'83 Cutlass Cruiser Build Thread

[Longroof79]

Blake,
I'm glad to hear that heat in the shop isn't an issue. At least you'll be comfortable and be able to work at your own pace.

 

[Blake442]

Got the header panel pretty close to finished...

Here's a look at my handy work once the header panel is installed.
Instead of making it pretty, I'm just going to make a piece to cover it up.
Those radiator shroud pieces I got at the yard a few months ago cover the top between the core support and the back of the grille, so once I get my hands on some bulk material to make new ones off my patterns, I'll just whip up some small pieces to cover above the headlites. Should blend right in...



With the header panel bolted in place where I wanted it, I made some relief cuts to hopefully get the damaged part back where it should be.
That wasn't the case, so I cut it all apart.



Finally able to get the movement I needed, I bolted the two parts in place and posed them the way I wanted them.
I shimmed the pieces with folded up strips of fiberglass cloth and then soaked them with resin, making the glass equivalent of tack-welds...
Then I pulled the header panel back off and reinforced the daylites out of the back side with various lengths of cloth and lots of resin.



Then I bolted it back onto the car to do it's final straightening and filling.
Just gave it a wipe of duraglass before leaving, so I'll knock that down a bit and finish it with a layer of filler.




And then I can take it all back apart again! :lol:

 

[Longroof79]

Blake,
You're having way too much fun, my friend. :lol:
Nice repair job on the header panel. Once it's finished, you'll never know.

 

[Blake442]

All fixed...

 

[liquidh8]

Looking good Blake! 😀

 

[Blake442]

Thanks, Jim!

Saturday I went out and wasted half the time painting up an interior for one of my r/c trucks... :lol:

Once the paint was dry I decided to start blocking out the roof again...
I'm not super excited, but i just want to get it out of the way and be done with it.

I'll tinker with the roof for a while and get the windshield and 1/4 glass cut out next.

 

[Blake442]

Spent some time Tuesday and Thursday block sanding about half of the roof.
To be honest I didn't really like what I saw, so yesterday I distracted myself by trimming up the rear wheel well moldings.

I mounted them back up to make sure they still fit after I had rolled and trimmed the edge of the body.
They fit nicely and I straightened out a few spots that were bent. I'll take care of the dings later.
I marked where I wanted to trim and pulled them off to cut and clean up the edges.
Then I threw them back on the car to make sure they still fit and we're good to go.

 

[Blake442]

This week I'll get back to blocking out the rest of the roof...

 

[Blake442]

Been slowly plugging away at the roof.
Initially I wasn't all that happy with how it was looking, but it's finally starting to come around.
Good thing I put lots of primer on there!
I know nobody will even notice the roof when it's all said and done, but I will.
I'm 6'2" and every time I get in the car it stares me right in the face and it will kill me if it looks shitty... :lol:

Once I get sick of the roof again I'll pull the front clip off and start working on my cowl and door jambs.

 

[liquidh8]

Been slowly plugging away at the roof.
Initially I wasn't all that happy with how it was looking, but it's finally starting to come around.
Good thing I put lots of primer on there!
I know nobody will even notice the roof when it's all said and done, but I will.
I'm 6'2" and every time I get in the car it stares me right in the face and it will kill me if it looks shitty... :lol:

Once I get sick of the roof again I'll pull the front clip off and start working on my cowl and door jambs.

I am right there with you on the roof. Took me forever to fix the rot in the rear and the huge dents. Thank god I have the stud welder with shrinking tip. 😀 Then a few coats of slicksand I should be good!

Glad you are still making progress.