Npulver's 71 Fj55 Build "Sea Unicorn"

[npulver]

First time pulling everything out and seeing how bad it all is. About what I was expecting. However some of the weird patches on the interior weren't expected. Depending how I'm feeling tomorrow, I might start cutting out that driver side rocker (and how warm I can get the garage with it being near zero out)

Scared and excited at the same time!

 

[npulver]

Decided after pulling the dash cap off that it's not too bad and that I'm going g to refinish it this spring. Will be the second dash I've done this treatment on. Hopefully it comes out as good or better than the first dash repair.

 

[bobm]

Nick, you need me let me know. Worst thing you can do is cut too much out at once. Little bites to keep the integrity. Call if you need, if you lost # P.M.

Thanks Bob.

 

[npulver]

Thanks Bob, going to start with the driver rocker. Once that's in I'm going to move on to the body mounts. Wish me luck!

 

[bobm]

Make sure to weld a brace across a,b and c pillars on inside to keep them from moving.

Thanks Bob.

 

[npulver]

All ready to start cutting. Picked up a stick of 1 inch square stock to tie everything in. And got everything apart. Snapped about 50% of the bolts going to front fender. Wasn't expecting there to be so many bolts on the fenders.

 

[bobm]

Liitle bites at a time. double check my thread for references.

 

[npulver]

Got started today with the prep and spot weld cutting. Love learning along the way. Hopefully the other side will be much easier lol.







As you can see I also welded up a ABC pillar brace to keep everything in place. Cutting the rocker out tomorrow hopefully. Have the B pillar somewhat loose from the rocker so I should hopefully be good there.

 

[bobm]

Slow and Methodical. Thats the right way to do it.

 

[J Mack]

Are you going back with the same color combo?

 

[npulver]

Yea. Same color combo. Nebula green and cagnus white

 

[npulver]

Cut cut cut...ran out of cutting wheels lol








Btw...it's cold as hell in my garage. I need a better heater lol

 

[npulver]

More cutting!



The B pillar sucked to separate.

 

[npulver]

I've learned quite a bit doing all this. The thing I learned the most...

I need a plasma cutter. Lol

 

[scrapdaddy]

Hey, I look at it like we're earning our stripes. Imagine how the other side will be so much easier.

about that plasma cutter, Christmas is coming!

Keep it going, that's one heck of a job.

 

[Jasferg]

Good effort. Like the way you doing the major surgery, giving some great insight into doing my own body work.

 

[npulver]

Good effort. Like the way you doing the major surgery, giving some great insight into doing my own body work.

I try to somewhat document as I go to help people like me that like doing there own work. Luckily bobm had his pictures of cutting out the rocker. Otherwise I wouldn't have known where to start.

I can only hope that along the way I can help others.

 

[npulver]

And believe it or not. My main inspiration to jump into this project was a friend of mine who does body work. His words "It's just metal, it can be fixed"

 

[npulver]

My main focus today was the c pillar corner. Mine was nearly all gone. Luckily I got a new flare and corner from bugsnbikes.




My biggest issue about doing this piece is where do you cut? I just looked at the two pieces a I had at this is what I came up with. I know I'll hate cleaning it all up after welding. But I'm thinking it was my only real choice.



This is what I ended up with. Hoping it'll turn out nice when I'm all done.



So much rot underneath. This ended up being a lot more than I expected lol.

 

[npulver]

Would have tacked this up. But I want to get the backside of it sand blasted. Clean up as much as I can before putting it together.