BUILD THREAD “The Juggernaut”

oldtinsmith

Royal Smart Person
Jun 14, 2010
1,896
242
63
Auburn, Michigan
Donovan, I haven't posted anything here in a while because I've been busier than a cat covering crap with my house remodeling. ... I vote for the lynch pins also. ... When I parted out a 1978 Grand Am a few years back, it surprised me to find the metal wheel wells and aluminum core support. You are right about the light weight of the metal wheel wells. ... Great job on the door/hood/fender gaps. Thanks again for sharing your ideas and talented work!

Doug
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

O. D. Showtime

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 6, 2009
3,008
3,537
113
Regina Sask. Canada
Awesome work as usual Donovan! Nice find on the metal wheel wells.
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Kiko

Master Mechanic
Apr 14, 2009
300
341
63
Ottawa, Canada
As stated before -- amazing work! I think that the words "amazing" and "awesome" have a record hit on this build thread ... ;) ... and for good reason!

Getting back to your work on the door/hood/fender gaps. I think that I've finally found someone even more "anal retentive" than I am. :) That is some patience to hand file all that metal! Not sure if you still think it was worth it, but I can appreciate the thought process, and once you committ, there's no going back.

I agree with your decision to forego the chrome mouldings on the back of the hood and the little piece on the fender. Your car is slightly different in that area, but I'll throw in a variable -- backed up with some pictures -- regarding the upper door sill moulding that you want to retain. When I was prepping my car for paint, I always meant to re-install that moulding, but after paint, and comparing with/without, I decided against it. Just some thoughts to get those little wheels spinning in your head...

Enough for now -- keep up the great work and drag us along this great build!

Body Work 1.jpg Body Work 2.jpg Body Work 3.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

Opie Knievel

Rum Fueled Midnight Mechanic and Moderator
Sep 6, 2010
1,512
1,859
113
Brodhead, Kentucky
This car is a work of art. It's a true one of a kind. You are a craftsman. I love all of the custom work you've put into this build.
I'll admit I haven't read your entire thread but the parts I have read are very informative and fun to read. I've learned a lot watching your progress. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to take pics and write the posts. It's very motivating . If you were to do video updates I know I'd watch. I'm following this thread now. I can't wait to see future updates!
 
  • Like
  • Agree
Reactions: 3 users

motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan
1. Never seen a set of metal fender liners; and
2. Seriously stop doing such good work!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,171
23,921
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Wow guys, just wow!

I'm at a bit of a loss for words at the amazing responses and praise you all are heaping on me. I still don't think I'm worthy of all the incredibly nice things you've all had to say. I just see myself as any everyday Joe working on his car in his spare time.

Thank you all for the positive comments and encouragement, its very uplifting and does wonders to maintain the motivation to push through the "less than fun" moments.

I'm glad that every one of you not only understood my unhappiness with and desire to improve the gaps and panel alignments in these areas, but actually commended and encouraged me that I did the right thing. Makes me think perhaps I'm not as OCD or anal retentive as I feared I might be...
;)

To be honest, I kinda thought I'd have to entertain some good natured ribbing about welding the panels together, things like "building a Dukes of Hazzard car?" or "that's gonna make it a bit difficult to change the oil..." but you guys blew me away with your positive comments and responses. So THANK YOU all again!

Donovan,

That's awesome work. Your attention to detail is great for my OCD. I really admire your talent with fabrication and metal work.

Guys,

He can deny it all he wants but it looks like he's building one for the Riddler to me! :p

Jared, thanks man!
I'm glad there's at least another member on here that can relate to my obsession with details.
:)
Seriously tho, more Ridler talk? Stop, you're gonna give me a complex!
:rofl:

That was also a pet peeve of mine, I welded rod to the ends of my panels to get the gaps closer. Looks great my friend!

Thank you Jim!
I know that you've spent considerable time working on your gaps as well, I'm dying to see you get it done and post up some high res pics for us all to admire.

Correcting panel gaps is certainly nothing new in the custom car world, either by adding and filing welds like I did, or by welding in rods to close things up like you and Jack did.
Either way, it serves the same purpose, and in my case, the gaps weren't that big. The panels and the panel shapes just didn't go together that well, so the welding and filing method seemed more appropriate for what I needed.

Thanks for your encouragement, as always!

Donovan,
These cars never had gaps that looked that good from the factory. Like the other guys said, your attention to detail is incredible...

I remember when I was doing the bodywork on my Porsche, I used welding rod to fill the gaps, much like Jim had mentioned. Although, I used oxy-acetylene at the time.

I enjoy seeing how you address different areas of your car. Keep up the excellent work, my friend.
You never cease to amaze me.

Btw, great score on the metal wheel wells. I honestly had no idea that these things existed. At least you'll be able to work with them, tweak them, modify them, etc... unlike the plastic variety.

Jack, you welded up panel gaps on a Porsche with OXY/ACETYLENE???
Holy crap! And you call ME talented??
:notworthy:
That would have been a test of your patience and skill I'm sure!

As for the metal wheel wells, I'm hearing that same sentiment from most members on here. No one (including me) seems to know that some of our cars even came with them. A unicorn indeed I'm thinking...

Thanks for responding, always great to hear from you!

Donovan
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,171
23,921
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Donovan, I haven't posted anything here in a while because I've been busier than a cat covering crap with my house remodeling. ... I vote for the lynch pins also. ... When I parted out a 1978 Grand Am a few years back, it surprised me to find the metal wheel wells and aluminum core support. You are right about the light weight of the metal wheel wells. ... Great job on the door/hood/fender gaps. Thanks again for sharing your ideas and talented work!

Doug

Thanks Doug, always my pleasure to show and share with my friends here on the forum.
:)

Awesome work as usual Donovan! Nice find on the metal wheel wells.

Thanks Kevin.
I know in your travels looking for G body parts, you're mostly looking at and for Malibu parts, but did you know about this metal wheel well thing? Ever seen these before? I'm starting to wonder just how rare these actually are.
 

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,171
23,921
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Not sure if you still think it was worth it, but I can appreciate the thought process, and once you committ, there's no going back.

Kiko,
I definitely feel it was worth the extra effort. To me, a bit more time spent here and now will pay off in the end when there's nothing that looks out of place or bugs me once it's done.

regarding the upper door sill moulding that you want to retain. When I was prepping my car for paint, I always meant to re-install that moulding, but after paint, and comparing with/without, I decided against it.

I considered that option too. Your Grand Prix as well as the '81-'88 Cutlasses differ from my body style in one fairly major way tho. Your B pillars are flush with the rest of the body, and your quarter glass windows sit flush as well.

On my car, because the B pillars are recessed into the body, the quarter glass is recessed as well, leaving a matching ledge that aligns with the door belt mouldings.
If I were to remove the chrome door belt mouldings, I'd have to remove the chrome that skirts the quarter glass as well. Then the only chrome left around the side windows would be the drip rails and up the A pillars.

IMG_1971.JPG



IMG_1970.JPG

I think you can see where I'm going here. If I leave the door belt mouldings and quarter glass chrome on, it ties in with the drip rail and A pillar mouldings and frames the glass areas on the sides nicely.

IMG_1974.JPG


As I mentioned earlier, the front leading edge of the door mouldings have a nice shape to them that doesn't look out of place to start the chrome trim.

IMG_1972.JPG


On the car:

IMG_1973.JPG


Thanks for the suggestion tho, it really is truly appreciated. It shows that you're thinking about what I'm doing, and making suggestions based on what worked for you. Great stuff, thank you!

Donovan
 
  • Like
  • Agree
Reactions: 2 users

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,171
23,921
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
This car is a work of art. It's a true one of a kind. You are a craftsman. I love all of the custom work you've put into this build.
I'll admit I haven't read your entire thread but the parts I have read are very informative and fun to read. I've learned a lot watching your progress. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to take pics and write the posts. It's very motivating . If you were to do video updates I know I'd watch. I'm following this thread now. I can't wait to see future updates!

Opie, thanks very much for the kind words sir, and welcome to my thread!

Hopefully you'll continue to tune in. If you like my style of updating and writing about the progress, I think you'll continue to enjoy it as much as I enjoy sharing it all with you guys.

I know that at 40+ pages of posts, not everyone has the time (or interest) in reading it all, but I strongly encourage everyone to try. There's some pretty cool stuff in there, especially when it comes to the frame and associated mods, as well as the unique exhaust I've built.

Unfortunately, I doubt that I'll get into doing video updates, but perhaps that's a thought I should entertain...

I can say with certainty tho that I have many more cool mods planned for the car, and there will be much more to cover and read about in the future!

Thanks for tuning in and following!

1. Never seen a set of metal fender liners; and
2. Seriously stop doing such good work!

Mike,

1. Neither have I, and I've been playing around with G bodies for 20+ years! I was just as surprised as you!

2. Nope, sorry. Can't do it. It just ain't in my nature!
:D

Thanks again for checking in on the progress everyone. Cheers!

Donovan
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor