Thanks +
Thanks to all that posted! It's taken a lot of time & sweat to get this far done w/ this project. I'm going to be proud of it when it's done! I mentioned before that I've had this beast of a project running for 14 years. Life has a funny way of changing plans on you or delaying/wrecking your original schedule.
Finallygotmine, I have to prioritize where I spend my $$$'s, as I'm sure a lot of folks do. The instrument panel mods/resto by a specialty shop may be something that is delayed until later, when I have money available for it. Dash wiring harness is more than $500 and is a higher priority. Right now, body work & paint are #1 priority for spending.
As for metal work and body work, it's something you learn by doing. I didn't grow up with a body hammer in my hand so I studied a lot of reading material. The web is also great for seeing how folks attack body/fender work. For instance, my drv fender had a spot where it just didn't look/feel correct, after I spent a couple of hours on it. I went by a friend's place that has been restoring cars for years (I think he does one or two every year in his spare time) to get him to look at my fender. After a quick look & feel by him, a few taps w/ a wood block and body hammer, it was shaped right. The tool that really brought to light where to hit on the fender: a 4 foot piece of aluminum flat bar! Laying this over the raised body line showed where it was a little low. Vo-lia! I've since added the aluminum flat bar (available at Home Depot) to my tool collection!
Donny, yep, keepin the wasp killer can handy! Grabbed a fender one day to move it and BAM on the finger! I'm amazed how fast they want to put thier nest on your stuff! Worse than them are the damn dirt-dobbers. They like to plug up your air hose fittings. I've seen em do it w/i one day after using it!
Gotta go to a LFL (Louisiana Football Leaue) draft meeting today, so car work delayed. LFL is a fantasy football league at work. I'm half owner of the "Rude Dawgs" team. We usually suck. Oh well.
Greg