BUILD THREAD 81 Buick/Olds Turbo Wagon 02/15/2024 More Parts!

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Those clips are pretty cheap. Gonna have to order them up with some of those screws.

That is why I strip every thing down to bare metal. To find the half assed repairs and make them right.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Go most of all the paint and filler off of the quarter. I still have to get it off the window frame, and in the wheel well lip. But, I got a lot done. I only have two or 3 hours a night to get out there.

Here is the dog leg, rusted and hammered down, then a 1/4" of filler on it, lol. Friggin hacks. I will be cutting this out and replacing it like I did on the RH side.

And here is the lower rear, a few thin spots that could be holes along the bottom, I will be cutting these out, and filling the light up.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Also, just realized I am missing some funky fillers or the header. The ones under the headlights. I may have to make something.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Lookin' good, Jim.
At least you know what you're working with now. Was the dogleg the worst of the rust, besides the sills?

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Yeah man, I know what is what. Besides the sills, yes the dogleg is the worst. One this quarter panel anyway. There were far worst rust areas on other parts of the car.

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Yeah, I also had to replace the rightside dogleg. I actually repaired, or replaced a section of it years back. I formed a piece and welded it in using oxy-acetylene. It held up for a number of years and the rust was starting to show it's ugly head again. This time I cut it out again and used the MIG on it. I should've cut one out of a parts car, but none were available at the time.
So once again I formed a new piece.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Jack. That is what I have been doing. If there is rust, that started to pit, I cut it out. No if ands or butts. It will always come through, I learned that the hard way.

I have a brake, shrinker/stretcher, flanging too, hole punch, etc, so forming the piece is not that big of a deal for me. And with a TIG welder, the stuff goes in pretty good. I try not to MIG too much, since I only have a flux core MIG, no shielding gas. Not in the budget, lol.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

Some more updates from last night. I got the window frame cleaned up pretty good. Need to get a bit of the old seam sealer off still though in spots.

I cut the top "sill" area out, using the spot weld cutter and a cut off wheel, slowly to keep from warping.

This shot shows right where the pillar meets the top. There is rust back there I will also have to cut out. And some small parts of the drip rail.

Just a picture showing the steel cut out.

And the old rotted piece on the bench.

 

[liquidh8]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 5/20/13

 

[Longroof79]

Re: 81 Century/GN Wagon build-up 56K beware! update 7/31/13

The fun never ceases, does it, Jim?
I also had to replace a section of drip rail on the right side rear. I didn't cut out as much on the sills, probably because I wanted to save the trim clip studs. But fortunately they weren't too bad. It's always better to cut out any sign of the rust bug starting.

Hopefully there won't be any signs of it popping up down the road.

It's good to see you back in business again, man.