Its the final countdown, progress thread Options

[type11969]

I've had this 71 for 3 years now and I've only driven it for 10 minutes before I bought it. I figure if I haven't made serious progress by the spring, she is getting stripped and scrapped. You'll see why. Its probably only a parts car, but I want to learn how to weld, and if I can get this thing back on the road, I think I will be well on my way. I'll start from the beginning:

The exterior, looks harmless enough:
(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914.jpg)

The interior, looks pretty good (wait, what was that saying about wrapping a piece of poo in a pretty package):

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914012.jpg)

Long looks okay at first glance:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914009.jpg)

Wait, umm, is this factory installed golf ball sized hunks of epoxy and bondo:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404015.jpg)

Yum:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404010.jpg)

Delicious:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404012.jpg)

Craptacular:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914-2018.jpg)

Brace yourself (also have another brace running to the drivers side door jamb, couldn't find that pic):

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404001.jpg)

Couldn't find any pics of the lovely riveting and brazing job a PO did with re-attaching the portion of the fender below the sail, but I hacked that focker off:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/121304002.jpg)

Mmm, clean:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/121304013.jpg)

Also found after removing the interior that the passenger side was once used as a pool, the entire lower inner corner of the long and bulkhead was gone. PO crappily arc welded a new floorpan in, but didn't fix any of the other damage:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture069.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture070.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture071.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404002.jpg)

Quick break, then pics of the repairs so far . . .

[type11969]

Thanks Scott!

Dave, your long looked pretty good, why did you think you needed the extra reinforcement? Definitely plenty strong now, although that doesn't seem like that many spotwelds to attach 1/8" plate to much thinner sheet. I would worry about the spots pulling out, but I think I tend to do things a little overkill. Anyway, I'm sure the guy who made it knows better than I do. I am planning on installing an inner long kit once I have the car back together and a better idea about the gaps. It overlays the exposed long in the passenger compartment and ties them into another plate that overlays the rear firewall. Can't remember off hand who made it, but rest assured, when I get to it, it will be a part of this post.

More recent progress, safety first (seat belt mounting plate install):

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic001-3.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic003-3.jpg)

Roughed out the cutout for the heater tube:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic005-2.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic006-2.jpg)



-Chris

[dkos]

Chris,

The reinforcement piece welds in along the whole length of the piece to the botom edge of the inner rocker panel.