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]

Are you learning as you go or have you worked in sheetmetal before?

Before I started on this car I would have said, oh yeah I've worked with sheet metal before. What I knew then feels pretty small compared to what I've been learning. So, yes, I am absolutely learning as I go. It's fun for me, and it's why I took on this project.

I often make a piece in a lighter gauge first, just to see how the metal is going to behave when I try to make that shape. I also spend some time on sheet metal forums, where they tend to show more about the actual making of a piece, whereas here most people just show the finished piece and then how it is patched in to the car.

[amfab]

Can you recommend a good Sheetmetal forum?