Bummer!

Yeah, but I'd rather have a job and take a couple years to finish than the other choice :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Little at a time and then you're done :cheers:

What's in your rocker panel?
 

Nothing now! I should have known the drivers side rocker was gonna be in the same shape as the passenger side, after cleaning with a fiber disc I found a pin hole and sure enough pushed a screwdriver through it :( So I cut off the outside rocker panel to inspect and I found a bunch of mouse related stuff that took awhile to get outa the rocker. (I think there was a sock from the 70's in there :lol: )
So ... I'm waiting on the part from AMD to replace the same patch that I did on the passenger side, should go faster the second time around, right?

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6889/120316132.jpg
Rusted inner rocker!
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6855/120316127.jpg
Little POR15 and she'll be better than new!
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3566/120316130.jpg
Have you looked inside your rocker panel?

My side cowl panel came in yesterday, think I'll mock them up and see how they fit and what mods I need to make them fit.
Later,
Michael

Its amazing what gets in there.

Now we know where the missing socks always ends up

Back in the garage!
 

Ain't that the truth, but how?
I got a rough cut done to the inner rocker tonight, waiting on parts now. Then I mocked the cowl and both side cowls in place ... they need a little work to meet my specs. :thumbsup: My dash looked outa place with all that black sheet metal, so ... I broke out the DeWalt and the fiber disc and cleaned all the paint off the front, supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow so I'll get some epoxy primer on it.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3556/120316135.jpg
Rough cut the inner cowl.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6018/120316137.jpg
Ready for epoxy primer, looks as good as the back now :cheers:

Until next time,
Michael

Hey from CO
 

I thought only dryers ate socks, how did the mice get that much stuff in there?

Well, this is how nice a day it is here in CO, you never get to work outside in March :willy: Dash is ready!

http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/5764/120317140.jpg
Nice to be outside!

Had to do it!
 

Got in the trunk and back out again (getting too old for this) to get the outer and inner wheel houses cut out PITA. One thing I have learned with this car is if there is rust on one side you better do both sides, sure enough there was rust on the lower front quarter/ outer :( And I figure it's best to get everything out and sand blast once and be done.
I'll order my DSE tubs soon and replace the outers, in Stielow's book he make reference to the body shop that did his mini tub and they always replace the outer and inner wheel houses- and this is why!
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4563/120318149.jpg
the quarter panel looks good from here.
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5710/120318147.jpg
Not so good from here.
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1460/120318152.jpg
Looking straight up - needs some attention!
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5732/120318154.jpg
This is the lower front, needs to be fixed :(

This has been a good weekend to be in the garage with the temps, still need to get the other side cut out, the weather is changing as I'm typing - snow?
Anyone have a preference on outer wheel houses? AMD? Year One?
Later,
Michael

I prefer NOS. That is what I used, but they are hard to come by these days and the price for them is 'out there'. Look at Rick's and see what they have. I bought a lot of panels from them. They offered US Made panels and they were always very nice pieces with the correct gauge thickness.

I'm in the mini tub process right now and they are not as easy as DSE made them out to be. I started out going to just split the stock inners and then decided to just use the DSE deep tubs. The main difficulty I have found with their directions is they give you no reference points for their templates. However, I haven't used their templates other than for my own reference. There really isn't any real clear cut way of doing the tubs, so DSE has made it as painless as they possibly could I suppose. It's not a painless operation though. It just takes time and a little tweaking here and there. Don't try to cut it out all at once. Make your cut lines and then creap up to them fitting the new tub in during the whole process. That way you'll get a perfect fit for the end result. I have already cut my frame rail out a little too much and am going to have to go back and weld a little bit of metal back in to make up the gap. I hope I can have these done by next weekend.

What do your quarters look like at the rear window channel and rear trunk/window filler panel? Mine were rotten there necessitating me to have to replace both quarters. I sure wish I had mini tubbed the car then instead of doing it now:mad:

outer wheel houses
 

I would get NOS but ... yeah right? I have ordered from Ricks before, I'll call them this week.
Did you get the DVD with your tubs?
My filler panel was gone and I've already replace that piece and the sides I have replacement pieces (Ricks) and the quarter panel lip I will make a piece with my shrinker/ stretcher and weld in place. That's a lot easier that a full quarter for sure :wow:

Thanks for chiming in and looking,
Michael

Yes, I have 2 of them. Need one?

Yes ... whatcha want for one DVD? PM sent.

Funny story on the Rocker panels. When I cut mine out I found a bunch of old newspapers stuffed in to fill the rust holes and then covered with Bondo! Funny thing is the newspapers were dated 1983! Three months before I bought the car! I found them in 2010! And you could still read them plain as day!

NOS is better!
 

Well... I think I am going with NOS outers after reading about the aftermarket stuff. I found a pair NOS outers I'm gonna order, my birthday is a month away and I need a present :woot:

Thanks for hooking me up with the DSE dvd,
Michael

Were the coupons still good? Sorry I'd be kicking some butt there :yes:

Good call there. I ended up using NOS outers and quarters. I got them all for a good price some years ago. No prob on the video. Its on the way to you:)

3/23 Update
 

Work continues took on the passenger side outer last night, rusted in the same spot as the drivers side.:mad: Well ... at least it will be new when I'm done and I don't have to worry about rust.
My patch for the lower side cowl is here so that is on my list. I think I'm gonna build to body cart before I do any more welding, there is not much there anymore between the cowl and the wheel houses being gone.
So, more pictures ...
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/6779/120323159.jpg
View from the trunk - not bad!
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8823/120323157.jpg
The rusted spot that I replace w/ the patch ... didn't get it all!
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7728/120323166.jpg
Needs some attention up high on the quarters.

Of course the weather is nice and I have to go outa town for a week ... but the weather should be nice from here on til summer. :cheers: Then it's sand blasting time!

Thanks for looking,
Michael

Nice progress.

Looking good. What kind of rear suspension are you going with? That video ever arrive?

Well I like the AirRide Tech package, but I'm not too keen on the poly bushings that mount the upper links to their frame. I'd rather have a swivel bushing like the Chassisworks on the AirRide frame .... so I may have to order my own links to replace the AirRide ones. Wasn't it VEGAS69 that had problems with the poly bushings on his upper links?
So yeah ... AirRide package is where I'm leaning, is that port or starboard? :rofl:

No the DVD isn't here yet, should be tomorrow. I have to get ready for a trip to Jackson Hole WY for a meeting all next week and there will be some fly fishing days, somebody's gotta do go!
Thanks

Thanks for the kudos, can't go back now!

Your talking about the Airbar right? That is what I am running. Yes, I did see in his thread where he was having that problem. That could be an easy remedy though. Like you said, build new links.

If you go with the Airbar, then I have fabricated a bracket that fits inside the frame rail. It allows you to bolt the Airbar in place and have it bolted in to an actual nut and not the flimsy sheet metal frame. It will also strengthen the rear frame in that area. This will allow you to not weld the Airbar in and fatigue the sheet metal, which is what cause several to have broken frames. If you're interested, then I can hook you up with some templates.

I would definitely be interested, yes the Airbar is what I meant. Do you have the kit already?

Yes, I already installed the upper cradle per the factory instructions. I did that before I started my mini tub so I could know exactly where all the holes would be in the frame rails so I could make my brackets to fit inside the frame rails and allow it to be a true bolt in. I'll go snap a picture of the bracket I am almost finished with. I did have to move one of the holes on the Airbar cradle because it was interfering with one of the other holes they had going in the frame.

Yeah I'm a picture kinda guy, what are the bushings?

This is a picture of the bracket bolted in. I still have to add one more plate with 3 more nuts welded to it. The plate that I have not made yet has to be installed after the bracket is made and installed. You bolt it in and then weld the plate to the lower part of the bracket and then your done. I will drill a few holes randomly to plug weld the bracket to the frame once I have it finished and am ready to close the frame rail back up.

The bushings that came with my Airbar are heim joint on one end of the upper link, rubber on the other end and the lower link came with poly on one end and rubber on the other. I'll change that all up after I get the car on the road

Nice :hail: :hail: so your plate goes in before you close up the frame for the mini tubs? Very nice!

Yup! Nothing pertee, but it will serve it's purpose well. The close up picture of the frame rail from the inside shows where the hole I had to raise up from where Ridetech had the hole on the cradle. I had to move the hole up on the cradle as well. I am using 1" 7/16"x14 thread grade 5 bolts with matching nuts. I'll post it all up on my thread tomorrow evening if I manage to get it all done and back in. I'm going to make a template so I will be able to duplicate the bracket for the passenger side. I'll make one up for you too and scan it.

Oh yeah, Matt's Classic Bowties is having a sale on all of Ridetech's products till the end of the month. They also offer the best prices I have found. I have been dealing with them lately for all of my parts.
This is a free plug for Matt's Classic Bowties:lol:

Very nice ... I'd like a copy to duplicate and then you can sell the print to Mr V at Ride Tech :cheers:
I see you have your DSE tubs already, trial fit? Nice?

Yeah I saw that, I have to build a jig for the car and buy NOS outers and DSE inners before I can get the Airbar ... lack of funds is a bummer.

HAHA! I have been thinking about contacting them to share the bracket with them, but not sell it. Who know's though:unibrow:

Yeah, they are nice. I still haven't gotten them to fit like I want. They are difficult to get in there with the outer wheelhouse already installed. Tight squeeze. I think they will fit fine once I get the car all tweaked to fit them properly. I should have the drivers side buttoned up by the end of the weekend.

I hear ya! I'm scrambling right now to come up with the money for my front Ridetech coil-overs and the Truturn before the end of the month.

Skinning the other
 

DOOR cuz I'm learning that if there is rust on one side better do the other side too! Sure enough, driver's door that looked good on the outside was rusted all along the bottom :( This time I used the Eastwood door skinner tool and what a difference - all I had to do was grind down the spot welds and pull the skin back :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Who ever said to grind the edges of the door has not used one of these and should :hail:
So guess what I'm doing tomorrow? It's gonna be 80 out and I need to clean all this mess up and get some POR15 on the shell and paint it black, don't have to worry about this rust coming back!!!!!!!
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3093/120330169.jpg
Using a door skinner, easy job!
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3573/120330175.jpg
Rust never rests, what's under your skin?
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9431/120330179.jpg
Over all not too bad, another skin in route.

I have been looking at the doors that only replace the outer skin with a patch .... now I know what is under the skin and it sure would have continued to rust.
If it's worth doing it's worth doing right, thanks DAD :cheers:

Thanks for looking,
Michael

Do you have your fenders installed and lined up on the car? Door skins are notorious for the lines not being correct. The only way to install the skins properly is to have the door installed on the car and lined up to the quarters and fenders lined up to the door. Just trying to keep you from having any future headaches:)

Thanks, that's why I haven't put the skin on the passenger door yet, still have to get the subframe blasted and then remount and go from there. I should have my NOS outers by the end of the month and then work on the mini tubs.

New Door!
 

Yeah, this is what a good door is supposed to look like :thumbsup: Have two coats of POR15 on today and will get some chassis black on tomorrow and she'll be better than new!!! It was a PITA to clean all the rust and the GM waxy stuff off the inside, but persistence paid off (DeWalt still going) and got her down to metal :unibrow:

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/2565/120331191.jpg
Better than before
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2644/120331190.jpg
Closeup of the corners
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9624/120331189.jpg
Almost done with inside, now for the black!

Keep plugging away and I'll be done ... someday.

WOW! that was some work. Sandblaster would make quick work of that:yes:

Yeah, but I don't have one of those!! I have a DeWalt fitted with a fiber disc and lots of time :thumbsup:

PS ... I got the CD, thanks!