StuBBle has left the field.

[gdrill]

The carpet matches the drapes!

It’s right around 160 welds to do a roof on a 1971 Satellite! But as far as I’m concerned, this body style is well worth the effort. I would say I probably have about 15hours into this between removing both skins and installing this one. I honestly didn’t keep track. But it only took me about 4 hours tonight to weld it up.

Yes, he is still wearing the scoop!

 

[Chargerjase]

Looking great gdrill. I have never done a roof skin replacement. You make it look easy, even though I know it's not. I guess taking your time is the key. Enjoying your build.

 

[gdrill]

Thank you Sir. I'm glad you all are watching.
Believe it or not, it is really that easy. The labor is there, but the welding itself is casual. This is a heavily structured piece. Meaning lots of bends for strength. There is not one bit of warpage. Everywhere is strong as can be. Not like a long quarter panel skin where there is a huge caution to keep it straight. Now I just have to grind all 160 down!
I'm enjoying it too. I'll keep posting pics as I go.

 

[mr. b]

looks great nice work

 

[gdrill]

160 or so welds ground down. I’m thinking that spot welding is a lot like drywall mud. The more you put on the more you take off! Almost every time you do spot welds they are in a place that will be flattened out. So less is more.
It’s hard to see in the drip rail but I used an air die grinder with a zip disc on edge to get in there. Good enough to be covered in drip check seal and the vinyl. I ground off the trim tits off of the top too.

 

[gdrill]

Today I stripped a bunch more of the parts car out. Those dashes are a pain with AC tubes in the way. I’m gonna install the front electric tinted windows. I did the driver rear yesterday. There are differences. The glass itself is the same but the hardware is different. Again I imagine 71 being the changeover year it was unique. You can see the diff in the pics below. The first stuff is 71. The next is 74. The guides, tracks, slides are different and the 71 has some fancy plastic guides mounted to the tracks.
The design is the same. But the mechanicals changed slightly.

 

[gdrill]

Passenger side in. There is a bit of tinkering but I know the tricks for the other side now.

 

[gdrill]

That side was way easier and faster!

 

[Islandkent]

Practice makes perfect! Looking fine!

 

[gdrill]

It sure does! Thank you. It’s turning into a very solid car now. The list is never ending but as a buddy of mine says, “You eat an elephant one bite at a time”! That is one I was really wondering about checked off the list! It looks like Ma was smart and put the holes for window crank and electric switch in the same spot. So that will be easy too!

 

[sr71mopar]

Great thread.

 

[gdrill]

Thank you. I just looked at my first post again. It’s only been a month. I love it! Huge improvements.

 

[1STMP]

The panel by the broken window needs love. I’m trying a different product. I usually use 3m trim and emblem adhesive. This stuff is looking like it is the same thing.

View attachment 1440006

View attachment 1440007

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LOL...You need to buy some stock
in that clamp company....
Not knocking your technique, just
struck me as funny seeing that many
small clamps. Gotta do what ya gotta
do.

 

[gdrill]

LOL...You need to buy some stock
in that clamp company....
Not knocking your technique, just
struck me as funny seeing that many
small clamps. Gotta do what ya gotta
do.

That is barely enough for doing a headliner!

 

[gdrill]

This is a first for me. I have found many things tucked up under the dash lip. Keys. Weed. Things. First time for a pack of smokes!

Empty. No joints.

 

[MarPar]

Empty. No joints.

 

[gdrill]

Well, waiting for a part and work always gets in the way of progress. I bought a “Sherman” patch panel. The only one available in any supplier anywhere. So I took a chance on quality. Turned out to be a Goodmark piece that was delivered. I can work with that.

It started out like this:

Came off looking like this:

Happily inside looked like this:

Way better than I was expecting. Pleasant surprise. A little panel beating and I should be able to make this side look as good as the driver side.

 

[qkcuda]

Nice, how thick was that mud?

 

[gdrill]

Nice, how thick was that mud?

Lol. It was over a 1/4”! I’m gonna actually repair the dent vs what the farmer did back then. He lived by the old saying, “There has never been a dent to big to pound in.”!

 

[gdrill]

Well, there was a lot of playing around but it’s getting close to ready now. The window was broke out so it was filled up with dirt in the quarter. After I got it all cleaned out it wasn’t too bad. But I had to replace the window track support mount. It’s bolts did not have heads left so I welded another bolt onto them and spun them out.