Donny
Well-Known Member
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- Location
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I've never admired this look, let alone undertake to modify a car this way, however, one of my customers wants his Camaro modified this way. There's really no books written or articles, well, I'm sure there's articles written but usually it's about the overall car vs. just a segment of the car like shaving the Drip Rails. So, I'm deep in it! Here's some pics of this car, and this aspect I speak of.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DRBlast-specializing-in-plastic-media-blasting/138109071665
First off, the method for attaching the Roof is the Drip Rails! Since I'm replacing this Roof, and, I've media blasted the underlying roof webbing and structure, and painted that in Epoxy primer I have a perfect canvas to work with and on. When you trim this structure down, you don't have much area remaining to weld on!
A cursory search on youtube yields 'experts' like this. (this is NOT my video, it's just an example of 'How To' that I've found on youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOSVwyy3zIand I don't malign this person and his work, only to draw comparison that this is not a quick and easy job as many might think it is! In case anyone is wondering, a little about me: I'm a 44B/E, for you Army MOS types, that's a Metalworker/Machinist. So, I understand that a good weld can only be rendered if the surfaces are prepared properly, and, the above video IMHO does not meet that criteria.
So, I ask anyone out there of their experiences with this Drip Rail removal process. One thing the video didn't mention and account for is the Drip Rails are tack welded to the inner structure of the Roof webbing. I actually removed this material; drilled out the Spot Welds and removed the Drip Rail completely whereas this becomes more of a surgical operation of restructuring vs. hack and patch. In one of my pics on my FB page you'll see my File on the new Roof panel, and the underlying structure to weld on; there's not much there! I tried to talk my customer OUT of doing this because I knew it was thin on the underside. But, I'm going to lay a strip of 1/4 stock underneath and weld the roof to it and the existing roof webbing.
When done, this will be done as right as possible, and will be as strong as possible.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DRBlast-specializing-in-plastic-media-blasting/138109071665
First off, the method for attaching the Roof is the Drip Rails! Since I'm replacing this Roof, and, I've media blasted the underlying roof webbing and structure, and painted that in Epoxy primer I have a perfect canvas to work with and on. When you trim this structure down, you don't have much area remaining to weld on!
A cursory search on youtube yields 'experts' like this. (this is NOT my video, it's just an example of 'How To' that I've found on youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOSVwyy3zIand I don't malign this person and his work, only to draw comparison that this is not a quick and easy job as many might think it is! In case anyone is wondering, a little about me: I'm a 44B/E, for you Army MOS types, that's a Metalworker/Machinist. So, I understand that a good weld can only be rendered if the surfaces are prepared properly, and, the above video IMHO does not meet that criteria.
So, I ask anyone out there of their experiences with this Drip Rail removal process. One thing the video didn't mention and account for is the Drip Rails are tack welded to the inner structure of the Roof webbing. I actually removed this material; drilled out the Spot Welds and removed the Drip Rail completely whereas this becomes more of a surgical operation of restructuring vs. hack and patch. In one of my pics on my FB page you'll see my File on the new Roof panel, and the underlying structure to weld on; there's not much there! I tried to talk my customer OUT of doing this because I knew it was thin on the underside. But, I'm going to lay a strip of 1/4 stock underneath and weld the roof to it and the existing roof webbing.
When done, this will be done as right as possible, and will be as strong as possible.
