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wagon progress
Tonight we worked on getting the front fenders ready for epoxy primer, just a few more items to cross off the list. An earlier repair to resolve some rust on the top of the fenders.........
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Picture366.jpg
.........when checking the gap to the hood recently we noticed it was slightly wide at these spots where the weld had pulled. Shown here with the straight edge....
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1632.jpg
Time to make a tool that will reach between the inner fender brace for a bit of bumping...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1634.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1635.jpg
The shortened hammer comes in handy again...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1636.jpg
A few good raps along the area brought it out nicely.
Next, we have some early model fender emblems to install on the front fenders, so we needed to fill the old holes...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1637.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1639.jpg
Three separate quick zaps were used (about a minute in between) to minimize the heat introduced into the panel for filling the slotted holes. Note minimal HAZ..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1641.jpg
Holes laid out and drilled for the new emblem...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1646.jpg
Other fender...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1647.jpg
Note minimal weld bead height using EZ Grind..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1650.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1651.jpg
Next, we had one more minor adjustment to do to the driver door lower corner. It was tweaked inward slightly and needed some adjustment. I recently noticed one of my hole punches was broken, and it looks like it will work for what we need, in conjunction with the vise grip dent puller...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1652.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1653.jpg
Kyle started media blasting the inside of the driver's fender.... A bit of a squeeze in a 58" wide blast cabinet..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1655.jpg
Rather tight to the door!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1656.jpg
Until next time.....
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nice work, thanks for sharing Robert. :)
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Thanks guys!
While I was doing the family thing today at an FLL robotics competition, Kyle worked some more on prepping the front fenders for priming..
One down......
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1657.jpg
One to go....
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1659.jpg
Another issue that plagues most of the trifive Chevrolets is cracking at the leaded joint at the top of the A pillar.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1660.jpg
A look at the other side shows a gap that is quite a stretch to expect a good permanent repair regardless of the filler used..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1661.jpg
At over 1/4" wide, something we will need to address...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1662.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1663.jpg
So we'll attempt a repair similar to the radius-ing that was done on the rear tailgate, using STEEL..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Picture345.jpg
Until next time....
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Wow, those gaps on the a-pillar are pretty big. I may have to re-address mine to see if I risk cracking there. On a Belair I think that area is pretty much covered up by trim.
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Robert ,
Great stuff for all to enjoy and learn from . Thanks for taking the time to post for all of us !!
Sid
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More progress, although it doesn't appear like much, progress just the same...
Door skins had been left "loose" on the inner door to allow twisting/tweaking for fitment within the door opening. Drilled some 3/16 holes from flange into inner door and plug welded. I've had many people ask how well the epoxy primer holds up to the heat of plug welds, here is a good indicator. It shows discoloration at the surface, but note the nice green primer underneath where the grinding wheel went through the paint..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1688.jpg
Parts ready for epoxy primer..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1690.jpg
These are the stiffeners for inside the door skin that go behind the door handle. The inside of the door will be sprayed, as well as these parts, and allowed to flash. Then another application on both and they'll get bolted in place, letting the epoxy primer act as an adhesive to hold in place and seal to the door skin. Once door handles are bolted on they will be there for good..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1691.jpg
This car has belt line trim that goes around the perimeter at the bottom of the windows, which needed to be added to the new door skins. I had saved a piece from the old door skins to get the locations correct. Here's the layout of the slots for the stainless attaching hardware, we'll get that finished next time..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1689.jpg
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Why is it when you're getting ready to mix primer you find other issues to fix?? More minor tweaks so that hopefully we can spray this afternoon...
A crack that looks to be from some previous body damage.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1692.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1694.jpg
A post dolly is used to provide an off dolly effect, and the body hammer is struck on the "high" spot.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1695.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1697.jpg
Used a copper backing since we're so close to the edge and the metal has been fatigued. Filled the crack and dressed the weld...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1698.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1699.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1700.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1702.jpg
Then I noticed a low spot on the fender's bodyline crease...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1703.jpg
Time to lose another Craftsman chisel to become a body tool...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1704.jpg
....the rod was heated and bent around, then finished welding.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1705.jpg
Placed the fender on the large shot bag and used the dead blow hammer to apply the persuasive force...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1707.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1708.jpg
Much better with a more consistent crown across the fender..
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...icture1709.jpg
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