Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I have been working on doors. One of them, I found it caved in and 3/4" of Bondo on it. Surprisingly, rust is not really an issue. I have tried a number of techniques to pop out the dents (heat shrinking, dolly, etc.) but to no avail. Access if extremely limited. I gave in and removed the door skin. I REALLY did not want to go that route, but I managed it without any damage. That took patience! Today, I removed all of the tar-like coating from the inside of the skin. I have some pictures, but I will save them until after I get the door skin reshaped and reinstalled on inner door frame. I am not sure if this is anything many of you enthusiasts would attempt, but I was left with little choice. The sheet metal work and welding was new to me when I started this project. I never imagined the learning curve I'd take! But, that was why I started this project. Life is like a tomato, you are either growing or rotting. You cannot stay eternally ripe!

Heck, good for you Steve! There's only one way to find out what one can accomplish... try it! This is the difference between paying someone to do something vs doing it yourself. Both have their time and place, pros and cons, but the potential for personal satisfaction is higher when you do it yourself. I do not doubt that someone could have done many of the mods I've done over the years far better, more elegantly or "professional", but the SATISFACTION is all mine when it does what I want! Thumbs up!

Just found this thread and wow, I am very impressed with your sheet metal welding. Excellent work! It’s good to see others that are as OCD about every little detail as I am - helps me to convince myself that I’m sane.

funkaholik wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 8:50 pm It’s good to see others that are as OCD about every little detail as I am - helps me to convince myself that I’m sane.

Mmmm, no... no it doesn't...

I didn't claim to be sane - I said "helps me to convince myself". Mwuahahahahahahahahaha!


Good point, though. Sanity went out the window when the body came off the frame.

Steve_69 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:25 pm Life is like a tomato, you are either growing or rotting. You cannot stay eternally ripe!

^^^^^^^^THIS!^^^^^^^

After taking the door skin off and resolving the caved in section with dolly and heat shrinking, I found that it still wanted to pop in with some pressure. I feared that once in the hot sun, it might cave in again, so I made a couple of shallow braces and welded them in. They should not interfere with the window mechanism because they are shallower than the cave in was. Door is back together and ready. Now to strip the other door.

Nice, nice work. I'm an amateur welder but know it takes a very light touch and skilled hand to tack those braces, thanks for the photos.