

It was not just about the tailgate, it was the comments about packing up your s*** and pulling out on the body shop, just everybody hopped on a band wagon of take it someplace else without consideration of all parties involved.

I am good now.

Cheers.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

It was not just about the tailgate, it was the comments about packing up your **** and pulling out on the body shop, just everybody hopped on a band wagon of take it someplace else without consideration of all parties involved.

I am good now.

Cheers.

It's never a good thing to be in this position. At least Destin has been seeing some progress, but it is taking way too long. I knew of a few guys who's body shop eventually went under, or parts were lost, or what ever...the longer your stuff sit in someone's shop, the more things get ansy.

Right or wrong, there is a good chance I would have already picked up and left...but that is just me...we are all allowed our own opinions, and agree to disagree at times

Destin...did they give you a hard time about the side needing to be pulled in? Do you know if they just yanked it over hard, or if they tried to heat a few areas up to try and help ease it over? Did you take a measuring tape to see if the sides are even from the door openings to the back corner? ...this shouldn't be too important I don't think, but it would be interesting to note none the less.

 

[pardion]

Destin, just by pointing out the problem out to the body shop they fixed it, I think they will do a top notch job. In my rebuild of my FJ25 on this list, check out John Pardi _Pardion post #52, I do not know how to cut and paste the photo. You will see the tailgate spacer/jig that Peter was talking about that I use when replacing rear sill and welding the tub back togerther square. This is just to clarify what the previous 2 repairs could have done to keep the tub square. P/s the left latch tailgate handle is bent. Later, John

 

[a.greenspan]

Destin, I would seriously test fit everything...doors, bows, seats...etc. Sounds like a pain, but again, one afternoon of good work on your part can save you a few weeks of added aggravation...my 0.02

correct, that`s what I meant when I wrote
"... hope your front doors and the other parts will fit better...."
It`s a must to test this before spraying the tub in a glossy red.
By the way it´s the normal process until a restoration to test that, sometimes twice or more.

eeep!
Man this body work is causing me way more grief than i wanted oy!

A clear brain and a little bit more patience in this state of process can be helpful, Destin
Cheers
Peter

 

[a.greenspan]

last tip ( I only read in the future until it`s finished )
all vertical mounted parts( like doors) on your Cruiser spray ( or let spray) it in this position all horizontal ( like hood) in that position

Peter....
now sitting in his...


....following the process... Cheers

 

[cjgoode]

This shop seems on the up and up, although slow. Been following this thread and seems like work on the tub keeps progressing, and they seem OK to let him in to photo it. A full body restoration will often take a back seat, they need the cash flow from the smaller jobs. If they were to just focus on the big job and make the small jobs wait they would have to charge you a lot more. I would be glad they were willing to fix it and keep working. There would be no guarantee the next shop would to id any better or quicker, but I am sure they would tell you they could. Neighbor had his old 50's car for small body work and a paint, took 9 months not the 30 days they told him, but it is a top notch shop as far as the work went, and he was very happy in the end.

 

[uted]

Don't just measure the doors...dry fit all parts...like both the drivers and passenger's doors, cause as you can see with the back end...it looked great till you put the tail gate on.

I had a similar problem with another rig I had when I was younger I know it can be a pain, but now I rather put stuff on, and take it off a dozen times to make sure it is correct, rather then have to deal with it after it is painted. No big deal, doing this work is half the fun

...I just looked in my files for some pics I had saved on just how much "rigging" is needed to ensure a square tub. Not just left to right, but front to back, and quite a few "X"'s tacked in for good measure...freaken thing will look like a spiderweb! Does anyone have any such photos? I think they are on my old computer

Heres some pics of the bracing i put into my tub before i started cutting it up. still needed a few tweaks along the way to get panels fitting correctly.

I used this bracing to run other braces off when i was doing different sections just so nothing moved. eg

Sorry for the hijack destin.
Stick at it will be all worth it in the end when you stand back and look at the finished product

 

[destin]

oy well I hope I did not just flush a bunch of money.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Heres some pics of the bracing i put into my tub before i started cutting it up. still needed a few tweaks along the way to get panels fitting correctly.

I used this bracing to run other braces off when i was doing different sections just so nothing moved. eg

Sorry for the hijack destin.
Stick at it will be all worth it in the end when you stand back and look at the finished product

Yup, something like that

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

oy well I hope I did not just flush a bunch of money.

Na...should be all good. We are not, or at least I am not trying to scare you, but I have personally see how "out of shape" a tub can get if parts are welded on with out enough bracing, or mocking up...was too late once painted, hence the reason to fit the doors on just to make sure...better find out now if anything needs a little help.

You'll have nothing but a huge grin on your face the day you get it all back together

 

[Corrugated Toy]

My .02

I completely disassembled my 64. Every nut and bolt. Blasted everything, either in cabinet or with a pot blaster, painted and reassembled. Mind you I did not cut and re-weld any parts on my rig.
Most things fit with a little adjustment. Body mounts help get it straight on the frame obviously. Every hinge and panel can be adjusted. I am aware that blasting can warp thinner panels, but I doubt you will have this problem from an experienced shop.

Don't start doubting yourself or your paint shop. I agree with "dry" fitting all parts, but I didn't and everything came out AOK. My rig was quite straight before tearing her apart, as yours appears to be as well.

Our rigs were built in 1964 and the alignment of body parts was not the caliber as it is today. In saying this you can improve on the original, but don't expect perfection. They are toys and are expected to be treated like one.

My rig has her alignment imperfections but I love her all the same.

 

[cjgoode]

This looked like a solid tub around the doors before it started, I doubt they would have been able to mess it up, these older tubs where much thicker then newer ones.

 

[destin]

cool

I thought the easiest part would be the body work, as I was paying someone else to handle it.
But man, even though i am not doing the labor on it, it is wearing on me.
Exhausting.

Hopefully it will all turn out for the better.
I just want to be optimistic and be smiling and reassembling this bad boy.

 

[a.greenspan]

cool

I thought the easiest part would be the body work, as I was paying someone else to handle it.

Body work is the most difficult part of a restoration *.
So, if you can`t do it by your own, you have to pay a lot money for a good resto.
A perfect restoration needs some $$$$$ more than a good one.
Cheers
Peter

* in most cases ( nearly 100 %) it`s cheaper to buy a perfect restored car from an owner
who put a lot money in his car and must or will sell ( specially when the economy is weak)
The history of the restoration is important too, before buying such a car.

 

[a.greenspan]

From an economic perspective the best way is to drive a good car with some patina.
Cheers
Peter

 

[dkroth]

oy well I hope I did not just flush a bunch of money.

Destin, do you find utility* in this? Many would not. If it works for you, that's all that matters!

There are several of us here who are enjoying every post. But you are the one committed to the experience!

*utility in the economic sense - does it satisfy your needs?

 

[destin]

Destin, do you find utility* in this? Many would not. If it works for you, that's all that matters!

There are several of us here who are enjoying every post. But you are the one committed to the experience!

*utility in the economic sense - does it satisfy your needs?

I am with the cost if the quality is there, I just do not like having to check others work.
I have to be super thorough for my work, attention to detail and craftsmanship etc. I guess My expectations can be a bit high for others I am paying to do work

That being said I think they are doing a great job, just the s*** being out of square was underwhelming to me.

I will be happy when the painting / body work is done and i can start doing all my ocd assembling etc

 

[destin]

blocked primer

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

That thing is going to look really nice when it's finished..shouldn't be long now

 

[destin]

That thing is going to look really nice when it's finished..shouldn't be long now

Thanks man