Project MOVIESTAR (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

I thought I was having a bad week. Hope things get better Jason. We all continue to enjoy your work and this thread:cheers:
 
Finally back on track. Picked up some of the parts from the blaster.
bodyontrailer051.jpg

bodyontrailer053.jpg


And, this is one of my favorite steps in a resto...

bodyontrailer050.jpg

bodyontrailer052.jpg
 
yep. he sure is mad though. the bondo is wrecking his booth. And the main shell is not going to make it any better! On the "silver lining" side of things, once this thing is done, it will end up being about 400 pounds lighter. Just think of the gas savings with all that weight loss.

Anyway, should be more frequent posts/pics/updates, now that we are back on track.
 
Update. I am still limping this computer along...

Another chat with the sandblaster. Another tale of the bondo. Even the tailgate was 1/4" thick! I had such hopes for that part, as well as the hood. The front clip however, was clean! just a 12" long crack to fix! The main shell, was exactly as expected, with one addition. The glorious metal work found on the one fender, is duplicated on the rear quarters. I have not seen it yet, but sounds like it looks the same. The report is that the wheel lips are in excellent shape. Couple holes, but 90% intact. The excessive bondo actually helped protect this sensitive area for the last 12 years. Amazing.

One pic. Of the fender patch.
summer2009004.jpg
 
Body is back from blasting. Only a couple surprises. Major denting in the rear corners, but very little rust. The entire structure is there. Should be helpful when making patches. The rocker panels are awesome! straight, clean. Drivers side needs a small patch, but overall, wow.

The roof, oh boy, I wont have to work hard to pull the skin off! I am almost surprised it didnt blow off on the trip home!

Pics for the visual learners:
BodyBack002.jpg

BodyBack005.jpg

BodyBack006.jpg

BodyBack007.jpg

BodyBack009.jpg

BodyBack014.jpg

BodyBack019.jpg
 
Good luck!

Hit Jason's place yesterday to deliver door panels just in time to avoid any heavy lifting but in time to help place the body on jack stands. He has his work cut out for him ((bad pun intended ) with that roof but, as he said, at least it should come off pretty easily. Good news is a very solid roof on the donor rig with a body that otherwise lacks much redeeming value. Looking at the care he's taking with this project, I'd say Elyse is very lucky to have talked him into doing it. Can hardly wait to see the finished project and progress along the way.

Jim
 
Jason, any updates?

Do you have the front clip from your roof donor Pig? I know someone who wants it...

Update? Well, kinda....I have been busy with seeking and destroying spot welds on the roof. Time consuming, yes. Visually fascinating? No. Broke 2 spot weld cutters, and 8 drill bits so far. And, probably 70% of the welds are lost in the rust, so, its become a bizarre game of sorts. Is that an old spot weld, or is it an unusually uniform rust pocket? Oh the fun we have, this old roof and I!

Actually, all but 2-3 spot welds, and one seam weld are all that is left holding the roof skin on, but I am waiting for Elyse to get here to film the final removal.

I have also spent some time working on the MG Midget a little bit here and there. And a teensy weensy bit of time on the Fairlane. And I drove the Mustang one day...

As for the front clip...to early to decide. What parts and who wants it?
 
Any updates?

Sure. I patched one corner of the tailgate today. Cut out the bad section, painted the inside rust with POR-15, welded a new piece of metal in, smoothed it off.

Next monday, I am getting/bribing a few guys to come over (3x30pack PBR) to move the chassis out, and the parts rig in to the garage. then the heavy work will continue.

Until then, little patch here, little patch there....

tailgate2.jpg

tailgate3.jpg

tailgate.jpg
 
Well, after some time wasting, fooling around, experimenting with new techniques, and making a couple little patches...I got back to the main work of getting that roof right.

I spent the day hand chiseling the rusty remains out of the drivers drip rail, then grinding the left over spot welds, then cut out a bad section, and got access to the hole on the rear window pillar. It is a lot of work, and I am grinding and cleaning up spot weld that may get replaced, but I am committed to preserving as much original steel as possible. A lot of extra time, but will minimize the impact on the final product. I just really hate to cut good steel when there is another way.

Anyway. I figured I would do some of this, before I finish cutting the donor pigs roof. Thanks again Frank!

Pictures for the visually driven.
driprailfixing2.jpg

driprailfixing4.jpg

driprailfixing5.jpg
 
Progress Update:

Microsurgery on the inner roof structure.

Sure, many pros will say this method is a waste of time. Good point, it does take more time. My goal is not only to fix the rust, but to do it with minimal impact to the original steel and structure. I call it microsurgery, it looks like this...

First, I marked off the bad areas that have to go.
xmas087.jpg


Next, I removed the roof rails...
xmas090.jpg


A couple pictures of the sections removed. Next step will be to graft in patches from the recently departed Frankencruiser.
xmas089.jpg

xmas093.jpg

xmas095.jpg
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom