My new project 1951 Buick

Looking good! It's good to see you back at it.

 

Thanks Dave . I haven't seen any action on your thread for a while. I hope all is well ! Andy..

 

Andy, like many other HAMBers out there, a couple of daily drivers have consumed my time. I hopeful to get back on the '48 this year. I'm ready to get it done!

David

 

Well I am not proud to say but this fender is kicking my ass . It had previously been hit in it's former life and hammered back into good enough shape . Fast forward and now I am trying to lower the arch opening and I filled the portholes . In that process I received a big ass low spot from heat draw and the older damage .What you see cut out is the offending drawn metal that was causing the issues (I think) LOL! . The bar you see is there to hold a relatively straight line to the fender . I beat and pounded on this bitch until I had to walk away and leave it for another day . Anybody been there ? I am sure I am not alone . Started working on boxing over the frame . I guess as it turns out that's the first picture . Got this far with it and called it a day . Have a look . This shit takes forever ! Andy..

 

Andy, what do you mean by "heat draw"? sorry for the novice question.

 

No problem Dave . When your welding , as the weld cools the area has a natural tendency to shrink (draw in) . That's why you see videos of guys hammer and dolly their work area that they just finished welding .My issue is that the fender being previously damaged, already had tension in the fender . I compounded this fact once I cut the fender apart and welded and ground on it . All that tension let out and caused the fender to oilcan , bad .This can occur if you are to aggressive with a grinder as well .

 

Thank you for the explanation Andy. It's interesting how your current work affected prior repairs from years ago. So how would you fix the "oil canning"?

 

For any that are following, here's the latest work . Boring floor work still . But I will say that I am almost done the main floor . I will have to trim up underneath some of the lap joints once I put the car onto rotisserie . Just a quick note to show that the thread and project is not dead jus boring at the moment LOL! Andy

 

Well Dave I am going to cut most of the lip off that I had altered .This will remove the biggest cause of the shrinking. Hacknwack here in the HAMB ( Shane ) has ponyed up some Buick wheel arches he cut from a 53 Buick ( Thanks again Shane ). He sent them to me last week and I am expecting them on Monday or Tuesday at the latest . I will trim them and fit them to my fender . Go slowly and methodically to reduce any potential of warpage . Stay tuned Dave .
Andy....

 

Thanks be to Shane for the save on my front fender . I installed the fender lip he sent me to get me out of my jamb. 53 Buick fender lip he had cut off doner fenders at some point . Last two pics are showing the floor all welded up one is way over exposed, sorry. Getting closer to rotisserie but I have the cruiser skirt and chop to finish up on this side before that happens .

 

Well it's been a bit since the last post . I have a lot of time into the current progress but not much moving ahead as fabrication , welding , cutting , grinding all take a toll as you guys are aware I am sure . I started to install the door top . The rain trough has been removed and will be replaced with 3/8 CRS like the other side . The other pictures are trying to show that I removed the Buick rolled bottom reveal and replaced it with a smoother fender bottom and rocker panel . I put a crown in the panels on the English wheel that is a copy of the crown of the door skin itself . If you look at the last picture close you can see the Buick rolled reveal at the bottom of the quarter panel . It is a dramatic change although with these pictures it's hard to tell . Andy..

 

Glad it worked out.
And saved some time and grief..
Did you get less warpage this time?

 

I dig the smooth rockers,
A lot of big time builders do that.
Ive seen a few extended an inch or so, to give it an even lower look.
But with the body channeled so deep i dont think you need to.

Keep working andy!

 

Thanks again Shane . Very little warpage as most of the stretched metal on the old lip was on the lip itself . As mentioned earlier it had been hit pretty good on that side at one time and it was bent to begin with . My limited skills in working metal back to normal come shining through . So your donation was a Godsend ! I like the cleaner smooth look of the rockers as well . I did make them a little wider @ 3.5 inches as opposed to 2.75 inches that were on there . Andy..

 

Getting there Andy, looking good!

 

Thanks Farmer . I see you are progressing along as well . You will have perfection in the end with all the blocking and attention to detail . Good job . Later ' Andy...

 

I have been plugging away as time permits . Have the door top back on the drivers side. I have installed the drip rail . ( 3/8 CRS) Filled the last part of the catwalk and a few other places . In the process of finally trying to close in the sail panels I come to realize the back window needs more slope , to me anyways . I lost 1/2 the width of the rear catwalk area and the window is now laying @ 25 degrees instead of 16 degrees that it was . I like the look a lot better . It flows from the roof on down to the catwalk more fluid . Have a look ! Still plugging away in the great white north . Nothing else to do, seeing that we have gotten 13 feet of snow since the beginning of January . PISS ME OFF ! Andy...

 

I'm liking the new look of the back window. 13 feet of snow!! Now I can't complain about the 4 feet we've gotten in Maine.

 

Looking real good!

 

Thanks young fella . Stay at your build you will learn a lot through trial and error . You will get to know when something looks right and when it doesn't. ( Like my rear window LOL! ) Geesh were neighbours and you only have 4' of snow ? Go figure .

 

I had more time today . I wheeled up this panel to fill the sail panel area . I cut out the old and worked in this here panel . You will notice that I ended up cutting it to get it right . I am really liking the flow of the window . I cant wait for fabrication to end on this car . I am driven to see this through to the end .. Andy..

 

Really impressed with the tremendous amount of metal you are fabricating, welding, beating, etc. And doing a damn good job, especially considering you are learning as you go! Dogged determination, bro. Well done.

 

I've already learned tons. I'm already great at envisioning how the sheet metal will look when I'm done but somehow it never comes out as good as in my head lol

 

Thanks Jimmy. haven't seen you around lately . All good I hope . The metal work is tedious . I dont want to have to put 1/2" of filler to smooth everything out so I have to go slow and methodically . If I had a helper with as much time spent on things I would probably be running this thing this summer . Oh well , such is life ! Later , Andy...

 

Can't do anything else but agree!

 

Your determination will see you through. Great work!!

 

Wow, amazing work Andy.

 

Thanks Farmer , Caddy and Diamond . Much appreciate the positive comments . Stay connected I will be pushing on as the weeks move forward . Later , Andy..

 

Well moving along on this adjustment . The angles were wrong . Witnessed by the first picture . I cut out the whole area . Wheeled up a new piece and commenced to weld it in . A little grinding left to do then onto the other side . I know the pictures all seem the same but there are slight changes none the less . You may have noticed some subtle changes as well. I am getting the alignment slits all welded up as well . I think if its nice out ( Sunny Saturday ) I am going to roll the car outside for a new profile shot of the car we'll see . Andy....

 

Keep it up Andy.
Progress.