Another B Body cowl rust story.

[Redpolara]

Here's the cowl reconstruction basicly finished, I think I mentioned earlier that there's no hope of finding a donor car around here......so it's been a build from scratch affair, anyway...........

 

[Satellite65]

Amazing. Absolutely top notch work, like it was a factory stamped piece. Did you have to hammer that out yourself?

I don't think I'll ever really get used to seeing RHD U.K. cars. With the steering box bolted to the framerail like that what do you do for headers? Fenderwells? Kind of tight down on that side to begin with. I don't think Ma Mopar bothered to shift the engine over to the left side on your cars. Am i correct?

 

[Redpolara]

Thanks Sat65, yeah it's all hand formed, there's at least a dozen welds.....you just can't see them all in the photos, some can't be seen at all.
Then there's 20 or so plug welds where it meets the firewall (seam area)
Admittedly, I could've done a nicer job if I could've accessed both sides to do a final hammer up.
One other thing.......watch who your calling a Pommy:icon_axe:

Oh, headers are a nightmare (slip joints everywhere not to mention sparkplug changes.) that's why i'm running ported manifolds.......and your correct,they didn't move the engine over.

 

[Redpolara]

Well, after alot more welding,stripping,hammering and so on, the firewall's finally in primer, accumulated time so far is about 100hrs.
As you can see by the pics,i've back masked at the seams for primering after deciding to do the repairs in sections.......the back masking also eliminates all that unwanted overspray in the corners and tight spots.
Now it's onto the untold amount of dents and unwanted screw/bolt holes in the inner fenders and radiator support.

 

[mrkinger]

Wow nice job,i wish i was that talented

 

[wannadrag]

Nice work

 

[Endangered Species]

Looks awsome!


I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain when I start doing mine.

 

[Propwash]

Outstanding work Red.... Well Done!

 

[Donny]

Nice!

 

[crossram 426]

Looks awsome!


I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain when I start doing mine.

Just remember yours will be flipped to the other side..............

 

[Redpolara]

Looks awsome!


I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain when I start doing mine.

Pick away when ever your ready KD, be glad to help out if I can. And thanks for the positive feedback guys.

 

[dartforforty]

Great job on the repair Red

 

[Redpolara]

Hi Guys, long time no see (as such) I figured i'd drag this thread outta the depths and post some updated pics. Admittedly the poor old 64 was put on the back burner for quite some time. But before that happened......I got a bit carried away and did a rebuild on both rear quarters ( between the wheel arch and door) Geezuz.......between both rear quarters i removed 15 lbs of dirt and crap (yep I weighed it).....more bad drainage ideas from the Chrysler Corperation....at least they were consistant.
While I was at it I also replumbed the car from front to rear......both brake and fuel lines. Oooops.......nearly forgot, my front bumper is now 7 lbs lighter....yep i got a bit carried away there too . Oh...nearly forgot...I painted the underside of the car while i was at it also. Does anyone see a pattern forming here?

Anyway, here's some pics.......hope you enjoy them.

 

[dryheat]

Hopefully my cowl rust issues aren't that bad. Looking at the kind of work necessary to repair the cowl area correctly I know that I do not posses the skill level to tackle this alone. I will just send it to the body shop and let the professionals take care of it. Maybe they will let me watch and help.

OR ... RedPolara can move to Phoenix and I could just hire him to do it.

 

[Redpolara]

Hopefully my cowl rust issues aren't that bad. Looking at the kind of work necessary to repair the cowl area correctly I know that I do not posses the skill level to tackle this alone. I will just send it to the body shop and let the professionals take care of it. Maybe they will let me watch and help.

OR ... RedPolara can move to Phoenix and I could just hire him to do it.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, been thinking of relocating......at least this way i've got a job to go to.

 

[Propwash]

Absolutely beautiful work! She turned out great Red. Good job!

 

[Redpolara]

Absolutely beautiful work! She turned out great Red. Good job!

Thanks Prop, getting back into now and starting on a few engine mods,unfortunately I got caught out the other night.......the valve spring retainers are too small for the new springs.......not to worry,just a minor setback. Anyway, as soon as it's back in the hole i can start building the new mandrel bent exhaust.

 

[dryheat]

Yeah, been thinking of relocating......at least this way i've got a job to go to.

I've got $38 burning a hole in my pocket and 3 beers in the fridge ... so let me know!!!

 

[Redpolara]

I've got $38 burning a hole in my pocket and 3 beers in the fridge ... so let me know!!!

I'm on my way to the airport right now before you reneg on that offer, oh......is there a few decimal places missing from that $38.00 and the 3 beers?:thinker:

 

[dryheat]

OK ... I have found lots of repair panels for the drivers side upper and lower cowl ... but nothing for the passenger side. Anyone know a good source for these?