1987 Olds Pro-touring project build - Now with paint
- Thread starter FE3X CLONE
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Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
Thanks guys.
Piddled around today doing a little powder coating. I ended up redoing my fender to core support braces. The big aluminum things I had were just sticking out too much. I also hadn't considered the fact that the heim joints at the core support end would hit the hood.
So I went to TSC and bought two 36" lengths of 3/4" metal tubing. Smashed the ends in my vise, put a couple of bends in them and bolted them up.
You can all see my finished air cleaner setup. I welded on a 1.5" lip to dress it up a bit.
Also finished my battery cover which I think turned out pretty decent.
Definitely helps clean up the engine bay visually. Kind of nice to have all the wiring slowly being tidied up and disappearing.
My neighbor stopped by tonight and we were discussing how to fix a few issues with the car. Namely my roof since I had a sunroof at one time and tried welding the hole closed a while back. The problem is that it warped the roof some and I've got a bit of oil canning going on. But I think we've figured out how we're going to fix that so I'm not going to be chopping the top to install T-tops.
Also we've hashed out a plan to fix my W-25 hood. The mounting points for the hinges on the hood had worked their way loose so I I'm going to have to cut into the hood and replace the steel inserts and refiberglass everything back in. Shouldn't be tough, just time consuming.
Thanks guys.
Piddled around today doing a little powder coating. I ended up redoing my fender to core support braces. The big aluminum things I had were just sticking out too much. I also hadn't considered the fact that the heim joints at the core support end would hit the hood.
So I went to TSC and bought two 36" lengths of 3/4" metal tubing. Smashed the ends in my vise, put a couple of bends in them and bolted them up.
You can all see my finished air cleaner setup. I welded on a 1.5" lip to dress it up a bit.
Also finished my battery cover which I think turned out pretty decent.
Definitely helps clean up the engine bay visually. Kind of nice to have all the wiring slowly being tidied up and disappearing.
My neighbor stopped by tonight and we were discussing how to fix a few issues with the car. Namely my roof since I had a sunroof at one time and tried welding the hole closed a while back. The problem is that it warped the roof some and I've got a bit of oil canning going on. But I think we've figured out how we're going to fix that so I'm not going to be chopping the top to install T-tops.
Also we've hashed out a plan to fix my W-25 hood. The mounting points for the hinges on the hood had worked their way loose so I I'm going to have to cut into the hood and replace the steel inserts and refiberglass everything back in. Shouldn't be tough, just time consuming.
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
Sometimes the small things are what pull together the clean look of the engine bay... perfect example!
Sometimes the small things are what pull together the clean look of the engine bay... perfect example!
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
The fender braces look MUCH better now that they are black.
The fender braces look MUCH better now that they are black.
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
A good way to stop the "oil canning" is to tack weld spots on the flexing metal and immediately quench the spot with a wet rag, it will stiffen up your sheet metalFE3X CLONE said:Thanks guys.
Piddled around today doing a little powder coating. I ended up redoing my fender to core support braces. The big aluminum things I had were just sticking out too much. I also hadn't considered the fact that the heim joints at the core support end would hit the hood.
So I went to TSC and bought two 36" lengths of 3/4" metal tubing. Smashed the ends in my vise, put a couple of bends in them and bolted them up.
You can all see my finished air cleaner setup. I welded on a 1.5" lip to dress it up a bit.
Also finished my battery cover which I think turned out pretty decent.
Definitely helps clean up the engine bay visually. Kind of nice to have all the wiring slowly being tidied up and disappearing.
My neighbor stopped by tonight and we were discussing how to fix a few issues with the car. Namely my roof since I had a sunroof at one time and tried welding the hole closed a while back. The problem is that it warped the roof some and I've got a bit of oil canning going on. But I think we've figured out how we're going to fix that so I'm not going to be chopping the top to install T-tops.
Also we've hashed out a plan to fix my W-25 hood. The mounting points for the hinges on the hood had worked their way loose so I I'm going to have to cut into the hood and replace the steel inserts and refiberglass everything back in. Shouldn't be tough, just time consuming.
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
Thanks.
Yeah I had a friend that worked on it for a little bit by using a stud gun with a solid tip. He used it to put heat into the metal and then would quench it with water. Seemed to be working.
My neighbors idea was to weld in a metal "crossbow" on the underside of the roof. Basically push up on the roof to get the oil can out of it and then tack this piece of metal in across the roof which would keep it from popping back. From there he said we can work with it from the outside to get it straight again.
Thanks.
Yeah I had a friend that worked on it for a little bit by using a stud gun with a solid tip. He used it to put heat into the metal and then would quench it with water. Seemed to be working.
My neighbors idea was to weld in a metal "crossbow" on the underside of the roof. Basically push up on the roof to get the oil can out of it and then tack this piece of metal in across the roof which would keep it from popping back. From there he said we can work with it from the outside to get it straight again.
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
Was there a factory brace that was cut when the factory put the sunroof in the car? Flat panels are the worst to remove waves from. You can warp a hood or roof with a D/A sander if you put to much heat in a panel. You can shrink metal the old way with a torch and a Hammer and dolly. Some would do it with a shrinking hammer. On early import hoods we wood place a shim between the under hood brace and the outer sheetmetal and use an auto body adhesive to hold it in place this looked very factory. Removing oil canning can be very dificut as you can end up chasing it all a round the area you are repairing. How much work would it be to re skin the roof with a hard top roof. Your car looks great well thought out nice work. Are you going to use the factory fender braces or are they there for test fitting. Looking forward to more up date pictures. Bernhard
Was there a factory brace that was cut when the factory put the sunroof in the car? Flat panels are the worst to remove waves from. You can warp a hood or roof with a D/A sander if you put to much heat in a panel. You can shrink metal the old way with a torch and a Hammer and dolly. Some would do it with a shrinking hammer. On early import hoods we wood place a shim between the under hood brace and the outer sheetmetal and use an auto body adhesive to hold it in place this looked very factory. Removing oil canning can be very dificut as you can end up chasing it all a round the area you are repairing. How much work would it be to re skin the roof with a hard top roof. Your car looks great well thought out nice work. Are you going to use the factory fender braces or are they there for test fitting. Looking forward to more up date pictures. Bernhard
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
Well, this wasn't a factory sunroof. I had it installed in my stupid days and should have never done it. They did cut a brace that runs across the roof but I have another one to put back in its place.
I know that's the way it should be done but I don't have another roof skin.
Not using the factory braces. I just made the ones in the pictures above to use. Was cheaper than finding factory braces that may or may not fit with the other items I have.
Thanks,
Bernhard said:
Well, this wasn't a factory sunroof. I had it installed in my stupid days and should have never done it. They did cut a brace that runs across the roof but I have another one to put back in its place.
I know that's the way it should be done but I don't have another roof skin.
Not using the factory braces. I just made the ones in the pictures above to use. Was cheaper than finding factory braces that may or may not fit with the other items I have.
Thanks,
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
I thought they were factory braces they look OEM very nice. I just read your earlier post that you are not using the adjustable braces and made these new ones. Are you now using the rubber upper rad hose?
I thought they were factory braces they look OEM very nice. I just read your earlier post that you are not using the adjustable braces and made these new ones. Are you now using the rubber upper rad hose?
Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*
I am for the time being. My other hose(s) are weeping coolant at a few places where I had to weld them together. My plan is to give the ones I've already made up to my neighbor and let his son bend them out of one continuous piece of exhaust tubing so that I have no weld points to leak. They'll also look smoother.
I love my MIG welder but I think I try to use it like a TIG too much and just don't get the results I'm after. I really need a TIG!
Bernhard said:
I am for the time being. My other hose(s) are weeping coolant at a few places where I had to weld them together. My plan is to give the ones I've already made up to my neighbor and let his son bend them out of one continuous piece of exhaust tubing so that I have no weld points to leak. They'll also look smoother.
I love my MIG welder but I think I try to use it like a TIG too much and just don't get the results I'm after. I really need a TIG!
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