JimKueneman
Well-Known Member
Yikes that is a lot of spot welds!
1968 Plymouth GTX
- Thread starter '68 Coronet R/T
- Start date
Great way to build muscle in your arms.....
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
Ha, you have done this before! Yes it takes a lot of patience and determination to drill out that many spot welds. More than once I had to walk away for a while in order to not lose it!
The 3/8" Blair spot weld cutters worked better than the 5/16" spot weld drills mainly because of the larger hole and they lasted longer. The smaller hole left some residual welded area around the perimeter in spots and caused some extra stress when removing the drip rails and roof skin.
The 3/8" Blair spot weld cutters worked better than the 5/16" spot weld drills mainly because of the larger hole and they lasted longer. The smaller hole left some residual welded area around the perimeter in spots and caused some extra stress when removing the drip rails and roof skin.
Be sure to get some flapper wheels, I found those to be the best for dressing up the spot welds after you reinstall your parts. I got them for my die grinder & 4.5" grinder.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
What grit did you order?
I have been using the Roloc discs but the wear out real fast.
I have been using the Roloc discs but the wear out real fast.
I got 40-60 for knocking them down and 80-100-120 for finishing.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
I have a question on the shape of the metal in this heavily rusted area of the roof structure.
In this first picture you can see where the raised portion begins but then it appears as though there is an indented area where the rust hole is.
Another view:
The other side is completely destroyed so offers no help:
My thinking is that the indented area was caused by the rust or previous damage. Does anyone have pictures of this area or know for sure what the shape is?
In this first picture you can see where the raised portion begins but then it appears as though there is an indented area where the rust hole is.
Another view:
The other side is completely destroyed so offers no help:
My thinking is that the indented area was caused by the rust or previous damage. Does anyone have pictures of this area or know for sure what the shape is?
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
I could only find one photo of the area online and it seems there is only the one indent below the quarter panel seam.
Media blasting the shell now, started with the roof support structure. Most of it seems to be in good shape with only three areas that need patches. The two shown earlier and one section over the passengers door.
Decided to media blast everything first and then do the patches.
Media blasting the shell now, started with the roof support structure. Most of it seems to be in good shape with only three areas that need patches. The two shown earlier and one section over the passengers door.
Decided to media blast everything first and then do the patches.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
Still chipping away at the media blasting. I use a small pressure blaster with a 3/32 tip and it is like using a pencil eraser at first. Takes about an hour to do a section with lots of crevices and and surface changes like this:
Smoother surfaces go much quicker so I decided to tackle the front end first:
Working on the inside of the firewall:
Had to stop and remove the seam sealer and left over adhesive with a torch and chisel so while I was at it I did the entire car:
Now to clean up the mess and get back to blasting.
Floors are getting replaced so blasting them won't be necessary.
Smoother surfaces go much quicker so I decided to tackle the front end first:
Working on the inside of the firewall:
Had to stop and remove the seam sealer and left over adhesive with a torch and chisel so while I was at it I did the entire car:
Now to clean up the mess and get back to blasting.
Floors are getting replaced so blasting them won't be necessary.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
Still media blasting when I have time to work on the car.
Firewall looks to be very solid:
The passenger's front floor pan was extremely rusty so I blasted a small portion to see how bad it was. As the rust flakes disappeared little holes began showing up. Hard to see in the photo but there are quite a few of them.
Cleaned up the door jamb and started on the pans under the rear seat. This area seems to be very solid as well.
Firewall looks to be very solid:
The passenger's front floor pan was extremely rusty so I blasted a small portion to see how bad it was. As the rust flakes disappeared little holes began showing up. Hard to see in the photo but there are quite a few of them.
Cleaned up the door jamb and started on the pans under the rear seat. This area seems to be very solid as well.
Deanfitz27
Well-Known Member
Great job keep plugging away
Are you planning on putting any stiffeners in? US Car tool has some nice pieces.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
Was thinking about it since I saw a set for sale on Craigslist. Right now I have so much other stuff to do and buy that I plan to wait until I get through this stage.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
Okay, had to take a break and work on my old Ford Tractor's hydraulic system. Here's where I am at now.
Finished media blasting the exterior of the car.
The right quarter has had some work done to it in the past. Not sure if you can see it in the pictures but there is rust under the filler. This is a very familiar sight when restoring these older muscle cars and one of the reasons I advocate for applying epoxy primer before the filler work.
Left quarter looks much better although the metal is split at the top of the door opening.
The rear panel seems to be in very good shap:
Started cutting out rust and forming patches today but had to quit due to prior commitments.
It looked like this when I got it:
This is what was there when I removed the roof skin:
Here I am today with it media blasted and the rusted portion cut out. Fabricated a patch and tack welded it into place.
Finished media blasting the exterior of the car.
The right quarter has had some work done to it in the past. Not sure if you can see it in the pictures but there is rust under the filler. This is a very familiar sight when restoring these older muscle cars and one of the reasons I advocate for applying epoxy primer before the filler work.
Left quarter looks much better although the metal is split at the top of the door opening.
The rear panel seems to be in very good shap:
Started cutting out rust and forming patches today but had to quit due to prior commitments.
It looked like this when I got it:
This is what was there when I removed the roof skin:
Here I am today with it media blasted and the rusted portion cut out. Fabricated a patch and tack welded it into place.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
I know what you are saying about the odd places I am finding rusted metal. When I pulled the roof skin there was nothing indicating a nest of any kind.
With a car this old, it is hard to know anything about it's history.
With a car this old, it is hard to know anything about it's history.
'68 Coronet R/T
Well-Known Member
It has been a while since I welded patches in and I'm a bit disappointed in myself.
I brushed on some epoxy to protect the metal that will be impossible to reach after quarter patch is installed.
Fabricated and welded in the quarter panel area patch.
I keep telling myself I will get better on the next patch. LOL
Still much better than what I started with.
I brushed on some epoxy to protect the metal that will be impossible to reach after quarter patch is installed.
Fabricated and welded in the quarter panel area patch.
I keep telling myself I will get better on the next patch. LOL
Still much better than what I started with.
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