BUILD THREAD “The Juggernaut”

[Ribbedroof]

I've never read the whole thing (230 pages!), but drop in from time to time. I am remiss on dispensing reactions on most of what I read on the forums ...but rest assured that your work is AWESOME!

I do notice that you react to posts with regularity (despite most of mine being mundane)

Thanks for setting the bar, even if it's THAT high 😀

 

[mclellan83]

I've never read the whole thing (230 pages!), but drop in from time to time. I am remiss on dispensing reactions on most of what I read on the forums ...but rest assured that your work is AWESOME!

I do notice that you react to posts with regularity (despite most of mine being mundane)

Thanks for setting the bar, even if it's THAT high 😀

Here I was thinking I was special 😢

But D is just a reaction wh*re....

JK

 

[Rktpwrd]

I've never read the whole thing (230 pages!), but drop in from time to time. I am remiss on dispensing reactions on most of what I read on the forums ...but rest assured that your work is AWESOME!

I do notice that you react to posts with regularity (despite most of mine being mundane)

Thanks for setting the bar, even if it's THAT high 😀

Thank you for the kind words and compliments! It was never my intention to set any bar at any level, I just do what I do, and always try to do it to the best of my ability. But I do appreciate the praise, thank you!

As for reacting to posts, I try to do it when I feel the comment or answer is accurate and helpful. Without reactions, no one has any idea if the thread is even being viewed or not, mine included. (Of course the longtime members might receive a few extra reactions from me, just simply because I feel they’ve earned it).
😉😅

Appreciate you dropping in to comment!

 

[clean8485]

I'm sorry if I don't reply more Donovan. For me, your updates on any of your projects, are a big part of the reason why I visit here. I still have a hard time conceiving just how meticulous you are, and the lengths that you go to, to get things exactly the way that you want them. Your attention to detail is simply amazing.
Is the left quarter panel in a similiar condition to the right side? Looks like you've got your work cut out for you (no pun intended).

 

[Ribbedroof]

I'm sorry if I don't reply more Donovan. For me, your updates on any of your projects, are a big part of the reason why I visit here. I still have a hard time conceiving just how meticulous you are, and the lengths that you go to, to get things exactly the way that you want them. Your attention to detail is simply amazing.
Is the left quarter panel in a similiar condition to the right side? Looks like you've got your work cut out for you (no pun intended).

100% agree. Those steel quarter extensions blew my socks off!

Pretty much everything on that build does.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I'm sorry if I don't reply more Donovan. For me, your updates on any of your projects, are a big part of the reason why I visit here. I still have a hard time conceiving just how meticulous you are, and the lengths that you go to, to get things exactly the way that you want them. Your attention to detail is simply amazing.
Is the left quarter panel in a similiar condition to the right side? Looks like you've got your work cut out for you (no pun intended).

Thank you so much for the high praise Jeff, no apologies necessary. I’m not sure it’s warranted, but certainly appreciated nonetheless. I do tend to be extremely meticulous, it’s just something that I’ve always been. Have to thank my genes for that I suppose.

To answer your question about the left quarter panel, unfortunately yes. Both quarters were in extremely poor condition when I bought the car back in ‘93-94 even though it was only a 13-14 year old car at that point. The salted Alberta roads saw to that. Badly rusted and rotted out. As we all know, sheetmetal panels for these cars are few and far between, aftermarket or otherwise.

Here’s a very old picture of one of the quarters to give you an idea of what kind of condition they were in:

So, I paid one of our body men
at the time to fix both quarter panels. The shoddy lap welded panels were his fix I guess. Certainly not up to my current level of expectation, but times were different then and I wasn’t in the same position of being able to be as selective as I am now.

So, we chalk it up to experience, and move forward. Do it better, and do it right this time, and I won’t settle for anything less.

100% agree. Those steel quarter extensions blew my socks off!

Pretty much everything on that build does.

Wow, thanks so much! I’m extremely flattered by your generous comments.
😊
You can drop by and comment anytime if you keep saying things like that!
😂😂😂

 

[clean8485]

Thanks for posting that photo Donovan. Looks pretty familiar. Ontario roads aren't much better, as far as the salt application goes.

 

[Texas82GP]

I just got caught up. Beautiful work, as always Donovan. I really admire your fabrication/body working/metal finishing skills. It's inspiring. I don't think I'll ever get to your level, but seeing the way you solve the inherent shortcomings in these mass produced cars shows what can be done if you have enough creativity/determination/talent.

I suppose I've been one of the members who've been remiss in reacting to the recent posts. Truth be told, I try to avoid reading your posts in this thread unless if I have the time to give them the full attention they deserve. I understand the time commitment it takes to post updates. I can't skim through your posts on my phone in good conscience. I had an hour and a half ride to a Thanksgiving gathering so I took the opportunity to catch up. I went back to page 225 and it took me the whole ride to get to the end. I was admittedly on my phone but I looked at all of the photos in detail.

Thanks for taking the time to keep this thread updated. I always enjoy your updates. I wish I could offer more suggestions but you are working at a much higher level than I ever have so I doubt there is something I know that you don't with respect to metal work/bodywork/paint/fabrication. I'm more of a mechanic.

It's a beautiful car. It will be and already is something special. Keep up the awesome work!

P.S. Did that NOS right hand quarter make it home to you ok? The quarters and tail panel on my brother's Camaro came all the way from Massachusetts intact. I did worry about them alot during shipping though. There's nothing like that genuine OEM sheet metal!

 

[Rktpwrd]

I just got caught up. Beautiful work, as always Donovan. I really admire your fabrication/body working/metal finishing skills. It's inspiring. I don't think I'll ever get to your level, but seeing the way you solve the inherent shortcomings in these mass produced cars shows what can be done if you have enough creativity/determination/talent.

I suppose I've been one of the members who've been remiss in reacting to the recent posts. Truth be told, I try to avoid reading your posts in this thread unless if I have the time to give them the full attention they deserve. I understand the time commitment it takes to post updates. I can't skim through your posts on my phone in good conscience. I had an hour and a half ride to a Thanksgiving gathering so I took the opportunity to catch up. I went back to page 225 and it took me the whole ride to get to the end. I was admittedly on my phone but I looked at all of the photos in detail.

Thanks for taking the time to keep this thread updated. I always enjoy your updates. I wish I could offer more suggestions but you are working at a much higher level than I ever have so I doubt there is something I know that you don't with respect to metal work/bodywork/paint/fabrication. I'm more of a mechanic.

It's a beautiful car. It will be and already is something special. Keep up the awesome work!

P.S. Did that NOS right hand quarter make it home to you ok? The quarters and tail panel on my brother's Camaro came all the way from Massachusetts intact. I did worry about them alot during shipping though. There's nothing like that genuine OEM sheet metal!

Thanks for commenting Jared, it’s nice to hear from you again.

I’m somewhat sorry to hear that you purposely avoid reading the updates, but I understand wanting to devote your full attention and time to it when you can. That’s what I’m afraid of when I do those monster long updates, that people will just pass it by because they don’t have the time to commit to reading them.
I honestly do try to keep them short and sweet, but so often what I’m doing is immensely complicated and can be difficult to relay in an easy manner.

Couple that with not updating frequently enough, and, well, sometimes they get pretty lengthy.

Thank you for all the kind words and support, it’s greatly appreciated. I’m proud of the way it’s starting to come together, and encouragement from everyone here on the forum does nothing but help bolster that.

As for the quarter panel, it has been bought and paid for, Jim has travelled to Massachusetts and back to pick it up, and now we’re trying to contact brokerage and shipping companies to arrange delivery to me here in Canada. Without much luck yet I must admit. FedEx was beyond ridiculous in their quote, our postal service is on strike, and I personally don’t know how to arrange truck freight on something like that. In addition, the brokerage company on the border in Montana closest to me is avoiding returning Jim’s attempts to contact them.

It’s all a little frustrating at the moment, but I’m sure we’ll figure something out eventually.

 

[scoti]

Thanks for commenting Jared, it’s nice to hear from you again.

I’m somewhat sorry to hear that you purposely avoid reading the updates, but I understand wanting to devote your full attention and time to it when you can. That’s what I’m afraid of when I do those monster long updates, that people will just pass it by because they don’t have the time to commit to reading them.
I honestly do try to keep them short and sweet, but so often what I’m doing is immensely complicated and can be difficult to relay in an easy manner.

Couple that with not updating frequently enough, and, well, sometimes they get pretty lengthy.

Thank you for all the kind words and support, it’s greatly appreciated. I’m proud of the way it’s starting to come together, and encouragement from everyone here on the forum does nothing but help bolster that.

As for the quarter panel, it has been bought and paid for, Jim has travelled to Massachusetts and back to pick it up, and now we’re trying to contact brokerage and shipping companies to arrange delivery to me here in Canada. Without much luck yet I must admit. FedEx was beyond ridiculous in their quote, our postal service is on strike, and I personally don’t know how to arrange truck freight on something like that. In addition, the brokerage company on the border in Montana closest to me is avoiding returning Jim’s attempts to contact them.

It’s all a little frustrating at the moment, but I’m sure we’ll figure something out eventually.

For what it's worth..... Don't fret the length when posting updates. Some will be longer but that's the nature of the beast when being thorough with shared info that includes images for a better visual insight. I'll do the same sometimes (an initial quick glance). I just come back later once I have the time to properly soak in the info & admire the fabrication efforts leaving comments or asking questions @ that point. Thorough = 🏆.

The latest stuff is truly remarkable. Making the nose & tail end pieces out of steel vs plastic is top-tier effort & execution. It's extremely beneficial seeing the progression of steps to grasp the 'here to there' journey. Keep doing you. Even if you feel views are down, the core group that watches will still be there.