Thread: A new project for the firebird

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Making nice fitting patches is something that I have not mastered yet I feel your pain.

Yeah, the top would fit nice, but the bottom was way out. Then I'd get the bottom fitted and the top would be out. When I gave up, it was a beautiful piece, with clever stretching and shrinks, contours and radius, but it didn't fit.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

When I gave up, it was a beautiful piece, with clever stretching and shrinks, contours and radius, but it didn't fit.

C'mon now.. you know the deal! Pics or it didn't happen...

DOH! I knew that one was coming!

I'm trying to upload pics, I'll need to try at the post, with the wifi.

Meanwhile, I successfully re made the patch in two pieces, and it's in place.

Progress!

I've decided to remove the door to access and replace all the rot. It took the impact gun to remove the screws.

Oh, and BTW I'm using some 16 ga stainless for the patching.

I am having no luck so ever uploading pics.

Anyway, I got the door off, and stripped back the layers of rot. Made templates for each piece, cut them out and welded them in. The driver's side body mount just in front of the door is nearly rebuilt, in stainless.

A lot of guesswork involved, replacing pieces that are completely gone, but at least the passenger side has some left for reference.

The driver side body mount is done! And, I made some improvements over the factory design, this time it is completely boxed in, no where for the muck to add accumulate and rot it out.

It really looks clean and pretty in stainless. It makes me wonder why more don't do it in stainless? Sure it's heavier but unless you are replacing a floor I can't see weight as a factor. It is a bit harder to fabricate, true. And if you're paying for it, more expensive, but this scrap was free.
It's easier to weld by far.

Anyway, what do y'all say?

Also, anyone want to post some pixels for me?

I had a friend give me a sheet (approximately 3' X 9') some years ago. I used the heck out of it. Built the floor for the 37 Dodge out of it, used it for the enlargement of the trans tunnel on the 87 Ram 50, a bunch of small things like the glove compartment on the 37, dash inserts, brackets etc etc.


It does weld nicely and cuts fairly easily with a cut off wheel. That being said it's a pain to bend (especially sharp angles) and drilling or cutting holes in it can take a while and dulls drills and hole saws pretty quickly. When I did the dash inserts I found I had the best luck drilling and cutting gauge holes using my old line shaft driven post drill running at about 100 RPM.


Like you I ended up with it because it was free and used it mostly because I had it around when I needed metal for those projects. Would I use it again if I had more....Sure. Will I go out and actually buy some new.....probably not unless there is a certain project that actually requires it.


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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Also, anyone want to post some pixels for me?

Sure, flip'em to me. Still have my e-mail?

My phone had a mental breakdown. I don't even have the pictures anymore.

Ok I did manage to post this one (multiple times apparently)

Is there a way to delete the extra images I loaded?

This is the start point

Outside view, it turned sideways?

I heard of someone else having that issue loading pics, don't remember the solution.

This should be the inside view, sideways probably also.

Crikey!
The tin moth has had a pretty good munch in those first two pics!

We've all had issues posting pics with this software package. The crooked pics is how it saved in your phone I've found. I've even opened / corrected / and renamed some pics and it didn't seem to change a thing. I can't explain it so I won't try. Glad you could get some up, and it looks like your making progress so 2 thumbs up!!!