I little bit if folding around some square tube to make the channel. Marked off where the patch will be. And cut it out
Wow this build has a ton of great work! Thanks for the ideas. Maybe this has been covered and as a novice I ask this question, what thickness steel are you using for all the patch panels? Posted from the international space station
Thanks. I am using 18 gauge cold rolled. I think it's slightly thicker than stock especially due to the rust. When I ground the weld beads down I try to concentrate more on the replacement metal due to that. I'm hoping to sneak into the garage this afternoon and get a little more done.
Devin, you're doing great work, honing mad skills and I'm picking up some good tips........but dude, couldn't you find a little more solid shoebox Chevy to start with - being in Cali and all? That car seems rotted in all the difficult places.
Thanks for the compliments, just trying to learn. And yes, I should have passed this one by, but I didn't lay any cash out for it. Penny wise and pound foolish I was. Oh well, I'm looking forward to getting better at this stuff and this gives me plenty if opportunity lol.
As Clark Griswold would have said "it's all part of the experience Audry". Good practice for a car down the road with no other options. At least what i told myself on my rusty wagon.
No disrespect Devin. It's all admiration for the stiff challenge of a low buck approach and putting more of your own stink into a build. That's where rodding and customizing lives.
Getting killed at work right now. All I've been able to do was get the brace patches and the drip pan tacked in. Most likely all I will get to for a while. Progress is progress I guess.
I've been there with mine. You're doing a great job, and I promise that one day, the rust repair will end!
I hope so! I'm just getting started. I think I'm going to have the body dipped when I'm done just to protect the investment of time and energy.
Finally got away from work and snuck into the garage for a little it today. I finished welding in the braces and the replacement inner window structure. Welding this was a bitch because the sheet metal was so thin. I blew a lot if holes in it and spent a great deal of time filling them up. I didn't spend much time trying to metal finish because I was worried about further thinning the ironical metal and also because it will be covered by the garnish molding. The body is so much more rigid and solid now. The pics suck due to the light coming in.
Got most of the passenger side catwalk section replaced today. Ran out if time before I could finish welding and dressing.
You must've found the only car in California that came from Illinois, nice job you're doin there though.
Lol. I know I must be a glutton for punishment. "If it ain't hard it ain't worth doing" they say. I hope they're right! I'm having fun and learning a lot.
Made up the bell one out of a strip. Ran through the shrinker to get the curve and then formed the contour with an oval post anvil. This one was easier to make than the other one. It still needs some tweaking but I'm happy with the results.
Bravo !! Devin, I remember taking on projects like that years ago and feeling the same pride and sense of accomplishment that you must feel ! But now at my current shop rate I am looking at 2o grand worth of metal work!!!! lol but I am glad you have the kahunas to save it!!! Again great work keep it up! Larry