My First Build Thread, and a long time comin' Options

[skeates]

So...technically I started this restoration a month ago, but now it has a thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

A little history...This was my first car. I picked it up for $1200 back in high school and had it towed home with mice in the glove box and hoses going to no where in the engine compartment! My dad and I had it up and running off and on for three years before I shipped off to southern California for college. It has sat in the 'rents driveway for 5 years now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) waiting for the restoration that it deserves

Well...now that I'm edumacated and have a "real" job (and also have moved back to Northern California) my pockets are slightly deeper than in high school and the build has commenced!



So far I have stripped it to a tub, built me a rotisserie and washed off about 30 years of road grime and PO molestation. Along the way I even made a new friend! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[skeates]

So As promised, here are some pics of the progress I've made since bringing the car down to sactown. The First pic is one more shot of the dolly that I made (basically cannibalized the rotisserie). It attaches to the rear suspension consoles and then to where the front cross-member mounts. It has worked out very well...but does make it a bit harder to get to the stuff underneath. I can't seem to find any pictures of the passenger door jam reconstruction, but there is one of the rear quarter panel being made whole again. I realized in the process of putting together the door jam that some of the door sagging shown in the photos before was due to the pieces only being spot welded in place. Door opens and closes like a champ now! I know, I know, I got lucky - so I suppose I'm celebrating that too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Next up was the rear trunk. Since I am going to be going the Subaru engine + Transmission route I figured I'd be proactive and make some space. I plan on creating an access panel that will screw in place to enable access to the motor/transmission for servicing and repair. While back there I seam welded the rear suspension consoles (including the inner firewall) and added a brace between the two towers to compensate for the missing metal. Also had to replace the rear panel in the trunk.