My First Build Thread, and a long time comin' Options

[skeates]

So...technically I started this restoration a month ago, but now it has a thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

A little history...This was my first car. I picked it up for $1200 back in high school and had it towed home with mice in the glove box and hoses going to no where in the engine compartment! My dad and I had it up and running off and on for three years before I shipped off to southern California for college. It has sat in the 'rents driveway for 5 years now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) waiting for the restoration that it deserves

Well...now that I'm edumacated and have a "real" job (and also have moved back to Northern California) my pockets are slightly deeper than in high school and the build has commenced!



So far I have stripped it to a tub, built me a rotisserie and washed off about 30 years of road grime and PO molestation. Along the way I even made a new friend! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[skeates]

Ok kids, I know its been a while - but here are some more pics...







I have to admit, I'm really starting to wonder if my car came from the factory with some of this rust! As soon as I think I'm getting to the end of it It just keeps going! As you can see I'm almost thru to the inner most section of the front long. I'm honestly a bit stumped on how to proceed there. It looks like the next piece I need to remove is sandwiched in by the front fender. Are my only options to either remover the front fender or to just cut it out? Unfortunately it looks like the rust goes all the way into the corner...so I think I will need to spend some time researching the other build threads for ideas. Is there a point at which you just say "screw it!", spray on some POR-15 and then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) to forget about it?

I have also removed the rear passenger floor pan and lower firewall to reveal more cancer. Again, it seems to extend even deeper into the side of the car I was hoping would not need to be molested by my cutting wheel. This project has quickly turned into much more than I wanted, but there's no turning back now. Thankfully I've managed to locate an entire long (including suspension console) that I will be picking up in April. I just need to decide the best way to cut out the current one and weld in the new.