As some of you know I'm rebuilding whats left of a 57 T bird. I've hesitated to do a build thread, as it is neither a rod or custom. Quite a few folks have asked about it, and I've posted a picture or two. This thread will be more of a "what I did in the shop today" thread. I welcome anyone to add whatever metal repair or shaping they are working on. If the moderators feel it's too of topic, please delete it. I'm not sensitive I've learned more on this car, than any others in a very long time. It's been fun, the owner understands that I'm the guy saving it, not the one (many actually!) that fucked it up. You'd be surprised how many don't really get that. It's also my last. I'm excited. After this I get to use what I've learned over the years for my own selfish pleasure I'll start with what I started with & what I did today, and randomly throw in older stuff.
I made the patch for the top of the fender. I broke the piece 2 inches from the edge, to allow enough metal to make the flange that welds to the inner fender. The fenders are welded on the body rather than bolted. The edge that meets the hood has a slight curve. I couldn't fit the 2 inch flange in my shrinker so I used a variation of tuck shrinking. Notice the high tech machinery involved!
I guessed at the amount of crown I'd end up with after flattening the tucks. I heat the ridge, and hammer towards the tuck to capture it. I ended up with what looked to be about the right amount of crown. If you get too much, you just hammer the flange against steel to stretch it back out. If you need more just repeat the tucking. Then the basic curve of the top was made bending over sections of pipe.
I marked the center ridge, and made the "line" with the break. More curving over the pipe, then fitting and adjusting with my 100.00 planishing hammer. Fine tuned and smoothed with a small E wheel.
I'll subscribe,I enjoy watching a rough old car being brought back to life regardless of whether it's a 32 Ford or a 57 Ford. HRP
With the piece clamped in place, I filed it with both a flat and rounded file. Bumped down some high spots, and filed some more. Tomorrow I'll do a slight bit of bumping and filing and weld her in. Thanks for taking the time to look! Eric
Looks good. I cut up a '55 a couple years ago and I still have a smashed front fender (don't remember which side) and a bunch of inner fender pieces if you're looking for anything. I have one good hood yet, too. T-bird sheetmetal is insanely hard to find, for as popular of a car that it is.
Here's my last repair on my f1. Its the 2nd fender i started working on. Im improving with every patch i make!
Thanks Squablow. Yeah I was surprised at both the lack of repo parts available, and the horrible quality of the pieces we did get. I've made most everything, and should be able to fabricate the few remaining pieces. It didn't look too bad when it came to me. Once on the hoist, and as we got it down thru the four paint jobs, It looked bad. Each step from there was worse! The car was from Alaska. It had been hit pretty hard in the drivers side. The wheel houses were still pushed sideways. 1&1/2" on the left, and 1/2" on the right. Both quarters had been replaced, over the top of the damage. Then of course things were bent and bashed to get it to "fit".
The wheelhouse was actually a very easy fix. Too bad they didn't figure that out when the quarters were changed.......the first time
always amazes me how a car can look not too bad at first...and in short order turn into an utter MOUNTAIN of a job.. do you guys have personalised license plates over there TinB? You could call it EVREST?
I was calling it the Butchered bird, but it won't fit on the plate! When I saw the body mounts had been replaced.........with screws and silicone, I knew it was going to be bad. Or good. Depending on your viewpoint
Wow, that is one rough old bird. I commend you for taking it on and your repairs look great but I'm curious why the owner is saving it. Unless it's some super rare optioned car I can't see how that can be worth it financally unless you work real cheap.
I'm sure he paid too much for the car. He'll be in it more than it's worth I'm sure. I'm just doing the metal work. I'm reasonable and fair, but don't cut corners. The owner is just happy to find someone that can and will finish it, and not do what was done before. I learned long ago not to work for people that can't afford me
I wasn't questioning why you were doing it, more why your customer was! We have a guy here doing the same thing, bought a "cherry" 51 Chevy 4 door (!) that turned out to be a bondoed up rust bucket with a bad motor. Instead of cutting his losses and junking it he's paying to rebuild it, by the time he's done he have 4 times the money in it then he could of bought one already finished. I don't get it. Least your guy will have a car with some value in it when he's done.
That looks more like something that fell of a t-bird. I think the customer is going to end up with a hand built t-bird body. Nice work so far, be interested to follow your progress. Thanks, --louis
I think the quarters may have been replaced more than once. The inner structure was chewed up really bad. Fortunately both were salvageable. They were welded on so poorly it made removal pretty quick. Of course the original flanges where they lapped onto the other panels was destroyed. I had to make new flanges where the quarters meet the "catwalk" (panel between passenger compartment and trunk opening). Because of the shifted inner structure, the last guy added to one side and removed metal for the other. Made these pieces for each quarter, and trimmed then added metal to bath ends of the catwalk
Here's one of the quarter repairs after hammer and file work. This is the reason I push O/A welding! I don't know exactly how long I spent on this, but it finished out quickly.
I've welded in the third major patch on the left fender. Not a metal finish by any stretch, but I'm happy with it. I lost control of the last patch, and had to do some major correcting and stretching. I went slower on this one, and checked it with straight edges throughout the process.
Started on the leading edge of the fender this afternoon. Used my shrinker stretcher to pull the shape. Love this tool! To make up for using a fancy store bought tool, I put the peak in the part the "traditional" way. On a stump, with an old hatchet! That's it for today.........time to go play!
Man, you have a full plate with that one. I once bought a 57 Bird from Michigan that was eat up but I think yours is worse. I ended up selling mine before I got in too deep. Amazing what a couple of inches of bondo can hide. I learned to get the best T-Bird you can afford if you buy one because they cost a fortune to rebuild. You da man..
Hey Tin, It WILL end oneday jus' not tomorow That panel to the left of the Header panel below the headlamp door opening looks like the past work of a '' metalmaster ''..............I really like the ''cold shrinking'' method used With hope, the left side's in better shape, and can be used for a ''flexable shaped pattern " " The ice cream truck in his neighborhood plays Helter-Skelter "
Both sides are about the same. It's all bad But I just finished some of the worst of it. 56don, one of the reasons I'm posting this is as a warning. DO NOT buy some rusted, fucked over pile, because it's cheap. Buy the very best you can find to start with. You'll be thousands ahead in the long run. This car didn't look so bad...............
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