Working on the wagon..

[Longroof79]

Looking good, Jack!

Hoping the new year will entail a move in my buddy's shop location to one with more room. Looking at everybody else's progress is killing me.

REALLY like the small gap on the gate/bumper junction. Bumper looks good, too...just not sure I could narrow that far since I like to drive it every chance I get. Just know that as soon as I would do it, some numbskull would rearend me, and destroy the quarters.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Brian,
I too wish I had more room to disassemble the car properly without having to take things apart temporarily and have to put them back on at night. That's so counter-productive.
I know the potential of some nimrod crashing into the rear of the car could be catastrophic. The little bit of a buffer is no longer there.. the energy absorbers will be tack welded into place and therefore useless against a minor bump. However, this is something that I've been wanting to do for several years. To eliminate the sagging/ cracking fillers.
I like the '60's vehicles for that reason. They were just cleaner looking in that respect.

 

[pontiacgp]

Jack, are you saying you tweak the centre weld to bring up the ends a little? If you did you got the angle perfect on each side...that is really nice work

Steve,
I actually bent or bowed the bumper in the center. The tailgate is actually not straight across the bottom, it's kind of bowed in a sense.
So in effect, I tried to follow the contour of the lower line of the tailgate. This part of the project entailed more work than I had originally imagined. But I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

the way you did it makes it fit perfect.....it's one of those details that make the job look complete when your finished

 

[azmalibuwagon]

Wow, that looks great! Sure wish I had the skills and imagination to do that kind of quality work.

 

[Longroof79]

Wow, that looks great! Sure wish I had the skills and imagination to do that kind of quality work.

Thanks man! I'm in not a pro by any means, just a hobbiest like everyone else.

 

[liquidh8]

I like the led idea. If I do re-install the deflector, I was thinking of cutting a slot in it and flush mounting an led strip for a third brake light.

ThaT is the plan I have. I have a 3rd brake light LED strip from a suburban to use.

Looking good BTW Jack.

 

[Longroof79]

I like the led idea. If I do re-install the deflector, I was thinking of cutting a slot in it and flush mounting an led strip for a third brake light.

ThaT is the plan I have. I have a 3rd brake light LED strip from a suburban to use.

Looking good BTW Jack.

Hey, thanks Jim!
Isn't the Suburban 3rd brake light a surface mount? I guess the wiring can easily be fished thru the rear hatch seal. I think it would be a perfect place to put it. These cars need a higher brake light. Especially with the morons out there that tailgate you and can't see your brake lights when you step on the pedal. I always liked the look of the taillights in the bumper, but they're so highly impractical. If you get to do your 3rd brake light before I do, I'd like to see pics of yours done or in progress.
Happy New Year, man!

 

[liquidh8]

It is, but you can pull the led board out of the housing. Just gotta flush mount a lense and your gtg. It is on the list of things to do, I have the wire run up to the top of the glass already, just gotta get it in the deflector.

I agree, the more rear lights the better, the low bumper lights can be hard for the busy cell phone/texters to see when they aren't paying attention.

 

[Longroof79]

Jim,
I didn't think about pulling the LED board out of the light assembly. This makes sense to me. Now to find a Suburban 3rd brake light. I wonder if a Tahoe, Safari or Astro van light is similar?
I think it's time to take another trip to the boneyard.
Now a simple question. What's the best way to wire one up? Directly to the brake light switch, or tap off the taillight wiring?
I hate like hell to hack into the TL wiring, but it's already been hacked for trailer lights.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you tap off the tail lite wiring the 3rd brake light will blink if you have your turn signal on..

 

[cutlass79]

I see what you mean about the tailgate..I wonder is there is any set up that the pivot pin is on a cam so when it rotates it raises the tailgate to give you clearance for the bow...

Steve,
That's not a bad idea at all. However, I'd like to keep it as simple as I can.

I wonder if anyone had used John Deere Blitz Black under the hood, fenders, etc? I'm considering it. There is a hardener available for it as well.

iv got the john deere blitz black under my hood in im also going to paint the car with it here in the next few week