1969 GTX....The T stands for tetanus

[threewood]

The pass side trunk extension gave me fits! It was not tall enough to lay flat and reach the lower quarter flange. I had to add 1" to it for it to fit. Plus the wheel housing side was way off. I had to add material here to the leading edge so it mated up with the outer wheel house and laid flat against the quarter. Ugh.

For the past few days I was then busy fitting the tail panel. Pain in the butt, but I got it pretty close. There is still some adjustment left in the hinges so I can tweak it around. It was a bit stressful when I tacked the first hole after checking and rechecking. Tacked a few more, checked fit, rinse, repeat. It is in, still need to tie the quarters to it once I get the other quarter welded in. Starting to look like a car again.

 

[rakort]

you the man, I'm right behind ya

 

[threewood]

you the man, I'm right behind ya

One step at a time and before you know it....no steps left!
By the way, got the hood springs. Thanks again.

 

[rakort]

By the way, got the hood springs. Thanks again.

hope they work out!

 

[threewood]

OMG. It's 105* and I am working in an un-air conditioned garage. Great weight loss program lol.

After a morning of prep and trial fitting, I have the pass side quarter panel tacked in. The fit is very good all around. The gap is tighter on this side. I cut the panel to the size I needed, screwed it to the car in the correct place, and traced the outside. Then I cut it carefully with my cutoff wheel.

 

[rakort]

OMG is right! In wisconsin the government and everything underneath it shuts down when its 95!

I do have to remember that in AZ it's a dry heat though!

I can't hardly work above 70F!

OMG. It's 105* and I am working in an un-air conditioned garage.

 

[threewood]

Dutchman panel and window corners!

Quarters are getting old, time for some new blood. My original dutchman panel was rusty. Drivers side trunk gutter flange and drivers side window channel being the nastiest. So I broke out the spot weld bit and sawzall and took it out. Spot welds were pretty easy to see but a couple were rusty. On the supports, there is a spot weld that goes in from the vertical face of the panel. The window channel was rusty and holed so I cut it right off the package tray flange with the sawzall and ground the scrap metal off. A couple of spots need a patch but I think the rest of the pt window flange will work.

 

[threewood]

With the dutchman panel out, I can now see what needs to be done to the window corners. The AMD sections are OK, the angles are not as sharp as the originals so I had to work them a bit to sit right. Still better than fabbing the entire corner. I'll tack them in after cleaning up the underneath metal and check fit with my trim. I'll also leave the package tray flange loose for now to help in fitting the dutchman panel.

 

[threewood]

A couple low spots but nothing some filler can't fix Trim fit pretty good, kind of hard to hold it in place but it should be fine.

 

[threewood]

Tackled the left side window corner. Same as the other side, a lot of bending, checking, grinding to get the bends right.

 

[threewood]

Then I fabricated a new trunk gutter corner. I may need to cut out a little bit more of the quarter overhang as there is a pin hole just past my patch. I'll first see if I can grind it out and put a piece of small backer behind it to weld to. Doesn't have to be perfect, just water tight. Plus, this area gets body seam seal.

 

[threewood]

Well that took 2 days. All the prep work plus getting the dutchman to fit correctly was a pain. The window side was long so I had to re bend the flange and play with the gutter channel corners to get them to match up. I debated welding up the entire seam but held off for now. I ended up curled up in the trunk welding spots along the 2 flanges as the factory did. It was ok, a bit on the tight side. Worst part was I had to clean the crap out of my trunk so I could roll around in there.

I did weld up the window corner seams and the dutchman panel seams so there is no where for water to migrate to in the channel. Lots of little rosette welds on the panel and I haven't tore into cleaning it up yet. Heck, I still need to clean some welds up in my trunk!

 

[threewood]

Finally, I found some metal that I don't have to replace lol. Somehow the passenger side floor boards are still good. Drivers side, did not heal itself overnight so it still has to get replaced.

I am down to the top replacement and floor pans for major metal work. I have been studying the top issue and I think I will just re skin it with my donor top. There is a section of roof rail about 8" long on the pass side that is holed through which I should be able to cut out and patch with a donor section saving me a bunch of work. I am satisfied so far.

Going to finish tearing out the interior and get started on the top. Dash and steering column are all that is left.

 

[rakort]

Finally, I found some metal that I don't have to replace lol.

there is a rarity on these cars!

 

[Gus]

wow looks great keep the Photos and updates coming

 

[threewood]

Thank you for the kind words.

On to the drivers side floor. Yuck! Tear out wasn't very bad, just have to be careful around the rockers so you don't blow a hole or tear out a chunk. There was a lot of cussing.... do not lay things on the roof when you are using a tool that creates vibrations which could allow said things to drop on your head.

I have been using my spot weld chisel with a little finesse and it does the trick and is fast. And the Sawzall works well too.

 

[threewood]

I spent some time fixing the splash piece between the rail and rocker. The previous owner smashed both sides in (and cut out the inner fenders) to allow clearance for headers to drop behind the front wheels.

And he also installed this sweet pair of subframe connectors. I think I will keep them for nostalgic reasons, plus it looks like a pain in the butt to cut them out. Bonus..... the connectors tied in with the seat brackets and covered the nuts holding the seats on. So I had to cut out a chunk to get to the nuts.

Trial fit of the AMD floor pan. The front bend and flange is fubar. Looks like it was bent by the samsonite gorillas with a rock. Going to take some care (and maybe a hammer) to get it to fit across the firewall. It is sitting flush with the frame in the pic with my finger behind the flange it is that far off.

 

[showard]

Wow! I haven't checked your progress for a couple months. You have put a lot of time and work in. You are doing great work, keep it up.

 

[threewood]

My plan is to have the metal work done by Sept. Then get it blasted, epoxy primed, body work done by Jan. I know what I want done with the 440 but trying to focus on the body because I can easily spend a ton on engine parts when I still need stuff like Vintage Air, suspension components, etc. Goal is to be driving it by May 2017

I am done for the day, too dang hot. Trimmed in the floor some more, drilled all the rosette weld holes, welded the e brake bracket on and applied rust bullet to metal and weld through primer to subframe weld points.

 

[rakort]

I am done for the day, too dang hot.

I feel like that all the time, but I need to get my frame of reference in check! In WI too dang hot usually means too dang humidity! I hide out in my basement shop too many days in the summer escaping humidity.