FJ55 Deconstruction

[scorcher1967]

More 55 body work

Some more updates from the body shop.

lower rear quarter from the back

front kick panel drivers side

new rockers panel inners

more of the rocker panel inners

Front clip mount patch

new rocker panel outer

 

[scorcher1967]

a before of the front clip

 

[merbesfield]

More Progress...

Valve cover...almost looks good enough to polish.

what did you do to get this cover to look like this?

 

[Southeast Overland]

Yup - this is awesome. That body work is absolutely incredible. Now that I've done a good bit of that work I realize that your pics show the RIGHT way to do things!

 

[nat]

Sweet, that looks really great!!

 

[scorcher1967]

what did you do to get this cover to look like this?

I started by cleaning it in POR-15's Marine Clean. The stuff will discolor aluminum, so they recommend NOT soaking it. Then I used a light brass wire wheel on my bench grinder to get it down to the condition it is in now. The wheel does leave directional lines that are visible in the right light. A good polishing and buffing would take those out.

 

[PabloCruise]

I like it.

Who is doing the body?

 

[scorcher1967]

I like it.

Who is doing the body?

Jimmy Poole is doing the body work. He does lots of high end hot rods, lots of custom work. Incredible stuff, really. PM me if you want his contact info.

 

[scorcher1967]

Got some parts from SOR. Some good, some not so good.
The fiberglass fenders should work great. I will get a photo of them next time I visit the body shop.

The glove box door is okay. Somewhat cheap construction, no steel reinforcement inside the panel, could be a weak point. The black rubber finish feels and looks right.

The instrument panel, however, looks okay, but is poorly constructed, poorly finished. The mounting tabs simply screw into the foam, very weak. It does not have the rubber finish of the glove box cover, but is all hard injected foam that is painted black. The paint coverage is inadequate. There are no steel reinforcement on the mounts, and the directions tell you NOT to use some of the mounting hardware supplied It looks like if you do, you will punch holes through to the front of the panel....

As a mustang guy, I have bought and used several reproduction parts of similar construction and design, but they are of OEM quality or better. I guess thats a benefit of competition in the market. Needless to say, I am disappointed in this part.

I also got the dash pad cover. It fit well, and looks good.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Sorry to hear about the problems w/ the SOR parts. I am planning on ordering the dash pad in the next couple of months and have heard good things about them also.

 

[scorcher1967]

Lots of work today, little to show. Filled all the gearboxes. Greased all the chassis parts. Tightened all bolts. Realized I still have the front springs on backwards. The chassis goes to the body shop to meet the shell in 4 days.

Did put the muffler shield back on

And this one right side of the engine.

And the lower front shield

I talked to the body guy today. He said he finished all the rust repair, he counted 71 patches that he had to make. I will take pics when I haul the chassis up.

 

[scorcher1967]

Chassis is assembled. And off it goes to meet the body for door alignment and paint. I am going up tomorrow to see how the body comes along. I will take pics and post them...

 

[Trollhole]

That looks great.

 

[scorcher1967]

Little visit to the body shop today. Incredible......

new fiberglass fenders in primer

new rocker, door jambs painted

dashboard in white. will be black again but for now...

front clip reattatched and painted

passenger side engine compartment

 

[scorcher1967]

Rear Quarter in Primer. Notice the wheel lip. Great work....

 

[scottryana]

Wow. Amazing work. This is what I wanted my project to be, but then the reality of cost set in. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Ryan.

 

[scorcher1967]

More from the body shop


Doors are hung;

 

[scorcher1967]

Painted Pig.

 

[scorcher1967]

more

 

[scorcher1967]

cool before and after...