Donny's 1969 Satellite

[SGTPaul]

I know the pain Donny. Look at what I had to correct on my car believing I didn’t need a dolly when everyone else was using one. Duh on me. The pissed at yourself you feel now will be quickly replaced with pride in your work soon when it is all done right. Take your time, get it done right, and soldier on.

 

[Basket case]

and you didn't shell out major $$$ for someone else to have done it. sucks either way, but you're only out the time. and she'll be 100% when you're done.

 

[Donny]

I took the 66 Mustang over to MuscleRodShop / Paintshop101 today for a 'Peer Review' on the screwed on qtr panels, door alignment, and deck lid alignment. Steve pointed out a few things I didn't notice -- which is EXACTLY why professionals undertake Peer Reviews! And, upon further examination we both determined the pass door is not worth fixing as previous body workers fixed the 'fit' of the door by running a grinder up the door edge where it meets the qtr panel, taking perhaps 2mm off it, and the 2 rust holes, might as well get a replacement door. I relayed this to owner, he's going up early in the week to score a door from boneyard for Found On Road Dead models.

I also ran this Satellite situation by Steve, our Course Of Actions are the same; do it right, remove the stuff, replace with new crap. And, he said to me (and I find this cogent advice to us all here on FBBO) that the Inner Wheelhouses are the MOST DIFFICULT part to swap out and change/mess with in the body repair phases. Even more difficult that Rocker Panels! There's SO much of the car that's fixed to these parts and dimensions that an error in one aspect will affect the other dimensions, and fit of everything!

In a way, I'm sort of glad this problem is being embraced, this way I can finally FLUSH all the so-called expert advice rendered by all the folks with a keyboard respective of how to 'restore' the inside of the frame rails. I've heard it ALL, from spraying expandable foam inside, to ceramic coatings. With me, and this car, it will be Epoxy primer, that's it, maybe some undercoating on top of that. My new schedule is My Day is Monday, meaning, Monday I'm messing with MY stuff, each Monday be it GTX, Satellite, 300, any of my Mustangs, or, even some of my bikes!

- - - Updated - - -

Here's some 'proof' of my deeds...the date stamps ARE correct. Remember, I was playing GI for 21 yrs, and numerous deployments, a divorce, and running wild putting notches in the conquest column running the numbers up of the women!

Here I am discovering copious amounts of Bondo in the front part of the qtr panel, notice my awesome tools; BFH and a chisel!

Here's the 'replacement' qtr from Texas Acres.

Here's the horror, all plain as day...

And, it turned out the stuff Texas Acres had was junk! I ended up blasting that qtr and it too was toast!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Donny, I can sure see the horror you speak of. Someone had placed the "Plymouth" sticker in the wrong location. JK.I was thinking that all years of bouncing, flexing, road jarring probably didn't do it any justice when it was cut off.

 

[Donny]

Who knows, likely so though roadrunnerman. Bottom line is all that 'work' I did in '03 is getting un-done, and done right.

 

[cdr]

you have a great attitude !! thanx for sharing the good & bad,you are not alone on mistakes.

charlie

 

[69 GTX]

So in your opinion what's the best plan of attack for assembly ? I'm thinking that fitting the inner wheel house first. Then fitting the outer to the quarter then seeing how they mate when slid into place. Let me know what you think. Putting disc brakes on my Dana this week so I know exactly what my footprint is. I got a dana that's about 1.75" (62-65 B body) narrower than the OEM. With the 13" section width it left very minimal tub clearance. So now I can open them up about a 1.5 a side and have all kinds of room. Go Donny go!
Tim

 

[Donny]

Sorry 69 GTX, I'm just now reading this, I know, you posted on 10 Jun, sorry, just didn't catch it! Sounds good what you're planning, go for it!

I have a sort-of workable solution to my dilemma. I'm going to cut the inner wheelhouses apart from outer wheelhouses, remove excess flooring over to the frame rail, move the wheelhouse to the frame, weld in place, insert some sheetmetal in the 'gap' and weld it up. Relocate the spring mounts to the frame; cut the frame allowing them to be installed there. The assembly will drop down a bit, if not enough, will extend the outer wheelhouse to meet the qtr lip mounting point. It's a sort of fix short of ripping it all apart again -- which I don't want to do!

If I wasn't so dog-gone busy with work, and a 49 Chevy, 70 Mach1, 66 Mustang, 72 GMC cab, multiple steel furniture, etc. I'd be hot on my car! Monday's are my target days to focus on my stuff. HARD to do!

 

[71airgrabberRR]

Never Quit.... "Lead the Way"!!!!!!

I understand everything you're going through. I had a similar experience, but mine wasn't nearly as hard to fix as yours is.

I had replaced the rear floor plans in a Challenger back when the only thing available were ones for a 'Cuda. I had to add on 2 inches to make up for the differences in wheel base between the 2 cars.

A few months after I finished the install, AMD came to the rescue and started making the proper panels. So I cut everything back out and started fresh with the new parts.

Bottom line was that I ended up being much happier with the end result. The car looked much better with the proper floor pan holes and drain plugs installed. You couldn't tell the car had a repair done to it. We spot welded everything back in.

Just keep at it and keep in mind that you will always have a setback on occasion. It sucks though. Just keep on charging through......

I have a hard time getting time set aside for my 71 RR too, with everything that's currently going on in our household. Too many damned projects!!!!

Hopefully in a few weeks I can start getting into the disassembly stage and start the blasting and metal / body work.

I will probably need moral support from you guys once in a while too.

Im sure there will be hidden problems that only show up after the blasting is done.

Your car is coming along just fine and looks great!

It will be an eye catcher when it's done too. Plus you have the pleasure of knowing that everything is right, and that this car wouldn't be here, or look as nice if not for all of your hard work.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. You just may have a few more corners and rooms to clear first....

We had a saying in our unit when I was in the Army.....

You can't dog the undoggable!!!!

At ease, Carry on......

 

[69 GTX]

Thanks Donny! I too have gotten side tracked for about a month. Hope to get back at it now. With the summer heat it's nice to be in the shop where it's cooler!

 

[Donny]

Cool for me is 85 degrees, I'm in San Antonio, gets pretty toasty down here!

 

[68bee70rr]

Glad your doing her right Donny, looking good. I know its a big pain from experience as well. Keep up the great work. btw, I was a private in 1988 as well. Lol.

 

[BigBlock61]

You're doing the right thing Donny. Do it right even if it means redoing some things. You'll be happier when it's finished. Keep up the good work.

 

[71airgrabberRR]

You're doing the right thing Donny. Do it right even if it means redoing some things. You'll be happier when it's finished. Keep up the good work.

Ditto!!!

Down here in FL it gets pretty hot too. Especially just after an afternoon shower when the humidity goes through the roof.

I'm never too far from my trusty old shop fan!!!!

Our average highs are in the low 90's this week.


Big block 61 couldn't have said it any better....

 

[69 GTX]

Yeah we had low mid 90's last week with heat index of 100's, not exactly ideal welding conditions! But thats why I'm putting an alum radiator and AC kit in my car. No heat is going to ruin my ride.

 

[Donny]

I was blasting today, this morning for over 5 hours, man, what a feat that is, I usually never go that long, but, I had to get some stuff done! Thank the A/C gods for Air Conditioning the blasting helmets!

 

[Donny]

I got some time this week, and I'm going to fix the too high left wheelhouse area as I described earlier. Part of this fix, well, it's going to be solved by tubbing it out and relocating the springs inwards. Once the wheelhouse is released and allowed to fall about 3/4 of inch, I'll remount the qtrs and screw everything together, set and measure to see if this does the trick. I'll take and post some pics later this week on my progress.

 

[69 GTX]

I'm opening mine up also. I made some relocating brackets for the front so I could use the .875 offset shackles in back.

 

[Donny]

I'm going to be needing an A Body 8.75 rear end!

 

[ga66mopar]

Donny thanks for this good thread. We are learning alot from you.