Is that lower body line laid on more of an angle (more like a '33/'34) than it was originally? I'm no 3wd expert, it just caught my eye. .... vs. a Brookville for comparison: Or maybe it's just the angle of the pic. JH
If it is, it certainly wasn't intentional. I had the panel on and off a zillion times in the process of fitting. I had to tweak the bottom fold a fair bit to get it to lay flat on the bottom side of the floor tail piece. Even then I had to use a series of spacers and wedges to prepare it for plug welding. So if I changed the shape/angle, I'll have to live with it. Off to the shop for another day of fab 101........ today p***enger side wheelwell repair..... for the third time.
Out to the shop yesterday morning to attack the p***enger side wheel well. This will be the third time I've patched this side. I think I finally have the door fit and fender fit correct that the quarter panel must be in the right spot. Old patch laid on sandbag to make a pattern for a new piece. Butcher paper held on with mini magnets A dirty finger traces the outside shape. Pattern cut out and stuck to old patch again. Trace area of higest crown and the tip line that becomes the flat mounting flange. Trace onto 18 ga. Rough cut with foot shear. Final cut with electric shear. ATF for lube. Planishing hammer to raise crown. Tipping die in bead roller and English wheel to smooth out planishing marks. Final planishing with T-Dolly and hammer Punched holes for plug welds
Sneaking up on final fit. Ran out of time yesterday....... more today You'll notice a serious change in the color of the panel. Halfway through the forming it seemed that the metal stopped behaving itself (got hard). So I annealed it with a torch and away I went again.
Here we go again.... now for the rear portion of the wheel well. A little planishing.... Straightened it a bit with 12 tons.... A bit more shape.... T-Dolly for shape.... A little wheeling..... A little tipping....... Flattening the mounting flange..... Trial fit and mark for t*******..... Remove both trim and tack together...... When I know that parts will need additional shaping after welding, I like to use oxy-acet because the weld is so soft..... A little clean up and......... Backside..... Viola.... patch panel......
I can't believe how many hours I have into one "simple" patch panel but here we go again....... Clecoed and clamped into place..... Only to realize there just isn't enough crown yet..... break out the BFH..... And when that didn't work..... cut slits..... Mig tacks...... Followed by gas welding and lots of smacking..... Another trial fit..... more frustration..... Screw it...... weld it in....... Last little section fabbed and installed...... Little bit of clean up...... And when the day's work has been frustrating, there's only one tool that can help..... Now I've got to find someone willing to crawl into the trunk with a hammer and dolly so I can finish this install........ thanks for looking.
hey i see your lathe looks like mine a workbench ,seen a rear garnish on ebay last night sacattack keep in touch !
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