I'm looking for some advice .I'm trying to replace the metal on the front bottom wheel well of both sides of my 1953 Canadian Pontiac. I'm having a hard time trying to locate the original lines of the car because so much of it is missing and i can't use the other side as a template because other side is just as bad . Any suggestions ?
Wow, is that a rusted out patch panel? If you can get an original replacement panel you can measure from higher up on the car to locate it (measure off an existing car) If you have to make the part yourself or if your using a patch panel you will probably have to eyeball it. Since the fender is so far gone you may want to do something "custom" anyway. Maybe form a new wheel lip from 1/2" CRS round bar and make a swoopy opening? Or cut fender arches from another make (say '59 impalla?) and graft them on. "A chance to cut is a chance to customize"
The advice that Joe gave you is good. Another thought, 53 & 54 Pontiac's bodies were similar to 53 & 54 Chev. If I couldn't fine another Pontiac quarter panel or piece, then look at the Chevy pieces.
All good ideas ! I'm thinking i'll do the rockers first to get a solid line and go from there ! I'll like to make the piece myself but if it comes out looking not so great i'll look for a patch i guess !
I measure on an existing car, if i can't find original/replica parts to weld on there. And i sure as hell am used to body parts looking like that. I have/had the same problem on 4 different bodies, and all because of (too much) bondo!
Hey Slim- If there is a one inch section of that rocker that is still intact, use that as a guide for your horizontal, and also for shape. Take some welding rod or round stock say, 1/16th o.d. and bend it to shape for the wheelhouse opening to skirt section. You can eye ball the shape from pictures or another vehicle (Chubby) if you can find one to pattern off of. Now run some of the round stock the length of the rocker, jus, where it rolls under the vehicle. These two welding rod/round stock shapes, either tack welded or clamped to the vehicle, will give ya a very general idea of the shapes you need to build to come close to a rocker and skirt area of the fender. You could also, build these patterns from thin cardboard (donut box stock), to get your shapes and forms necessary to build these parts. If I can see a part in 3D (wire form or cardboard) I can usually build it in metal without much trouble. Both of these parts are made up of very simple shapes and bends and shouldn't give ya much trouble once you figger them out. If necessary, use 2X4s or the edge of a work bench to get the correct radius for the rocker and skirt shapes/forms. This presumes you don't have a brake or shear to form these parts. Good Luck with these parts, looks fun! Swankey Devils C.C. "Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"
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