So I just realized that I'm about 2mos into my restoration, and don't really have a thread for the progress. I have my Floor Pan thread, but I'm done with that (for now) and need a place to put the REST of the work I'm doing.

I made up a bunch of posts, and will put them here, in this thread. I'll then keep going as I progress. Some of these pics are dupes that you have seen before in other threads, others are new.

Here's the starting point, on Jan 12th, 2004.

I never liked a brown interior with a Yellow car. Let's pull it and see what we can come up with.

Bad..yucky floors...not a great 'repair' job either.

Found some rust behind the back-pad. Let's go poking and see what we can come up with!

Drats! one poke leads to another...and before you know it, you can see the engine!

So, we cut out the bad stuff, and replaced it with New stuff!

Whew...At least the longs are good!

But ABOVE the longs...that's a different story!

Some quick work with a welder, and we're back to a solid chassis!

Button the quarter back up, and on to the next chore.
(I DID go back later and make the welds all purdy.)

Here's where a decision was made...Should I take the floors out, or just repair the damage?

Guess that answers that question!

Welding the replacements in was pretty mich a snap if you take the old ones out right.

The welds on the floor go round and round...

Underneath, you'll want to stitch the whole thing.

There you have it folks...a new floor in an old car.

Here's when Engman's kit comes in handy. It's pretty much perfect.

This is a LOT more work than it looks. That is a LOT of holes!

Floor is in, Kit is in, Primer is on...

Got the seat brackets in...

Seam sealer applied to every weld and crack.

Controversial Step: Coated the whole thing with Herculiner. (Helps seal it from moisture and deadens the road-noise.)

Patching the side-marker holes. (That bondo looks a little thick...hmmmm)

What antenna?

Installed the Short-Shift kit.

Hiding the interior from all the dust I'm about to make!

Let's start getting naked.

And before you know it, you have a half-naked teen!

In the front trunk, I decided to taking out, and replace the gutters...

New piece made...

...and installed

I thought the rear trunk seemed kinda weak, so I decided to make a quick brace to go across the back.
Here is a REAL EASY way to add some strength back there.

Measure out a length, and then just bang a 15-degree angle into it.

Get rid of any paint you have on the back of the trunk in the area your brace is going.

10 or so tacks on either side is more than enough.

You can pretty much sit on the rear trunk now and not bend the metal.

And here it is, with the guide-coat...ready to start blocking.

(I know, I missed the engine lid, and the back of the sail panels. I'll get em tomorrow.)

Way to go Cpt! Stay the course, looks great.

Trippin!

looks great!!

should be a classic thread on what "TO" do!!

if you weren't skilled in welding, you are now! is there some kind of hi-tech antenna that will replace the old mast style? nice work, i'll be following this thread.

k

Wow man. Nice job.

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Mar 21 2005, 10:51 AM)

is there some kind of hi-tech antenna that will replace the old mast style?

Yeah, It's called Sirius Satelite Radio.

I'm giving up on terestrial radio all together. I've got a $2,500 tuner on my stereo at home, and I haven't used it in the 6mos since I got the $100 'Sportster'. The content is awesome, the quality is fine for the car.

The antenna is little, and will hide nicely under one of the side engine grills. Probably the one on the drivers side.

Lookin pretty good DOug. You do nice work. Re-think that brown interior though. I always liked it a yellow teener.

QUOTE (Gint @ Mar 21 2005, 06:05 PM)

Lookin pretty good DOug. You do nice work. Re-think that brown interior though. I always liked it a yellow teener.

Too late...I already have the interior, and carpet (ordered).

I'm going to have the brown interior re-apolstered for the next car. I want to do a complete ox-blood interior with silver paint.

oooh silver and red, nice!!! delete all the inside door stuff save the handles and it's a winner.

k

Got some more accomplished tonight...It's nice to not be dusty when I get in the house!

Drilled the holes for my 3rd brake light...

I'll get it painted up with the rest of the car...should look sweet.

Now here is a question...I want to take off all the lettering, but HOW IN THE HELL do you get these little rubber things off without breaking them?

I also got all the tires off, and pulled all 4 calipers, and all the lines. I'll replace everything tomorrow with rebuilt BMWs up front, and stock in the rear.

I'll need to add a T instead of the prop, and put the new 19mm master on, and make new lines for up front. But that's tomorrow's project...

Don't worry about the retainers, get them from Pelican.

Uhh... do worry about breaking the attachments off of the letters.... retainers cheaper than dirt, letters cheaper than... uhh...

Cheaper than extremely expensive dirt?


M

James has a small air grinder and it takes like 10 seconds for him to remove all retainers. I did it wrong a couple of times with pliers and broke the posts off.

HIEDI