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]

With that long completely cut out, it is pretty floppy and I no longer have a place in the rear corner to grab it. The two hurdles I'm looking at now are, how to level it and how to know when it's level. First, I need a way to support that loose corner, and ideally something that is adjustable. Had an old broken c-clamp laying around...



One of the problems with having the whole long out is that there is no motor mount and no suspension mounts- nothing to hold on to and no reference. However, the lower section of the rear firewall has a level flange- it can serve as both a reference and a support.

This clamp adjuster is two pieces: a T welded from stock which slides up between the layers of the lower FW and registers against that horizontal flange, and the clamp with some brackets welded on to affix it to my dolly. I can turn the screw to raise or lower that corner. It all sits inside where the long would be so it will not interfere with my welding.