BUILD THREAD Rustier then I thought!!!

[Cte069]

Right on. From what im gathering frome everyone is you'll get the feel for the spot weld cutter and its capabilities. Just gonna have to dive in. I was gonna cut the pan out last night but i dont have the replacement in front of me. My ? Is should I wait to make sure I don't cut to much out? Or go ahead and cut to the factory welds? Also should i save as much good metal as possible or cut it all out uniform and neat the same size as my replacement?

I like to have part in hand personally. To make sure it fits halfway nice and covers desired area.
As far as how much to cut double edge sword.. If you just cut cancer out of car u have to cut replacement panel to fit. You cut car all out to fit whole new panel you cut once.. there will be a TON of opinions to make a whole thread over that debate. Take all the opinions and what you learned and do what works for YOU. After I finish up my header panel, I be off to the floor pans like you...

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

I like to have part in hand personally. To make sure it fits halfway nice and covers desired area.
As far as how much to cut double edge sword.. If you just cut cancer out of car u have to cut replacement panel to fit. You cut car all out to fit whole new panel you cut once.. there will be a TON of opinions to make a whole thread over that debate. Take all the opinions and what you learned and do what works for YOU. After I finish up my header panel, I be off to the floor pans like you...

Yea, that makes sense to me too. Since I got my stepdads pos ford goin again Ill be picking up the pan tommorow. Weather permitting.

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

I got sidetracked today fixing brake lines on a f150. Then my sister needed her brake lights changed on her envoy except her hatch wont open. So that sucked. There both back on the road now. Just in time for snow. Yesterday I got the fenders off.

Pretty straightforward and tons of how tos. The only thing ill say is make note of the shims and tape them together. And the very bottom bolt just in front of the door doesn't need to come all the way out. I also took the core support and ac box out. The mount holes on the frame are good. But the core support is rusted around the holes.

The ac box area wasn't rusted. Just minor surface rust. Make sur to disconnect all the vacuum lines and electric connections. I dont see how you can take the box out with the fender on. Heck i had to take my valve cover off.

I also got the engine and trans mounts loose, driveshaft and headers off. Looking to pull them tommorow. I ordered a set of interior panel tools so I can take the doors off without destroying the panel clips hopefully. There's still a bit to do past that. The tank, e brake,rear bumper cover and qtr extensions. I think im gonna pull the frame then sit the body on 4x4s. Then cut the floor pan out. I have a 2 ton chain fall and a 2 ton engine hoist and leveler. I was thinking of using the door hinge bolt holes in the front and my chainfall in the trunk. Maybe the tail light holes or even weld tabs to trunk floor. I also have 2x 2 ton jacks and bunches 4x4 scrap for dunnage.If I'm goin about it the wrong/dangerous way please speak your mind. Thanks everyone for the help. Gonna play a game of battleship with my boy and send him to bed.

 

[fleming442]

Brace it with 1"x1" steel tube, so it doesn't fold up on you when you cut the floor out.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Sometimes you have to get inventive, and check out different possibilities before starting. You previously stated that your going to remove the windshield. Does your garage have atleast 1 steel I-beam going across the ceiling? I attached 10 inch C-clamps on the far side of the I-beams in mine, then used a heavy duty tow strap where the roof meets the A-pillar, then use (1or2) come-a-longs from the C-clamps to the strap. I’ve seen on a few car shows on TV where they built a steel 5 piece steel tube frame in the trunk to lift and support the back with an engine hoist. I had success doing my station wagon roof install this way at home by myself.

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

Brace it with 1"x1" steel tube, so it doesn't fold up on you when you cut the floor out.

Are you talking top to bottom or side to side in between the doors? Or both? Can I pull the engine/trans with the starter still on? TIA

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

Sometimes you have to get inventive, and check out different possibilities before starting. You previously stated that your going to remove the windshield. Does your garage have atleast 1 steel I-beam going across the ceiling? I attached 10 inch C-clamps on the far side of the I-beams in mine, then used a heavy duty tow strap where the roof meets the A-pillar, then use (1or2) come-a-longs from the C-clamps to the strap. I’ve seen on a few car shows on TV where they built a steel 5 piece steel tube frame in the trunk to lift and support the back with an engine hoist. I had success doing my station wagon roof install this way at home by myself.

I have a long beam made of 4 2x10s .Im pretty sure the roof wont crash down. Itll only be holding half the body the engine hoist will hold the other. I got a few pulleys, come alongs, and a chainfall. I think ill be ok as long as a brace it and don't crinkle the car. My buddy is gonna come supervise when i hit that point too. Thanks for the advice.

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

Here is the rear bumper cover removal. The obvious I did first, the 2 screws in the side of the qtr extensions to take the taillight off. Unplug the light sockets.

Then the 3 nuts in the trunk that hold the qtr extensions on each side.

Then 1 nut each side.This is inside the qtr extensions.

Then under the extension theres 2 more nuts. I wd40d the rest of the nuts at this point there rusty.

Then the license plate . has t15 screws in the plate lights and 3 nuts.

Then there's 1 nut on each side. You get to it from the qtr extension area.

That leaves the 6 nuts under the car. This is the view from the ground on my back. There's 3 on each side of the tank neck. You cant see 4 of them you gotta feel for them.

The push pins come out by pulling the small pin in the middle. Its pretty easy.

Hopefully this will keep me straight when I go to put it back on since I've never took one off. I also got the exhaust out. Took the carb, distributor, alt, spark plugs and ps pump. I think i got all grounds and brackets off the trans. I Disconnected the wires on the starter. Im hoping I can get them pulled tommorow.

 

[RabbitHoleSS]

I had to work quite a bit this week, but I was able to get the drivetrain out. Its pretty easy once the front clip is off. I also took the valve covers, distributor and carb off before I pulled it. I took the rockers off so the chain didn't dig into them. If your doin this especially alone buy the big bag of oil-dry.

Then I took the wiper motor and master/booster off the wall. And started on the doors

 

[TURNA]

View attachment 131431 I had to work quite a bit this week, but I was able to get the drivetrain out. Its pretty easy once the front clip is off. I also took the valve covers, distributor and carb off before I pulled it. I took the rockers off so the chain didn't dig into them. If your doin this especially alone buy the big bag of oil-dry.

Then I took the wiper motor and master/booster off the wall. And started on the doors

Well at least there is a good oil filter on the engine!!!!!!!!!!