BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Eisberg rustoration, Need some input... Options

[mbseto]

Funny, I am as nervous starting this thread as I was to start cutting into my car.

I resolved to start a rustoration thread when I made my first cuts, so here it is. I'm hoping the community will pipe in periodically with any, "Don't do that!", "Do it this other way!", "Do this first!", or "Don't forget this!" comments that are appropriate. Any and all guidance will be appreciated.

So here's the car as I got it, not quite a year ago:


Started out doing a little engine work to get it running, then drove it around a little bit before starting to take it apart. Took the engine out, put it up on a dolly, took out much of the interior and suspension, and this is how it sits now:






After cleaning out the inside and seeing the rust, it was hard to believe we were driving it at all. These are the first cuts, just straightening out the edges of the rust holes really.


More pics coming soon, I'll be documenting the extent of the damage and forming a battle plan.

[mbseto]

Thanks all for the kind words.

...I would suggest cutting the door jamb like this. I often see guys cut off the lower quarter panel. I personally don't care to do it that way and don't think it is necessary.

Rick;
I was hoping to get away with something like that. But the suspension pylon needs to be removed, and so far as I've seen in searching this site, I'll have to cut the quarter panel. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this because I would really rather not. But look at this:

When I poked at this, the hole just kept getting bigger and bigger. Rust and sunflower hulls were pouring out of it. Got a whole bag full.


While the outer pylon seems solid, the metal of the long around it is cheese. Cut the long open and this is looking aft and up, inside the long from just aft of the jack point (it looks backwards because it's looking in a mirror). You can see the entrance to the wee beastie's nest.


I'm betting his little skeleton might still be inside the pylon.

Just for good measure, here's a top down view of my properly hellish hell hole: