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Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 06:00 PM

So what exactly is involved in this...I know i know, If i'm asking I shouldn't do it, but as is I probably have maybe two more years left if i'm spectacularly lucky.

Honestly I just dont want to screw it up.

Grasshopper is supposed to come down to help me out on May something, but I dont have most of what I need.

I will have steaks and food and fun and the parents can put some beer out for the people who come to help me out with my rust.

Is this just a matter of getting everything straight and welding the appropiate parts, or does it get more complicated than that?

I know i'm oversimplifying everything but I just want to make sure I get the simple stuff down,a nd then I can branch out after that.

I'm kinda embarassed to get pictures of the carnage, but I can't see the ground from looking into the hellhole, and my suspension ears appear to be in complete condition. Also, my suspension console seems to be in functional and decent condition...

I'll get some pics on thursday...I have two REAL big exams this week.

Most of what I would need is available through restoration designs correct? I want to get the Brad Mayeur long clamshells and maybe a Engman kit if I can get the carpet off the inside of the car.


Honestly this should all have been done a long time ago, but now that I have to deal with it, I'd like to get it fixed right.

Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 06:03 PM

that title is supposed to be extravaganza.

Posted by: Headrage May 2 2006, 06:11 PM

Posted by: grasshopper May 2 2006, 06:29 PM

is that supposed to mean something?? Beer you say?? It all depends on how much rust there is. If you car is flexing, then you need braces to assure perfect dimensions, but if it isn't that bad, then you should be good just patching the rust. lots of Por15 and metal ready...anyone else want to chime in??

Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 06:34 PM

allan, this kid knows more about welding than I do...why not call in someone who knows mroe?

Concerning welding "IM" the :grasshopper:

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Posted by: jd74914 May 2 2006, 06:49 PM

he's kinda little . . . beer . . . he'll end up like this

Just cut everything out and patch it. See picture (I know the engine shelf needs a little more work). Make sure you get good penetration, all of the that I have seen look like they aren't quite hot enough. No offense BTW.


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Posted by: grasshopper May 2 2006, 07:03 PM

no offense taken. I have gone back and fixed everythin, because I was able to just knock it out with a hammer. Just havn't posted any pics. Latest repaired piece. Does this look any better?? I know it is a lot stronger... I dont want to go and try to help brit, and not do any good

Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 07:05 PM

that surprisingly looks comforting....

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Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 07:06 PM

Barry, I've seen pics of your work....looks good to me. I am NOT ANY WHERE NEAR a CW. We're cool



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Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 07:09 PM

could we do that as well Barry?

delete the antenna?

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Posted by: grasshopper May 2 2006, 07:17 PM

aaayyuuppp that is an easy one. My best welds YET. There was an antenna hole here..sorry no before pic... this is on the right rear fender

Posted by: JOHNMAN May 2 2006, 07:25 PM

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but if this is your first ever rustoration, you will screw things up.

I believe that most everyone that does/did body work improves over time and it takes lots of practice. You constantly learn by doing and by learning, one will inevitably screw things up and hopefully learn how to fix whatever you screw up.

It's onlt metal, filler and paint. You should be smarter than any of those things.

good luck and get out there and DO it.

just my $0.02

Posted by: bd1308 May 2 2006, 07:27 PM

another local member told me that he started from not knowing anything to getting it done and he made his own parts too....I think it'll be okay, fun and educational.

I even have touchup paint at the body shop for re-painting that antenna cutout.

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Posted by: jd74914 May 2 2006, 08:17 PM

Barry, those welds look so much better

Britt, Previous to this December, I had never done any real metal work. I handmade alot of patches, some of which were really large, and they all came out pretty well. They got much better as I went along. Just don't be afraid to cut something off again of it doesn't come out quite right. As John said, its only metal.

Posted by: Headrage May 2 2006, 08:21 PM

[quote name='grasshopper' date='May 2 2006, 05:29 PM' post='673564']
is that supposed to mean something??

[/quote]
[/quote]


I just couldn't find a cricket.

He made the post and nobody answered quickly and it got quite...

It was a joke.

I'm sorry, I have sinned against the young...

I used it to bump the thread.....

Posted by: bd1308 May 4 2006, 06:13 PM

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 02:09 PM

hey britt, post pics so we know what needs to be bought, and what needs to be hand shaped.

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 03:13 PM

okay, i'll get those up tomorrow.

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Posted by: Mueller May 5 2006, 03:40 PM

what you need to do is take a lot of pictures right now of the damage and post them....

depending on the damage, you are fooling yourself thinking you can easily and quickly make the parts to do the repairs.....

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 03:41 PM

Alright, after the valve adjustment though.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 04:17 PM

making excuses...(your in denial)

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 04:26 PM

here we go....

1 - right side wheelwell.
2 - left side (not hellhole yet but needs to be cleaned up)
3 - uh, i'll get back to that one.
4 - rear floor pan to firewall and long connection
5 - okay THIS is the wheelwell hole itself.
6 - dunno what this is of....




Attached image(s)

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 04:27 PM

okay on #3 we are looking at the hole in one of the sides of the long, but there is no rust on the inside of the long. so mine is like a C (facing the other way) now, instead of a box.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 04:33 PM

uumm...wow The hellhole its self looks fixable. It is the rear floor and firewall that need some major work. You are going to have to buy a rear floor pan replacement panel from AA. I think they are the only ones that make just the partial rear part. So I would say, jack plate, jack tube, rear floor, Battery tray, support, seat mounts..other stuff can be made. I am willing to provide the Jack plate, tube, battery tray and support, but I would rather not have to buy the rear floor... It can be done, but it WILL take more than a weekend. worse than I had thought

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 04:36 PM

if we patch up the hellhole, i'm going to ask for a welder for my bday. I can then repair the rear floor. How hard are the seats to take out?

dude, if we do this hellhole, you'd be awesome in m book.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 04:37 PM

just thought of it, you will also need inner and outer firewall..which I have... from a sawzall victime, BUT I paid 130 for them, so I would like to help, but I dont want to be out that much.... here is the AA http://www.autoatlanta.net/action.lasso?-database=AAdatabase&-layout=Items&-response=results.lasso&-operator=eq&partnumber3=91450193925&-maxrecords=10&-search

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 04:38 PM

oh yeah...and the jacking doughnut on the passenger side..but that is like 15 bucks from RD

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 04:55 PM

sorry to be a pain, but to asses the rust better, could you slide the passenger seat forward, and pull the carpet back, and take a pic, then jump on it, and take another pic I think I can see inside. but yeah, some more pics like from directly underneath and how much of the firewall is affected would be better.

Posted by: Mueller May 5 2006, 05:05 PM

i'm either spoiled or lazy, but that car looks like a good canidate for a party

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:16 PM

Barry, you CAN see the inside.

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Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:17 PM

Mike, probably more spoiled would be my guess. I cant BELIEVE I traded a Jeep in for this, especially since there are WAY nicer ones available.

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Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:21 PM

Barry, what if I made a few calls to people to help out. Think a team of four or five could tackle this?

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:25 PM

the more people the better. We can have someone working on the hell hole, someone working on the floor, someone working on the firewall and someone working on the long. MORE IS BETTER. I will PM you about the dates.

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:27 PM

I hope by the grace of God that this car gets fixed. The parent's funding source has just run dry for this car and I really love this car.....You know what I mean. I still get chills driving it.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:32 PM

dude, I just got the chills riding in mine the other day. i havn't felt that since the first time we bought it. It felt so good. just think, you would be better off fixing this, think about the costs. Since I am providing most of the parts, then you cost will end up being around 200-300. If you got a Cali car, that would just cover the car...add another 600-700 for shipping, and you are easily over the thousand dollar mark, and you could buy a running eastcoast car for that...

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:34 PM

You're awesome dude. You saved MY car



I'm taking you and your dad for a tour, and both will drive my 914.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:40 PM

i dont know about drive. I have put off getting my learners for some reason...I just have never really had the time to get it. Remeber, I turned 15 six months ago! I *think* we are going to get it tomorrow...but i dont know..

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:41 PM

right, sorry about that.

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Posted by: Mueller May 5 2006, 05:42 PM

I'm not trying to be negative on this, but the more people working on the car at the same time also increases the chances of somebody getting seriously hurt from the drilling, the sawing, the grinding and the welding.............just something to think about...

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 05:43 PM

Mike, do you have any better ideas?

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:52 PM

you know, I thought about it, and Mike is right. More people there would be nice, but we probably shouldn't work at the same time. At least not right next to each other...

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:55 PM

ok, here are the parts
firewall, jackplate and tube, battery tray and support

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 05:57 PM

back side, and underneath of the firewall

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 06:01 PM

so what about the engine shelf and the top of the long? There's only a 1/8th inch slit in the long top but the sides (right) is trashed, like the wheelwell area.

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Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 06:03 PM

my firewall isnt rusted at all actually, I just need to rejoin the two pieces.

I have an idea why it rusted like that though. Rear window seal is shot.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 06:04 PM

you never posted pics of the engine shelf...if it extends out of the *hole* itself, then you need to buy one from RD, but the wheelhouse I can go ahead and make patch panels for, no need to spend 200 on a wheel house that only has a few holes...

Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 06:12 PM

wrong, your firewall is rusted. It needs good flanges for the floor to be welded too. Since I dont know how bad it is, I should probably bring my whole piece just to be safe, but if it isnt that bad, we can just remake the flanges. Here is where it is rusting

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 06:22 PM

you're the expert



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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 06:25 PM

i am no expert! I read Michelkos restoration thread everytime I think I cant do it.

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 06:28 PM

If i didnt have to RELY on this car, I'd do the same thing Michelko did.

I just dont have much time to mess with it and no $$ to pay someone.....ya know?

is your welder 110V or 220V?

I'll need to know if its 220V cause I need to put a plug in there for a welder. I have conduit going through the garage, just no plug socket.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 06:31 PM

it is a 110V

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 06:40 PM

okay.

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Posted by: dwillouby May 5 2006, 08:00 PM

Britt,

If I can help let me know. I can bring a welder, grinders, sawsall,cutters,ect.
I did a lot of rust repair on my car. Lots of fun.

David

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 08:20 PM

Thanks David!

sounds like fun

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Posted by: grasshopper May 5 2006, 08:43 PM

hhmm...I'll go out and start making patch panels tommorrow(yawn) Having a welder local would really help. It is a mig right?? are you using flux wire or gas?? If you can help, that would be great!

Posted by: bd1308 May 5 2006, 08:49 PM

I also have a welder on loan anytime I need it, It's a MIG gas welder, lincoln I think and the welder I am goign to buy when I get the dough. If I get a welder the car will NOT be the last thing I will fix.

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Posted by: grasshopper May 6 2006, 11:55 AM

just to show how easy it is to remove all of the interior. 30 minutes in 100 degree weather. I am changing the carpet so I decided to take some pics of how quick it was.

Posted by: grasshopper May 6 2006, 11:58 AM

whoops, no before pic

Posted by: dwillouby May 6 2006, 11:06 PM

My welder is a Lincoln 110v mig. its set up for flux core right now. I might add the gas parts this week. Sounds like we are set on welders. I think what we need is time. We should drop the engine to access everything. I think a few of us can get this done and not get in each others way. Britt can the car be down for a while as we do this?

David

Posted by: robby750 May 6 2006, 11:24 PM

You can't do it next weekend. He has to drive it to Lexington.

Posted by: grasshopper May 7 2006, 08:54 AM

we were talking about doing this on either the first or second week in June...

Posted by: grasshopper May 7 2006, 09:02 PM

ok, I dont think you will need the rear floor pan after all... (saves you from dealing with AA) I saw Fitsbain's thread, and it made more sense to just do it like this. Does your floor look like this, or is it worse? I can make exact copies of my floors and firewall. Here are some pics of Fitsbain's restoration

Posted by: grasshopper May 7 2006, 09:04 PM

and finished

Posted by: bd1308 May 7 2006, 09:07 PM

so now we are just fabbing parts?

The only thing I would need to purchase would be the doughnut part right?

The car can be down for as long as it needs to be down.

I have several 110 outlets around the house...In the garage there are two outlets, plus more via extensions if need be....You all know what you're looking for, we'll work it out.

I'll start saving then


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