Ok, Today at sklines garage we explore repairing the hell hole in a slightly rusty car. As some of you know, Mark Bland (Engman) has been working on a new Hell Hole repair kit. This is my redition of removing the rust and installing this kit. My first step is to remove the battery tray and support. I did so with my trusty $5.00 air chisel. The next step in to clean the area as good as you can and remove as much loose rust and get down to a point that you can weld. Next I will be fitting the kit into place for fittment. I will be posting pictures as I go. I just started and at this point, I have removed the battery tray and cleaned the hole out. Now I am going to fit the kit into place to see how it fits. Aaron has beent he photographer so dont blame me for bad pictures. If I have any question about it I will take some also. Off to work now, I will post the pictures later.

Here are a few of the starting out pictures

Next

Tray out

Outfitted for sandblasting

Getting into the work

JUST HOPE YOU DON'T DO TO YOUR 5.00 AIR CHISEL WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR AIR RATCHET lol. Keep us posted Scott so I'll know what to do on mine

Outfitted for sandblasting looks like a SoCal Darth Vadar . This is going in the direction of classic status. Thanks Scott

This is the kit as packaged by Mark, looks cool. He seems to be quite the engineer even in his packaging.

It's about time someone put a kit together! Can't wait to see the rest of the install!

Hurry up Biatch. Get'er done. Mark won't sell me a kit until you give the word!



Windshield is great BTW

QUOTE

Hurry up Biatch. Get'er done. Mark won't sell me a kit until you give the word!

I gotta a 70 that needs this , RDesign is sending shelf and pivot.
What exactly is this piece Replacing ?

That long shoremen stuff is cuttin into 914 progress.

If Mark makes it, it's good stuff. this guy doesn't mess around.

I can't wait to see the results...could be another good one!

QUOTE (skline @ Jun 17 2005, 02:53 PM)

remove the battery tray and support. I did so with my trusty $5.00 air chisel. The next step in to clean the area as good as you can and remove as much loose rust and get down to a point that you can weld.

[QUOTE]

Better than a saws-All with a flexable blade?
remove the rust with what? An air chisel, cup brush?
Sandblaster?

QUOTE (Eric_Shea @ Jun 17 2005, 04:19 PM)

Hurry up Biatch.

I'm next in line.

QUOTE (lagunero @ Jun 17 2005, 11:50 PM)

QUOTE (Eric_Shea @ Jun 17 2005, 04:19 PM) Hurry up Biatch.   I'm next in line.

alberto, i just sent you a pm. i hope you're reading this

how are you going to address the chanel for the engine seal on the shelve scott?

k

QUOTE

I'm next in line.

Shaaadup and send me some calipers

I'm next in line... I have compromising pictures of Mr. Bland (if ya know what I mean )

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jun 18 2005, 08:37 AM)

how are you going to address the chanel for the engine seal on the shelve scott? k

Actually, the kit doesnt replace that channel where the rubber goes, it gets welded on top of that. The rubber of course will have to be removed and replaced as it will melt from welding and this car is getting a V8 conversion so it will not be replaced. I tried to remove the old rubber but it wouldnt budge so I figure it will get nice and soft when I weld that piece in and be much more pliable when I am done. I didnt get it finished last night but will try to get it done today. This car was not very rusted and the kit is designed to repair a more seriously rusted car so I had to do some trimming to get some of the pieces to fit in. This is the first one I have done so in my opinion it is not as clean as it could have been, I am still learing what I should do with each piece as I go and figuring out that I should have done a few things differently. It's a learning curve. Alberto has one that is more in line for what this kit was made for and I am sure it will come out much nicer than this one. After I started welding in the piece on the side to cover the tray area, I realized the metal wouldnt really shape the way I wanted it to as I had already welded in where it would need to flex. So I had to cut a slit in it and then beat it into place and then weld around the cut. Fortunately the metal behind was still very strong and didnt need to be repaired. You will see what I mean. This is welded in but only tacked in a few place, I will finish it later today.

Here is a picture of how I left it last night.

QUOTE

how are you going to address the chanel for the engine seal on the shelve scott?

Some info on this is in order...

The kit has 4 pieces
1. engine shelf cover - 20g
2. lower font firewall piece - 20g
3. inner wheel house piece - above the long - 20g
4. Top of long - 16g

The idea behind it is to make affordable an alternative to the more expensive (and nicer) replacement panels. You do have to form them either as Scott is doing along with using a vice to put the 90 degree bends into some pieces (all are 20g pieces that get the 90 degree bends).

It is a kit that you will need to make fit correctly for your application - meaning you will/may have to trim some pieces to fit more better (insert smart ass remark here).

The basis for this kit wasTekkor Thread

While this was used as the basis several changes were made to make this fit. The engine shelf has the cutouts for the fuel lines and drain tubes, several pieces were made larger in certain areas to better minic the area I have seen rusted.

Now its a kit - you put the forms in, you trim to fit. These are not drop in pieces - you do have to work them a little to make them fit. If you want drop in pieces - get the RD pieces - these are nice - but you will drop some coin on them.

Later I will post info in the resources section -

M

heh

Heh heh - the sand people!


M

QUOTE

Later I will post info in the resources section -

Were you able to consider both sides?

i'm guessing the driverside would be a near mirrior image of the pass less a few holes and the fan bracket for the later 4 cars. there will be a market for drivers side channel out of all the junkers. it could be tack welded on pretty simply.

k

QUOTE

Were you able to consider both sides?

I will have to check to see if there is any sort of mirror image - a lot of stuff looks like it but is'nt.

Info on the kit is in the resouces section. I only have several on hand right now - more later.

M

Here is an outline of what is replaces (thanks Trekkor)

or this?

Some info on the drivers side - the fan mount and relay board mount are in the way. I will do this side if there is sufficient interest. One of the questions is delete the fan mount and or the relay mount? Or leave these in?

M

Couple of questions Mark. I'm not looking at the car so this is from memory:

1 - Does the side metal on the drivers side have to come up that far so as it would interfere with the board? I think the left side goes to that degree due in whole to the battery. I haven't seen a right side that bad.

2 - I would think anyone into this much metal work would have to remove the fan mount and weld it back on once the HH is repaired. No?

Eric, I highly suspect you are correct.

Any pics of yours?

M

ya call that a bad battery tray Hmmm mine cant hold the battery great info though going through the same thing probly next week.