ACOTE's 68 2000

[ACote]

Thanks, everyone! Definitely not done but looking at pics really help me see the small adjustments needed.
Linda, The dark green is the evercoat brand duraglass. I took y'all's advice and used it for the edges, feels real durable and sands nicely (takes longer than normal filler but smooths out well). Lighter color is lightweight body filler I used as a skim coat for some rough spots I was having.
Got 2 weeks of leave this month so trying to knock out everything before then! 2mAn, I'll get those holes drilled out tomorrow for ya emblem measurements. I got sidetracked today.

[2mAn]

Im not in a rush, I've had this badge for nearly a year haha

[ACote]

Working my way around the car, right side was the roughest so I gave it my best at fixing the big dent without tin canning. Then gave it a skim coat and shaved it down. Left side is very nice, only required a couple of thin patches to smooth it out.

Cleaned and painted the underside with roll bar/chasis paint. And installed Mike Young's tank bracket

And started making the pieces to fix the rear shelf. I don't plan on putting speakers there and it causes a terrible drone from the trunk.

don't have a brake so just cut, bent then welded the pieces together

[ACote]

Boy this sure does take a while and is very tiring.
Before:

After:

[notoptoy]

Looks good, nice fabrication work!

[pebbles]

When you gonna move up here Alex...lol.
Nice work!

[ACote]

Thanks everyone, I was happy how those turned out. I should've bought a cheap metal bender in the beginning, but I guess I learned what you can and can't do in a vice.

When you gonna move up here Alex...lol.
Nice work!

I've got 12 years left if I'm staying military, but currently working on my Aerospace certification so we'll see were that takes me. Washington was a very nice state when I visited.

[S Allen]

Very nice fabrication work. Looks like you have honed your welding skills as well.

S

[ACote]

Poor beaten up fender, lot's of little waves and dings smoothed out. Front was smashed and had thick bondo coating, beat it into shape and welded the cracks. The flare originally was a different shape(from all the bondo) than the left which is weird as it's the straightest part on the fender. Maybe they got tired of sanding at that point lol. trying to get the whole car primered this weekend so back to work!
Didn't snap many before pics, but this one shows how rough it was. I welded in the trim mounting holes to drill new ones as it looked like Swiss cheese.


Left a slight gap to account for paint but I'd be happy if it fits this well after it's all done

[pebbles]

Good progress Alex!

[ppeters914]

Very nice how you're getting the headlight bucket trim to match the fender, but that last pic looks like the lower half of the bucket/fender is missing.

[ACote]

Very nice how you're getting the headlight bucket trim to match the fender, but that last pic looks like the lower half of the bucket/fender is missing.

don't worry! Whole fender is still there. Headlight bucket is out and the top down picture was weird.

today I got the rest of the car stripped and started checking and smoothing each panel. Had a light surface rust on the front of the hood since i stripped the front a while ago as a test, was very careful to remove all of it and check/clean the other panels.
Might be primer on Monday since I need to fix more dents/pinholes and go over the interior and scuff it up. It being so hot doesn't help.
No more windshield!

[ppeters914]

I'm simply amazed and in awe of you folks with these mad skills.

[ACote]

I'm simply amazed and in awe of you folks with these mad skills.

I hope it turns out nice, I've actually just been learning all this the past few months. I feel like I've got the hang of it OK and am excited to see how the finished product looks. I'm trying not to stress over small things especially if it's covered by carpet/trim that it doesn't have to be perfect.

Speaking of stress I saw the post about getting the windshield trim installed professionally and figured I'd give it a go, very very carefully before calling around for a shop.
After an hour of fiddling I couldn't even get one piece started. But as I was just about to give up, I got part of the bottom to slip in! re motivated and 3 hours later... it's installed on the glass and ready to go!

Very expensive NOS Nissan glass, begging not to be cracked.


Getting there, but that's not right? (that's an old tile cleaner bottle filled with soapy water I'm not using bleach!)


Oops, corner pieces got swapped



That's better. Thumbs are really hurting from this.

Now onto the scary part. Installing onto the glass, corner and trimmed popped out a lot trying to get it right. Just had to pull that section away and re-seat. I had to use a flat screwdriver with tape on the end to get the last section set around the glass. But the rest was all soapy water and thumbs. Used a block of wood and folded towel to make sure there was no pressure in one spot, especially the edges.


Close up of the Stickers


Very happy with the fitment. Going to polish them later on the car after it's back to being up and running. This was a huge relief, not worried about the final install as it's just a normal rope in windshield. Now if only my dash was done a month sooner it'd be a lot easier to swap now.

[SLOroadster]

Alex,
Your car is looking great. Its come a LONG way since you first got it. Yep, its taken a year or two, but you are going to have a fantastic car when its done. I can't wait to see it painted and all back together.

Will