BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Rktpwrd]

Soooo...
Now where was I a month and a half ago before I got bogged down in repairing rusty-*ss window channels...???

Oh yeah, right. Rust repair!

So yeah. I'm back at it finally, eliminating the last of the rust caused by that infernal vinyl top.

Started by sanding off the overspray from both sail panels...

...then moved onto preparing the donor 442 sail panel from the junkyard.

I stripped the old lacquer paint only from the areas I needed:

From there, it was slowly and methodically start paring the patch down to size.
This is all that I'm actually using from that big patch; just enough to replace the rusted sections:

If you look really closely, you'll see some small rust pits in the patch left behind after sanding the old paint off. The donor panel wasn't perfect, but it was a damn sight better than what I had on the car.
These pits will get ground out, they're not terribly deep, but that will happen after the patch is welded in place. There will be a lot of welding and grinding making the patch permanent, so I didn't want to thin the metal out needlessly beforehand. Chances are, by the time I'm done grinding down the welds, most of the pits will be gone.
It's little stuff like this you learn with experience.

Here's a big chunk of the ugliness removed from the car...

...but it did leave a pretty substantial sized hole!

The rest of the casualties...

...better there on the bench than on the car!


Fitting it up, so far so good...

Continued >>>

 

[Rktpwrd]

After much fitting, trimming and tweaking, I was finally happy with the fit. You guys know the procedure. Time to start tacking it in place:

In this next pic you can see one last small rust bloom at the back that the patch wasn't long enough to eliminate:

So I simply cut the offending area out...

...and using a leftover 442 panel scrap piece, made a replacement for it.

This little piece has a slight bit of curvature to it, so I got it close by forming it over a dolly. Then it was time to tack and form it the rest of the way as I went along.

Here it is, now tacked in place:

I know it's not much, I've still got a lot of welding and grinding ahead of me here, but it's a solid start. It's just nice to see metal here for the first time, and no more rust holes.

I had hoped to accomplish a lot more welding tonight, but things kind of went their own way.
I was about a half hour into working on the car when two early twenty-somethings riding by on their bikes stopped past my big door, and doubled back. They were curious about what I was doing, what the car was, the story on it.

They were young, clean, polite, well mannered and well dressed, so I hesitantly told them a few things about the car and what I was doing and why. They were genuinely interested in everything I told them. We talked for a while about old cars, and what the one kids' dad has, when inevitably the question arose:

"So um, do you mind if I ask what the car under the cover is?"

Well you shoulda seen their jaws hit the floor when I pulled back the cover on The Juggernaut!


So finally after 2 hours of chatting, explaining, and a couple carefully monitored pictures, they were on their way. I think I made their night, and to be honest, they kinda made mine. It was nice to see the genuine interest and the looks of amazement on their faces as I pointed things on the cars out to them.

No sooner did they leave, when the newly moved in neighbor down the alley came over to see what was going on too. Then the whole show n shine started all over again, followed by a bit of bench racing and BS'ing!
Lol

So yeah, I didn't get much accomplished tonight, but by the same token I still feel strangely rewarded.
🙂

Have a great weekend everyone, til the next update.

Donovan

 

[1evilregal]

always great when you can get rid of the last of the rust, and make new friends at the same time!

 

[Rktpwrd]

Had a pretty good night on the car tonight...

Oh yeah, y'all like apples?
'Cause this concludes the last of the sheetmetal roof rust repairs.
How do ya like THEM apples?
😛

I'll be starting the filler and blocking work tomorrow, starting with the roof seams. Now the dust begins...

D.

 

[85442/86buick]

Damn you make it look sooooooooooo easy.
that is awesome !!

 

[SoFloG]

I can't be the only one hoping you'll leave the untreated metal like that all over,, and just clear it and call it a day.

 

[Clutch]

Good looking mile Stone D it's such a good feeling when I know I'm finished with the metal work on one. As nice as your metal work is you should be able to blow threw the plastic work

 

[TURNA]

Sweeeeet. What are you using to sand the bare metal?

 

[Injectedcutty]

What roof rust? That repair looks killer D!!!! Having the good donor sail panel from the 442 really saved you a ton of time from fabbing several pieces, and using your fancy tools to get all the curves and bends dead on like the driver side!

As you said, now it's time for the dusty work of filler and blocking! As is par for your course, top notch sheetmetal work man!!!! I can't wait to see how it looks freshly painted and you reveal the design scheme that you're keeping secret you sucker!!!

 

[Opie Knievel]

Looking good Donovan. I bet you're glad to have the metal work wrapped up.