Rust revival

[Redpolara]

Rust revival or Enter the Exorcist i'm not sure, but you seem keen and more than capable,soooo......have you considered treating that poor old thing to some longer front doors and deleting the rears?

 

[roadrunnerman]

that is definitely some talent and inginuity working together!!

 

[Black63]

Rust revival or Enter the Exorcist i'm not sure, but you seem keen and more than capable,soooo......have you considered treating that poor old thing to some longer front doors and deleting the rears?

I'd love to do a 2dr post conversion, but not for this summer with all the work required.
I'm planning on driving it as soon as possible and doing a conversion as well as everything else would simply be impossible.
I'm going to see what I can find this summer.

Who knows though. I DO like the car as a 4 door and you can't beat the convenience. I guess we'll see where it goes....

I started this project in early January and I'm posting things now in a catch up fashion.
This isn't getting done as fast as my posts make it seem.
I'm working nights and weekends as much as I can on it.

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Nice work Black63!

 

[Black63]

Some additional progress...

Finished off the spring box's by fully welding them to the connectors and the original rail sections, then I added plates to the joint to reinforce the area and to blend them in to the upper reinforcement plates.

Cut the eyes off two old springs and made the rear shackle mounts. I put them thru some tube sections with the top cut off. That way I was able to just cut the bottom of the rail out instead of using a punch to cut round holes thru the rail.
I aligned the shackle tubes by using a tight fitting wooden dowel. Had to cut it in pieces to get it back out! LoL

Made some temporary shackles with adjustment holes till I decide exactly what length I want them to be.

The shackle mounts that she was using were rotted out and they had been replacements already!
Not much holding them in so I think it will be an easy removal job.
Seems like maybe just 4 or 5 small bolts!!!
Could be some tacks too...not sure.

 

[Black63]

A few more pics...
Repairing the rear section of the inner rockers and adding the 2x4x1/8 tube supports.
Getting her strength back!!!

 

[Black63]

The rest of the pics for the pass side...

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Very nice work, You are a highly skilled craftsman with much ambition to take on that project. Kudos to you!

 

[Black63]

Very nice work, You are a highly skilled craftsman with much ambition to take on that project. Kudos to you!

No...I've seen too many "highly skilled Craftsman" in my time to be able to accept that honour! I'm just a guy working in his backyard trying to get his junk on the road and safe.

I really appreciate the thought though!!!

My hope is to maybe help others by letting them see at least one way to rebuild a car thats really too far gone for a true restoration.
You don't need something fully restored and big $$$ to have some fun!!!

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

I've seen a few guys with their own commercial shops that wouldn't be able to pull off the kind of work you are doing with the fabrication of everything to replace what is gone on your car. IMO you are a talented and skilled craftsman, and I woudn't just be blowing smoke your tailpipe!:icon_super:

 

[Coronet 500]

When I saw that picture of the front spring mounts and those threaded rods going across I thought I was under our 70 again. We used rectangular tube, flat sheet and made what we needed as we went, was far easier than trying to make it exactly original. We tubbed it up to the frame rail and still got the back seat in. When I got to all that business across the back in front of the rear bumper, I cut it out and ran a piece of 1 1/2"x3" rectangular tube across, notched for gas fill and it worked great. Yours looks GREAT.

 

[Black63]

When I saw that picture of the front spring mounts and those threaded rods going across I thought I was under our 70 again. We used rectangular tube, flat sheet and made what we needed as we went, was far easier than trying to make it exactly original. We tubbed it up to the frame rail and still got the back seat in. When I got to all that business across the back in front of the rear bumper, I cut it out and ran a piece of 1 1/2"x3" rectangular tube across, notched for gas fill and it worked great. Yours looks GREAT.

Thats a good idea on the rear crossmember. Not sure just how good mine is yet so I just might end up copying that. Thanks!!!

 

[Black63]

With the rear rails strengthened and the spring boxes complete it was time to start removing the floors, repairing the inner rockers and getting ready for the torsion bar crossmember.
The pics can do the talking!

 

[Black63]

More pics...
Put in a temporary crossmember and cut out the inner rocker sections.

 

[Black63]

Cut out the old crossmember and fitted the replacement.
Really happy I was able to find one...that old one is a mess!

 

[Black63]

Got it all welded in place...

 

[Black63]

Reinforced the torsion bar sockets by welding tabs and braces directly to the connectors.
Also repaired the top edge of the right rear rail.

 

[Black63]

Put in the rocker pnl seat belt brackets and repaired the front of the left inner wheelwell.

 

[Coronet 500]

Man, your having too much fun. Like the reinforcement.

 

[Redpolara]

I'm very impressed by your workmanship.