81 Malibu project restarting

[64nailhead]

I got 2 of the patches welded in. The second one I cut a little short in the back. I made up a backer piece, but I forgot to put it in before I started welding and when I remembered, it was too late. The weld is a little chickenshit looking. I have / more patches to make, then I can move on to the large sections. Then I’ll be back where I thought I was a few weeks ago, ready to install my seat brackets.

Chicken shot looking? I can pass along some bad looking welds that make yours look like the Mona Lisa lol.

All of that is going to be covered, function over form is needed there my friend, and I believe you win with those.

 

[08Malibu]

With the crappy weather this weekend, I managed to make some progress. I got the floor panels trimmed up and fit. I started prepping the floor to be welded. I wire wheeled any surface rust and hit it with rust encapsulator. Once I drill the holes for plug welds I’ll clean those spots off and spray weld through primer on them.
While I had a hole above the one body bolt I figured I’d pull it and see what it looked like. Came out easy and is in great shape. Fingers crossed the rest are as clean. I’d be able to get the floor buttoned up today, but a family bbq won’t let that happen.
Happy Memorial Day guys. Thanks to all the service men and women that gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedom.

 

[64nailhead]

Is that Eastwood Rust Encapsulator? Have you had good success with it?

 

[08Malibu]

Is that Eastwood Rust Encapsulator? Have you had good success with it?

It is. I’ve only used it once before, on a friend’s truck. He swears by it and it seemed to bite into the metal. I got all the rust off, but the pitting is still there so I figured what the hell. Im going to use it on the rest of the floor that has surface rust then paint it all. The underside will either get bedliner or 3m water based undercoating.
I probably should’ve used rust mort or something like that. There’s still time so I may.

 

[64nailhead]

I've use POR in that application and I'm not disappointed with the results, but always curioous of what everyone is using. Where did you get those rear floor pans?

 

[08Malibu]

I've use POR in that application and I'm not disappointed with the results, but always curioous of what everyone is using. Where did you get those rear floor pans?

Dixie restorations. I cut them down a bit. I didn’t want to replace half the tunnel and up into the rear seat mount.

 

[08Malibu]

Finally started welding the pans in tonight. Need to get this project done so I can get my boat ready. I really want to use the boat more than 2 times this year.

 

[08Malibu]

Figured I’d get all the welding done tonight, and I ran out of shielding gas. Hopefully I can get to the store tomorrow after work.

 

[08Malibu]

Picked up a fresh bottle on Thursday. I got the rest of the floor welded in tonight and started welding the brace and seat brackets in. They need a little massaging because of the seams in the floor and the couple of spot welds I missed when I pulled them out.
I was poking around on the passenger side while airing out the garage tonight. The one rust spot under the wire channel turned out to be softer than I thought. Once I finish up the drivers side I’ll have to address it. Luckily it’s only in the one spot.

 

[08Malibu]

Worked until 6:30 Saturday. I came home and cut the grass, then got to put some time in on the car. I got all of the drivers side patches and the original bench seat mount welded in. I have to fab up a small patch on the passenger side and weld in some brackets. I only get to put in about an hour a night on the car, so progress is pretty slow. Any movement forward is positive though.
I’m probably going to put the cutlass seats in once the floor is done. This way I can use the car while I dye the seats and take care of any other interior panels before I put the internet all the way back together.