Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Dave 16 years ago we went to Costa Rica on our honey moon. We rented a jeep to drive, but when we got there our jeep was a toyota tercel. Our our way back to the airport, my wife hit a huge pothole in the highway. It pancaked the rim on the car. It was a brand new car(we were the first to rent it!)I was freaking out imagining the cost of a replacement. When we returned it the next day, they said it would be 20 bucks addition to fix it. Labor was cheap there so instead of tossing the flattened steel rim, they actually took the time to repair it! Good lesson in how things used to be done.

I shot primer on one fender, and started cutting on the other...it's just as bad! Had to cut out the inner brace along the back of the fender where the door had gotten into it and creased it. Got the big crease knocked out, shot some epoxy primer on the inside of the brace and the fender and put it back into place. Cut out the nasties on the bottom rear of the fender and welded a new piece in. Still have to cut out and fab some of the bracing on the bottom of it, lots of rust, just wanted the skin back on to hold everything in position!

Nice work Dave!

X2 Dave! It comes out so nice and you make it sound so easy! But I know better.. and you are a good friend too!

Started on the driver's door for the Cutlass.....It's been a victim of some really poor quality body work! Once I got the old paint and all the filler off the door it was easy to see what had been done. There was two small crease in the door, one just below the mirror, the other about 6" up from the bottom of the door. Rather then fix the dents, some dummy drilled holes in the center of the creases (I suppose to hold the filler better?) and just loaded everything with filler!!!! Unfortunately, a lot of the filler was applied over the paint and naturally it loosened up and allowed moisture in between the filler and the skin. The rust was just surface rust, had to grind it off, fix the dents, weld the holes shut, then a lot of dingin' and pingin' to flatten things out.... Also, one rust hole on the inside of the door, looks like a drain hole had been plugged up. Also cut out a piece where the mirror had been on the door and welded a patch in there.

Got the door patched up and did a bunch of work on both pieces... Finally got them good enough for a coat of epoxy primer, inside and outside on the fender, just the inside of the door...Still some dingin' to do on the door skin. One more door to go! Next thing for the doors and fenders will be the hi-build primer and a lot of blocking!

I picked up a set of Duroblocks to help in the sanding . Should help in knocking the Stang down quicker .


b

I think I have about every Durablock they make by now Bobby!!!! Easy to hold and do a good job, too! I use some softer ones for the wet sanding and stuff... Not quite as likely to end up with a bare spot!!!!

On peculiar angles and shapes, different sizes of heater hose and radiator hoses make good sanding blocks, too....

Dave great idea on the larger hoses for larger radius .


b

Looks like everyone is still chugging along as am I. Lols.

I haven't been participating on here lately because for whatever reason I can see or post in the actual forum.....to say the least I'm more than a little frustrated. It's been weeks!

Anyway, my rant is over.

At this time I'm fighting the oddest thing on Dustin's El Camino. I broke the elbow on the brake booster (it doesnt act as if it was a check valve unless it's just not working) and I absolutely cannot find anyone that can find a replacement. The most simple part is kicking my back side! The only part the parts store has is the Dorman elbow which is for a 1/2" hole. The one I have is larger (3/4"). I have no idea what booster was put on the car other than it being an 8" booster and it was newly installed when we got the car.

Is anyone familiar with GM having more than one size elbow or check valve for their boosters? It amazes me how the most simple things delay any progress.

David

Any chance you could replace the grommet in the booster and use the 1/2" elbow???

I thought about that, but the Dorman uses a much smaller hose. I really want to find one like it had so I can use the 3/8" hose. He was already having a vacuum problem. I may try it anyway.

David

Can't think of anything right off that used the big connector---I'll give it some thought and do some looking around, David.

David,
I looked at Rock Auto, and their Brake Booster Check Valve appears to be larger than 1/2", but they don't list any size info - link here RockAuto Parts Catalog to what I was looking at. Is that the same part you were seeing at your parts store. Maybe a quick call to the guys at Rock? I think you want the check valve, not just an elbow, to hold vacuum under heavy throttle - than may have been the problem he was having with vacuum?

Hi guys. Good site. Some nice projects on here.
I am near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Working on a 37 Ford tudor, kinda old skool. Got an IFS and 8" rear. 302 and AOD. Totally stock body, burgundy paint. working on a tan interior with Caddi leather seats. Putting the hood, grille and headlights back in now. need to add w/wipers and tailpipes and should be on the road in 3-4 weeks.
Don't know how to get pics up.
Doug