ACOTE's 68 2000

[ACote]

Also quick update to the thread, been having trouble with some thick bondo on the hood, But new plan is to tackle it with heat and a scraper!

[greydog]

Sometimes you can hit the backside with a dead blow mallet to pop it loose.
Dan

[mraitch]

@acote

from somewhere, I heard that it is good to have JD 'trim' the left/right edges, i.e. make them slightly less full because they can be a bit of a pain to squeeze in.

Irwin is v. flexible and willing to help.

FWIW

[ACote]

Few more things crossed off, Got a paint booth built up and the passenger fender pulled off. Got to finish with the plastic walls then install inlet and outlet fans with filter.


Also tried welding and metal bending for the first time. Not perfect, but better than the rust covered with duct tape. not bad for a vise and 2x4

Little more work to go on this spot went in after this and filled some holes and ground it down. Probably should have picked up some scrap metal to practice on.

[ACote]

Got the hood almost prepped for paint. Also under the fender looked ok, Both Lower bolts snapped on the RH side and had no luck drilling them out. Plus the rocker had some rust there anyways so....

Just need a trip to the hardware store before welding in the nuts. Anyone have any tips for protecting the inside especially after welding?
also spent a while pulling the long dent out with stud puller kit.

[bobd]

weldable primer or leave an access hole and use something like this - https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-inter ... rosol.html

[ACote]

^thanks! I should be able to spray that through the capture nuts when I'm finished. Still have quite a bit more cleaning to do before sealing it up.

[2mAn]

Will this be in Solvang?

[ACote]

Will this be in Solvang?

I wish, Shooting for the Shasta Meet for sure. There's quite a bit of learning curve but I seem to be getting faster at bodywork. I'm taking some time off work to knock out as much as I can. I'm looking forward to all the pics from the show for inspiration!

[ACote]

more Progress:
test fitted and welded the capture nuts and rocker in

(Smoothed the terrible welds out more after this)

Great little tip,: the wd-40 top fits on regular spray paint cans. Applied paint liberally to the inner rocker and repaired area

Jack hole area is 75% there with a skim of filler. leaving it as is until fenders are back on for final body work.
More paint stripping, a blowtorch makes removing bondo easy! Also had a buddy help remove the gas tank and roll bar today

Inside the trunk now can be stripped and welded up next! Paint has been falling off since I've had the car, Combination of moisture/not prepped before paint??(didn't have to trunk seal installed until recently.)
Few picks of the cracks, got one new Mike young Bracket for the right side. Left side will be located to the frame.

[ACote]

Started stripping the rest of the car so hopefully I can start body work soon.
Got all the bondo off of the right fender, looks like it had an minor accident (explains why I had mis-matched headlight scoops )
I was able to hammer this out a little, but went back to paint removal.

The back end must've been smashed pretty good. the trunk corners are all lead! I know they used it for the seams, but for sculpting to the trunk lid?

hopefully I didn't mess up by removing it... the back so far is wavy, nothing to warrant the excessive bondo.

[2mAn]

I’m afraid of what mine looks like underneath the paint!... I’m sure it’s very similar

[ACote]

Welp, worst case scenario i could go custom....

Just kidding that'd be more work than fixing it nicely. thought I'd show off a quick edit I did. Maybe give someone some fab ideas?

[ACote]

I’m afraid of what mine looks like underneath the paint!... I’m sure it’s very similar

I miss driving my car she wasn't pretty but it is so much fun! It's my main motivation to get in the garage and work! I will feel better having all the rust fixed up. I had some hints to the bondo, one flare was a different shape,no reason, no damage then the paint was cracking over the body work.

[spl310]

The lead is oem