HOTFR8
Banned
What news on the daily driver ? Is it a write off or will insurance repair it ?
E-tek Restorations: PROJECT THREAD
- Thread starter e-tek
- Start date
Insurance appointment tomorrow - it'll be close. It's been one of those weeks. Hired a guy to install a couple doors in a rental and he was a total pig and a butcher! I let him finish the installs but told him I'd do the finishing work - so tomorrow I get to go try and make it look pretty. Also hired someone to do some simple electrical work - and he broke a new dual-breaker by trying to force it into the box, as well as a ceiling tile! Jeez.
HOTFR8
Banned
Hope the insurance works out ok.
After reading that I feel the delays on my extensions have been worth the wait. The young guy doing the work is a true craftsman and not just turns up when he says he will he also has pride in his work. I would be happy for you to call on him but only after he has finished here and then you would have to pay his traveling expenses
.
After reading that I feel the delays on my extensions have been worth the wait. The young guy doing the work is a true craftsman and not just turns up when he says he will he also has pride in his work. I would be happy for you to call on him but only after he has finished here and then you would have to pay his traveling expenses
.Speaking of my work.....
Upon checking the wheelbase measurements, we found the rear end had been located a little rearward....
Pull it all apart -
Measured to move 2" forward -
I decided not to relocate the rear spring perch right now. It was too verticle as it was, which would have resulted in a rough ride, so leaving it there means it would improve it's swing arch. It will also lower the rear, but only about 1/2", which is not likely enough to matter. If it does, it can be moved later.
Bang on!
Of course now it looks a little forward if anything!!
The new, larger tires will fill it out but if needed we can always split the difference....
After that I spent some quality time with my hammer and dolly, making sweet love to these THICK metal fenders and someones old gas welds....
Andrew from Graveyard Customs came out yesterday to have a look at it for paint. He's liking where it is and will get it into his shop in March. They'll spray the high-build, block it out several times and shoot it. Then it'll be back for re-assembly!
Upon checking the wheelbase measurements, we found the rear end had been located a little rearward....
Pull it all apart -
Measured to move 2" forward -
I decided not to relocate the rear spring perch right now. It was too verticle as it was, which would have resulted in a rough ride, so leaving it there means it would improve it's swing arch. It will also lower the rear, but only about 1/2", which is not likely enough to matter. If it does, it can be moved later.
Bang on!
Of course now it looks a little forward if anything!!
The new, larger tires will fill it out but if needed we can always split the difference....
After that I spent some quality time with my hammer and dolly, making sweet love to these THICK metal fenders and someones old gas welds....
Andrew from Graveyard Customs came out yesterday to have a look at it for paint. He's liking where it is and will get it into his shop in March. They'll spray the high-build, block it out several times and shoot it. Then it'll be back for re-assembly!
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tcianci
Well-known member
E, what chassis is that car on? Those look like GM wheels to me.
HOTFR8
Banned
Seeing wheels not centred in a wheel opening just ruins a good looking Car.
41ratrod
Well-known member
Nice work on the 40 Ford reminds me of working on my 41 Ford it was a lot worse shape. I had to take 8" off the bottom due to rust.
Now I've got a old rat rod car with a 302, AOD trans power dish brakes
mustang front sub,and a 1992 T-Bird rear end. Tag ,insurances and it passed state inspection.
Now I've got a old rat rod car with a 302, AOD trans power dish brakes
mustang front sub,and a 1992 T-Bird rear end. Tag ,insurances and it passed state inspection.
Attachments
Ever have one of those weeks where everything crappy happens? After I totalled my van I got a call from the city for an inspection on one of our rental houses and even after doing $1000 in repairs (new doors) I only got a "Qualified Permit", all while the 24 Hour Flu is going though our house. The kids had it, then I got it, now Mrs E has it. Today I got a notice in the mail that I forgot to pay a traffic fine. Now it's $50 instead of $20. Nuts.
Happily I felt good enough to get into the shop today. Started with metal work on the dash for the 40 Ford:
Welding it from the back side:
Also closed up some un-needed holes:
2 hours of welding and grinding later:
Inside:
My metal bench was getting rediculous, so I made some hangars for my tools -
Also did some more detailing on the 5.0L....
But mostly just thought about how to make this thing pretty....??
Then I did a little more fitting on the 240Z quarter. Ready for welding now:
There - I feel better.
Happily I felt good enough to get into the shop today. Started with metal work on the dash for the 40 Ford:
Welding it from the back side:
Also closed up some un-needed holes:
2 hours of welding and grinding later:
Inside:
My metal bench was getting rediculous, so I made some hangars for my tools -
Also did some more detailing on the 5.0L....
But mostly just thought about how to make this thing pretty....??
Then I did a little more fitting on the 240Z quarter. Ready for welding now:
There - I feel better.
MP&C
Well-known member
machine_punk
Well-known member
I hope you get to feeling better soon, buddy!
You still get more done in the shop on a bad day than I do on a good day.
kev
You still get more done in the shop on a bad day than I do on a good day.
kev
HOTFR8
Banned
Do you have a Flu Shot ? I could and would not go a winter without one. Nothing worse than being away from work when you work for yourself.
HOTFR8
Banned
Well I would rather NOT have the Flu.
Working on some of the final details before the 40 goes for paint. After doing the metal work on the dash, I needed to fit the billet dash-cluster and make sure it had enough room to allow for paint and also make some tabs that would hold it.
Looking at it from the back-side, the cluster is too tight to go into the opening easily -
I removed material from both the dash opening and the aluminum cluster -
Until it fit with enough room to allow for paint -
Then whipped up some tabs to hold it in place -
I welded in the tabs - and closed one last hole in the dash -
Set screws will allow for some adjustment -
Another task completed -
Also spent an hour welding up the quarter on the 240Z. This project is coming along too!
Looking at it from the back-side, the cluster is too tight to go into the opening easily -
I removed material from both the dash opening and the aluminum cluster -
Until it fit with enough room to allow for paint -
Then whipped up some tabs to hold it in place -
I welded in the tabs - and closed one last hole in the dash -
Set screws will allow for some adjustment -
Another task completed -
Also spent an hour welding up the quarter on the 240Z. This project is coming along too!
Omphaloskeptic
Well-known member
I amazed that you are able to multitask and make fine tuning adjustments seemingly on the fly. I'd waste a night or two just scratching my head trying to decide how to proceed; which kind of gives credence to my forum name. lol
Hey, I hope you're taking some breaks from the shop to go make Mrs. E-Tek some tea, soup, or hot toddy to ease her flu recovery. Gotta keep those 'good hubby points' in the black!
Hey, I hope you're taking some breaks from the shop to go make Mrs. E-Tek some tea, soup, or hot toddy to ease her flu recovery. Gotta keep those 'good hubby points' in the black!
jarhead
Well-known member
Seems like everyone is getting that ****, we have had the run of it all the way down here in Colorado. Started with me, then both kids...
My wife has it now, I have been doing dishes for a week
Out to the garage now
Do you ever waste time on something just because you want it fixed? I broke a set-screw in a $10 soldering iron today and ended up re-building the entire thing. Took it all apart, re-wired the element, put shrink-tubing on the internals, drilled and tapped the set-screws and then put it back together. An hour later and it was fixed, but my time is worth WAY more than that! Luckily, I also got some "real work done"....
Straightened some pieces for the 40 Ford Rod -
This is the front lower valence. Looks like some used the cutting torch to remove the one bolt, plus it had cracked open at the seems -
Ground down the welds on the Z quarter -
This area around the bumper indent required a fair amount of work. A lot of time guys fill this area and go without the rear bumper on these cars, but this one is going back to showroom stock.
The parts fit reasonably well together. A quick trim and it'll look factory!
Straightened some pieces for the 40 Ford Rod -
This is the front lower valence. Looks like some used the cutting torch to remove the one bolt, plus it had cracked open at the seems -
Ground down the welds on the Z quarter -
This area around the bumper indent required a fair amount of work. A lot of time guys fill this area and go without the rear bumper on these cars, but this one is going back to showroom stock.
The parts fit reasonably well together. A quick trim and it'll look factory!
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HOTFR8
Banned
Ed, Do not think of it as time wasted but time spent improving it so it does not break again. Satisfaction in the knowledge it will not break again next time you go to use it. 
I was watching Search & Restore this morning and was amazed at the amount of "bondo" they used on the project car. They more than "skim-coated" the entire thing and had 10 guys sanding it down. In some places it looked to be an inch thick. I've done a LOT of cars and several have won show awards and never have I coated an entire car in body filller..... Guess I'm not as 'experienced' as Tim Strange is.
Guess I'm not as 'experienced' as Tim Strange is.ddawg16
Well-known member
Have you tried solder? It looks like it would be almost as easy.....instead using sandpaper....you use a file.....and it won't crack.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I was watching Search & Restore this morning and was amazed at the amount of "bondo" they used on the project car. They more than "skim-coated" the entire thing and had 10 guys sanding it down. In some places it looked to be an inch thick. I've done a LOT of cars and several have won show awards and never have I coated an entire car in body filller.....
I watched the same show this morning. I can't remember what show it was, whether "Pimp my Ride" or Monster Garage" but they skimmed almost the entire vehicle in a green bondo then proceeded to longboard everything down. Way different that anything I was ever taught. With the way some of the "pro's" do things today, it leaves one to wonder whether things are being half-assed or not
zuk123
Well-known member
There was an episode of American Hotrod, where the painters in Boyd's shop did the same thing. Light skim coat on the entire car, then sand almost all of it off.
The guy doing it made some defensive comments about it NOT being a 'bondo bucket' but that it was necessary to get the level of finish required for today's show cars.
I guess he had a point, the old cars weren't exactly known for fit and finish. I remember when the ad came out for something that rolled a ball bearing down the seams to show how consistent they were. I remember it NOT being an American car
zuk
The guy doing it made some defensive comments about it NOT being a 'bondo bucket' but that it was necessary to get the level of finish required for today's show cars.
I guess he had a point, the old cars weren't exactly known for fit and finish. I remember when the ad came out for something that rolled a ball bearing down the seams to show how consistent they were. I remember it NOT being an American car
zuk
tcianci
Well-known member
If you want to get a car straight in a hurry, skim of bondo is the way to go. Most of us will use an epoxy primer followed by a 2k high build/polyester primer. Polyester primer is essentially spayable bondo. IN essence you can get a skim on the whole car and its ready to block in half an hour, no masking, no booth, no equipment to clean. Also, if you have started with an epoxy, you aren't spraying the high build into places where it would be a bear to sand so you have epoxy on the surfaces that aren't going to be blocked and a light film of bondo over the areas that will be blocked. Personally I think it's just another valid approach to finishing a car body.
I learned with lead. I still use it on occasion, but only on older, thick-metal cars. Doesn't work to well on newer metal though.
I don't mind if it's truly a 'SKIM COAT", but my point was that they where using WAY more than that. Like anyone, I use filler over repaired damage, weld-patches, etc., but I FEATHER it into the bare metal where it's not required - while they coated each and every ENTIRE panel - right to the edge, which is just asking for huge chips with chunks falling out. Guess I'm just old-school enough not to want a vehicle coated in 1/2 and inch or more of filler (high-build primer notwithstanding).
The car has new side apron panels that are closed at the bottom, but the fender needs to be attached here -
My solution was to open a hole underneath so I can insert a nut for the fender to bolt up to. The hole underneath will get a rubber plug.
Lucky I did open a hole - this is what was in there!
Windows and seals all have to come out -
Wires went from this -
...to all bagged and protected -
Out came the console, which will go to upholstery -
Boo-hoo....this is how it came in! I put everything in, almost made it look like a car...and now it's stripped bare again....
Lastlty, I welded up a few spots on the firewall we won't need -
My solution was to open a hole underneath so I can insert a nut for the fender to bolt up to. The hole underneath will get a rubber plug.
Lucky I did open a hole - this is what was in there!
Windows and seals all have to come out -
Wires went from this -
...to all bagged and protected -
Out came the console, which will go to upholstery -
Boo-hoo....this is how it came in! I put everything in, almost made it look like a car...and now it's stripped bare again....
Lastlty, I welded up a few spots on the firewall we won't need -
After going to get my "new" vehicle (of course I'm way too cheap to buy a NEW vehicle, but I did pay cash), buying insurance, then repairing the SAME toilet in one of our rentals and assessing fire-rating upgrades with an advisor, I barely got an hour in the shop today, which I pretty much spent moving stuff around - cause it's still WAY too crowded!
Dupli-color sent me this banner to hang in the shots of my Dupli-color Paint Crew project -
Tomorrow will be a major shop day - stay tuned!
Dupli-color sent me this banner to hang in the shots of my Dupli-color Paint Crew project -
Tomorrow will be a major shop day - stay tuned!
MP&C
Well-known member
I still have room to store your Mercury truck.... 
Omphaloskeptic
Well-known member
"Tomorrow will be a major shop day - stay tuned!"
ALL RIGHT! More good stuff coming our way.
"I barely got an hour in the shop today, which I pretty much spent moving stuff around - cause it's still WAY too crowded!"
So, E-Tek, whatchugonnadobouthat? Have you had any flashes of inspiration for gaining space?
ALL RIGHT! More good stuff coming our way.
"I barely got an hour in the shop today, which I pretty much spent moving stuff around - cause it's still WAY too crowded!"
So, E-Tek, whatchugonnadobouthat? Have you had any flashes of inspiration for gaining space?
I still have room to store your Mercury truck....
You'd hate me if you could see it's unceremonious winter parking place...I got caught off-guard when moving all my toys around in the fall and it ended up outside for the winter. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow.
One idea borne from GJ & HAMB insight will be to build a "frame-bench" for my rod project come spring. I will build the rod on top (no stooping!) and store several engines underneath. Also, once the 40 Ford goes to the paint shop the lift will be empty for a few months and once spring comes the TA will move to summer driver status and will live in the front garage with the Galaxie. (I haven't told Mrs E-tek yet that her Mini will be out-doors...)
As the 40Ford awaits room at Graveyard Customs for it's color coat, I'me staying busy with the details, like tweaking the console for the upholsterers -
The car is missing one bumper bracket. Although they are spring-steel, we decided to make this last one out of mild steel. I'm sure it'll be fine.
The heat maker!
Goddam thing fell off my torch stand and burned my shoe, so I had to upgrade -
After a lot of heating, bending, hammer, measuring, drilling...I got it pretty close!
Next, I tore down and repaired the vent windows and window surrounds -
Bagged and tagged the parts for re-assembly.
Repaired a few dents on the surrounds -
Also repaired some chrome pieces that go on the leading edge of the hood -
The parts that have been repaired are piling up!
The car is missing one bumper bracket. Although they are spring-steel, we decided to make this last one out of mild steel. I'm sure it'll be fine.
The heat maker!
Goddam thing fell off my torch stand and burned my shoe, so I had to upgrade -
After a lot of heating, bending, hammer, measuring, drilling...I got it pretty close!
Next, I tore down and repaired the vent windows and window surrounds -
Bagged and tagged the parts for re-assembly.
Repaired a few dents on the surrounds -
Also repaired some chrome pieces that go on the leading edge of the hood -
The parts that have been repaired are piling up!
HOTFR8
Banned
Interesting to see the vent windows. With the 48 Truck (aka HOTFR8) I had to get new ones made.
The pencil points to the rust damage.
In this photo a new one on the left and the old rusty one on the right.
I would be interested to hear if the ones you are working on are as bad as what I had to deal with.
The pencil points to the rust damage.
In this photo a new one on the left and the old rusty one on the right.
I would be interested to hear if the ones you are working on are as bad as what I had to deal with.
HOTFR8
Banned
Yes that is correct as I had no choice and I could not find any reproduction or New Old Stock ones. You have been lucky.
1971gsfan
Well-known member
E tek
Over the last 3 days I have read all 64 pages of of this thread You Sir are an amazing inspiration 
I am now going outside to cut a rusty panel from my inner fender and fit the patch panel I purchased for it. I have been staring at it for over a week. Inner fender is for my 71 Buick GS. I know the concept just have never done it. This thread has got me ready to tackle it. Thanks for the way you explain and document what you do. I look forward to checking out your blog next. Keep up the good work.
Tim
Over the last 3 days I have read all 64 pages of of this thread You Sir are an amazing inspiration
I am now going outside to cut a rusty panel from my inner fender and fit the patch panel I purchased for it. I have been staring at it for over a week. Inner fender is for my 71 Buick GS. I know the concept just have never done it. This thread has got me ready to tackle it. Thanks for the way you explain and document what you do. I look forward to checking out your blog next. Keep up the good work.Tim