Donny's 1969 Satellite

[Shorty Thompson]

Keeping them coming good inspiration and well informed insight for me . Got something like this coming my way soon .

 

[Donny]

Thanks Shorty, glad to help out! More pics will be coming!

 

[Donny]

Well, this afternoon late, after I finished sweeping up my Blast bay, and prepping the 70 Barracuda fenders, doors, hood and deck lid for Media Blasting next week, I dug into my Satellite. The left front driver's side (redundant aye) floor that I assiduously welded in piece by salvaged piece making a floor I decided to rip out, and put in a new piece. I don't like the bulbous welds that back a few years ago were 'acceptable'. But, with new metal available, why fook with old crap? Plus, I'm stubborn, and want to make something better today than I did/was yesterday. I'll take some pics tomorrow.

 

[scotts74birds]

A little "OCD" is not always a bad thing! It makes me a better tradesman.

 

[Donny]

No kidding! The OCD is a devil to deal with at times!!!

 

[Donny]

Ok, remember how I said that horrid POR-15 I was media blasting off after my earnest attempt to 'restore' this car many years ago, and being sold that this stuff was the 'best', no need to remove the rust, just lather over it, and bingo; you're good to go! Well, this pic clearly shows the cleaned metal vs. the POR-15 metal.

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[Donny]

Today, I did some analyzing and acted. Ok, some of you may think WTF, but, I cut out both qtrs (skins) and weighed all the work to do, repairing the dents, dings, rust holes, gutter rust, my 'hacking' over the years before new AMD stuff was made.

I figure that all I'll need to do is cough up the cash for the stuff, found a pair of FULL AMD qtrs on Ebay for $1319.00 plus $145.00 shipping. This is cheaper than my 'discount' I get being in this or that MOPAR club. Plus, it's far less welding involved for a new full qtr vs. a skin, plus the other hack repairs I mentioned would not be covered with just a skin replacement. So, I'm stepping up and will do these qtrs before I do the GTX ones. And, the tail light qtr housing for the lamp assy is just $69.00 per side, there is no way I'm going to re-use the repaired/rusty/welded up/hacked up old units when they are new for that cheap! Sometimes, the new metal is the way to go vs. fixing/repairing the old stuff.

Oh well.

 

[Donny]

I had some time today, and got busy with my saw. I cut off the remaining sections of the qtrs, and the tail light housings.

Its new full qtrs, trunk extensions, tail light panels, trunk gutters for me. Next up is Media Blast the roof, the inside, and some touch up here and there. I said screw it, all the work I did years ago, I undid in about an hour today. I just don't want to deal will all the welding crap work I did years ago, then, unlike today there was no new metal available for the areas I admittedly 'hacked' yrs ago, and today I would not want to showcase that work for anyone to see, but, I will share with you all!

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Notice the rust on the outer fender, not seen until the qtr came off!

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This is the slop I refer to, not nearly up to my standards of today! I guess part of my obsession is perfection?

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[Donny]

...Ok, I'm assuming you are picking up here from my GTX thread where I mentioned I went from the GTX to the Satellite while Media Blasting them both.

I blasted the inner wheel well cavity area by the left rear qtr glass, and the outer wheelhouse. I didn't really hit it all, or all areas that need it, but I was doing this after (or was it before) my paying job?

I'm glad I yanked the qtrs off, the rust under 'em would never have been seen until it ate it's way thru, the wheelhouse has some areas that are bad, plus, I've learned how critical the qtr panel is to vehicle integrity and strength. How it ties into the outer wheelhouse I was always sort of fuzzy on until I drilled out, and then hammered out the remaining sections of qtr panels, I'm glad I did this as it's getting done right now, vs. not too right as before. Plus, the thought of welding in a skin on an already shabby qtr was not something I wanted to entertain.

So, now I need to get some more high-paying jobs/cars so I can buy 'em!

What do you all think about AMD left and right full qtr for 1318.00 plus 145.00 delivery charge? I think that is a darn good deal! On Ebay, there's a seller there that has a huge store, anyone buy sheetmetal off Ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0178367445&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[Donny]

Here's some pics of removing the last qtr off the wheel well, amazing how it all fits together, simply elegant! Welded to the wheel house, tail light panel, roof, and door jam, this is all, the only places where the qtr is mounted, also along the bottom of the qtr window too.

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[Joe Mopar]

What kind of bit are you using to drill out the spot welds?:edgy: Not that I have any to do.......just curious. :grin:

 

[Donny]

I use a 7/64 pilot drill bit, then a spot weld cutting bit. It looks like a mini hole saw on a shaft with a 7/64 pilot to guide it down the appropriate thickness of the sheet metal you are attempting to remove. You can now get these bits at Harbor Freight much cheaper than the ones NAPA has; they are the same bit too!

 

[Darius]

Hey Donny.
When you get to the drip rails (if you have to) there are 80+or- spot welds in EACH side :yes:
Darius

 

[Donny]

Nah, not going to take them off.

 

[Donny]

I may use some of the newly acquired metal for the GTX on the Satellite as that car I HAVE to get done and back out on the road, it's killing me to be marking time on not one, but THREE cars! But, with the juggling act of Marraige (FAIL), full time School (A's), and Media Blasting for $$, at times, little time is left over for some Me blasting time. But, this weekend I will have some Me Blast time on the GTX and or Satellite.

 

[toniflexen]

Hey Donny, you're doing a great job!
I read, your from Texas, San Antonio!
Could you do a favor for me?
Could you check the name "Prilop" in San Antonio?
I've heard there are some relativies of me in San Antonio.
Thank you in advance.
Please contact me via PM!!!

Flo

 

[Donny]

Did some serious work on this car today. I decided, since new metal is available, I'm not fixing anything anymore, I'm cutting out the old crappy stuff, and welding in new AMD metal. Today, I took off the trunk tail panel thingy, as I said, I was going to fix it; nope! Also, all the remaining qtr panel trim areas I removed; from the door jams, roof, etc. and put the car in the blast bay, with the GTX for some blasting perhaps this coming week? But, I will be picking up a 69 Dart on Monday for a complete media blast, I'll get my stuff done before the paying customer.

Here's some current, taken today car ****!!!

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[roadrunnerman]

donny,i'm really enjoying watching you and all the other members working on their cars,so i know what to look for.been wondering where you've been hiding lately.

 

[Donny]

Haha, it looks like Matt's car! No hiding roadrunnerman, just busy with life brudda, wish all I had to do was MOPARS, but, with family, house, lawn, school, Ducati Streetfighter S lusting after, and Media Blasting, getting the time to screw around with my MOPARS is a rarity. When I graduate college with my B.A. in Dec, I will have more time, as also Katie will be in college then, so, all my extra cash will likely end up in her bank account!

...I still want a Challenger B5 R/T, 6 speed, w/ Nav and Sunroof with Classic badging and Black strips, yeah, someday....!!!!!!

 

[roadrunnerman]

yea,someday i'll rescue a princess and her father will make me very ,very rich.:rolling::rolling::rolling: