Here's some profile pictures out in the yard . I am liking what I am seeing so far . Now I have to go change the daughters engine in her off topic SUV . This weekend is all about getting her up and going . More on the Buick next week ! Andy...
You're right Andy, flames do get attention. I have some pin stripe flames on my 57 Ranchero and I get some interesting comments to say the least. Most people like them and wonder when I'm going to fill them in.
Well it's been almost 2 months since I was able to work on the Buick , let alone post anything worth while . Although it looks like I haven't done anything I am here to say the cruiser skirt is 95% done . I still need to trim here and there but I am pleased with the outcome . This is about 8 hours total that I have start to finish . I have a new found respect for anyone that does this for a living as wheeling shape and knowing where to shrink and stretch is key. I also have a 51 Chevrolet coupe trunk lid that I am toying with grafting on . Don't know on that yet though . I am thinking of moving the opening of the lid up the height of the Chevrolet skin so I can put a flip down licence plate to access a filler tube for fuel . That would keep the potential for a fuel spill from getting spilt in the trunk . Referencing of course a mustang tank with the filler up into the trunk area. Andy..
Looking good Andy! As for the trunk lid, so the Chevy lid is that much different than the Buick lid? I like your idea for the gas filler; I too would hate to spill gas in the trunk. Along those lines, I have seen builds with a "wall" around the filler pipe so that if gas did spill it the "wall" would funnel the gas to drain outside the car. Keep up the good work!
I have been kicking this around for a week. Thats a lot of work to fit. Im swayed toward the buick lid. Mostly on the basis you flowed the roof to match it. Thought the profile was looking good. If your unhappy with the lines,i say go for it. If its just for a gas door there are a lot of options. I.e; fuel cell, popout tailights.or just using the bottom half of the lid If its change for change sake, change it.
In regards to hivolts wall You could french the plate and add a flip down. then inside the lid add a shroud that goes around the neck and seals the trunk floor opening. Allowing you to fill open or closed. Whatever you set your mind to, i know you can pull it off
Thanks for the input guys . Upon looking at the situation closer I have decided to forgo the graft of the chev lid . Shane, in the pictures the lid is not in the final position , hence the raised look . I was contemplating cutting my lid up 8" and making the lid open at that height . That would have gave me the area for a flip down plate to access the fuel tank but that wasn't going to fit the bill either as I don't think that I would like the new trunk gap 8 inches up the lid . that kind of goes against the idea of clean smooth body lines . So that said , I will be making a tank from 10ga , 20" x 24" x 8" . That will give me a 16 gallon tank . I will fill from the trunk and use Dave's idea of a frenched ring around that will be drained out the bottom if need be . Right now I am in the process of making brakets and installing the rear bumper . I should have some pictures with the car rolled outside . I also have the final shapeup and trimout of the wheel opening panel . Fits like a glove . I will shhot this into epoxy in the near future as well . More to come , Andy..
Just a small update for now . Have the bumper mounted and the skirt into rattle can primer just to get a feel for the flow of the car . I like what I am seeing if I say so for myself . Andy...
The rear shot is killer Andy! The roof profile is excellent and your work on the skirts looks great. I remember I had a hard time interpreting your vision for the skirts, but now that I see them in primer, I like it.
Thanks Dave , It's starting to come together isn't it . I am in the process now of , obviously , blocking for the first time , gapping door openings . I want this whole side to be finished of the tedious blocking and adjusting . I will have more time this summer than ever before as I don't have anything lined up as far as extra shop work . Andy..
Andy, I am leaving the bumper at stock height . I figure with the tank that I will be fabricating , 40 lbs. at least empty . It will be 24" x 22"x 8"which equates to a 18 gallon tank @ 6.2lbs/gal. which weighs 113 lbs . 153 lbs. back there will lower the car some and start making driveways an issue , especially with a couple of people in the back seats . At least that's my fear anyways . I am not going with the 50 pods I got from you either as the 50 bumper is different . It would be a lot of unnecessary fabrication . Maybe if they were in better condition ! Remember I still have to put some tailpipes of some sort out there as well . Later , Andy..
Great work Andy! Have you done your rear inner quarter panel liners? Mine are completely gone & im not sure where to start? Maybe use another cars & adapt? Any other ideas?
Hey Simon . Do you have any pictures of your car for us to view ? I see back a while ago you wanted me to send you info of questions you had . I don't know how I missed that but I did as I don't recall ?? Getting to this issue that you are concerned about . I am not quite sure which part of the rear quarters you are referring . If you mean the rear drop-offs left and right yes mine are all tied into the Caprice trunk floor pan . Pictures would help immensely from you so I can help you out with what ever you need . Can you get some on here for me ? Would like to help you out for sure . Andy...
Here are some pics. Yes I'm talking about the rear wheel wells & liner where it would attach to the trunk. It may be different for you with the Monte frame set up. I'm wondering if guys have used wheel well from an older Chevy or something similar? My passenger side is a big hole .Thanks for your input.
As you can see in the pics. the driver side is somewhat of an easy fix . Get some Bristol board and make a template of the area . If you can it would be a lot easier to remove the filler tube housing then reinstall later. These car trunk floors never welded to the quarter panel they were brought right up to the quarter within a 1/4" or so and then there was a rubber seal and some sort of sealer . Try to replicate that . As far as the wheelhouse on that side , sheet metal with a 3/4" lip if you have a shrinker , shrink it . If not cut slits in the 3/4" flange so it will conform to the wheel house contour . The other side is similar in regards to the flat panel to quarter panel . What some people will use for a wheel house is a utility trailer fender for the arch shape and then fill in with a flat piece that attaches to the floor . As a coincidence I will be working on my floor in the near future . I will post some pictures at that time . Later , Andy..
Hey Simon , This first picture is of the panel I have tacked into place that runs over to the quarter panel but is 1/4" shy of the panel . I will put some sheet rubber at a later date that will fix the transition gap from panel and trunk floor . In the picture it has the illusion of being flared upward but it is at the same plane as the trunk floor . I had a hole to repair on my wheel house as well . I flanged it 1" and shrunk the panel on a sandbag and wheeled in some shape to conform to the radius of the original wheel house . Fully welded in, ready for seam sealer . Maybe grind down the welds first if you want a more pleasing to the eye repair. More repair at the top of the arch as well in the 3rd picture .
Hey andy, just sharing mine not hijacking, took a couple pics of my wells. You will notice i added gussets on each side. These gussets stiffened the catwalk. Had a lot of trouble keeping the center aligned with the trunk. Flexed like crazy. Took a while to figure out but did keep the hinges from moving up and down. Also will give me a mounting point for a panel . I dont know if you have this problem too but while your there ... Cheers
Thanks for the input Shane . I am having a issue with the driver side cat walk . It is slanted downwards . It's either slanted downwards or the right side is torqued upwards . Maybe your idea can come into play on my issue as well . I will take a look at that . Later man , Andy..
Taking advantage of some reprieve of the oppressive heat we had been having to work on tying in the trunk . Put a lot of the caprice floor back in . Made a 4" plate to make the transition from the upper level of the trunk floor to the lower . Under the higher level of floor will be a gas tank I will make with dimensions of 16" x 36" x 8 "( 17 Gallons ). Left side almost all done then onto the right . Another 8 hours will tie that side up as well . Don't know if I will knock down the proud welds and use a little filler to make stuff look good and seamless , or just whack the sealer to them and sound deadener over everything !! Andy..
Looks great Andy! Man I wish I had your metal fab skills! I like Shane's gusset ideas too. Time for me to get to work and learn some new skills!!
How did a small town New Brunswicker end up in California ?? Good for you . I am in Moncton on the McLaughlin Road . My wife has family in Rexton . You , having lived here know the rust issues we have . It's been a long haul for sure . Thanks for the positive comment .
Looking good Andy! As for the welds, if it were me I'd knock down the welds, seam seal them and then put down the sound deadener. It would be a lot of work for sure, those MIG welds are a bear to grind smooth, but I don't think you'll regret grounding them down.
How did I end up here? Long story but the simple answer is just look at the winter you guys just had! McLaughlin Road? Yup know it well as I actually lived 10 miles up river from Rexton and therefore the way we used to go to Moncton was via McLaughlin Rd. (all my family are still there) I hear you on the rust, man, I don't think there's a place on earth that rusts cars out as fast as back there. Good luck on your build and I'll be watching your thread!
OK , Now I gotta ask . What's your name ? My wife was born in Rexton and her mother's family was in Galloway. Do you know the Scullys , Fergusons , from Rexton? I am going to check out your build thread on FB , see what's going on with your sedanette . Andy..
LOL.... yup know the Scully's, Fergusons, in fact my good friend from Rexton is Kevin Scully - graduated with him and there are several Ferguson families, I also graduated with Robert Ferguson. If your wife is from Galloway no doubt she knows Donny and Jack Hudson, Bev Mitchell. I'm not sure what age you and your wife are, but ask her if she knows Danny Lennox or maybe my brother or sister Edgar and Brandi, as I pretty much left there when I graduated.
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