Thread: Disassembly started of replacement part

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Disassembly started of replacement part
Well I got a replacement corner section for my 65 ranchero some
months ago.
This part is the driver side rear corner section where the tail light and the
tail gate opens and closes.
I only needed the out side piece that goes around the tail light.
It was cut off with a cutting torch and part of the inside bed and wall was attached. In places there is 3 & 4 pieces of sheet metal that overlap and
are spot welded together.
After drilling out about a hundred spot welds and with the help of a air chisel
I got the piese I needed seperated from the other three pieces of sheet metal. Anyone ever tells me that those cars are junk and I'm gonna have some words for them. Now to mesure the part on the car and seperate that with out damaging the other pieces. I'm sure that will be another 3 or 4 hours
of fun. Just wish the guy that fixed it the first time would have done it right
and not used the two inches thick of bondo, to reshape the tail light section. I'll have to take some pictures to let you guys see. Kurt

Been there, done that Kurt!!!! There's a few places on the old Fords that you could almost swear that the engineering department was trying to see how many pieces that could stack together!!!!!!!!

I know you have Dave;
Make’s me appreciate the stuff you do that much more.
I replaced the whole front end on a 86 camero that I wrecked years ago.
I swear, doing that one corner piece on the ranchero was harder.
And I still have to get the piece off the car, then put it back together.
Any tips on measuring the pieces to fit back together right?
I have to cut and clean up the front edge of the new piece because it’s
cut crooked and needs to be strait, there is also big globs of metal balls
where he melted it.
Once I get it cleaned up, should I try to lay it over the other piece
on the car. Then draw a cut line. Whats the best way to do this.
Thanks Kurt

Get all the measurements you can before you take it apart... Sometimes a scribed line where one piece overlaps the other helps, too... Big thing is patience...... Don't tack anything together until you are happy with the fit. I use Cleco's when fitting sheetmetal pieces, reason is that when you take a piece off, trim it, and do another trial fit you'll be fitting the pieces back together with the same alignment everytime... If you don't have Cleco's, a self tapping screw will work almost as well.... Clean all the pieces good inside and out, scuff with at least 80 grit (I use 36 CAREFULLY) and be sure to have all the paint off and bare metal wherever you will be welding.

If you have to use a hammer to make it fit, it doesn't fit!!!!! PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE

Thank you, thank you, thank you; Dave.
I just bought some 80 grit too.
And looks like I'll get to use those self taping scews
I've got laying on the bench.
Thanks for those tips.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Kurt