So after RicKD answered my question about the door, I winched it down from the attic and got it installed.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps43227b9f.jpg

My son took care of chasing the threads for me....

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps6eab5ecb.jpg

The new hinges made a big difference. I had forgotten how bad the bushings were on mine.. Top and Bottom were just worn out.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps13c9a37c.jpg

I think though, I am going to need that Gap Spray that everyone here talks about. Someone needs to provide me a link to a site so that I can purchase.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps819b3233.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps435f6f91.jpg

Anyway, I actually have a day off tomorrow. All I have to do is take the kids to school, fix a water heater, meet a guy about windows for the house, pick up my daughter and get her to a game, and then get my son and take him to practice. Hmm..I wonder how long I will get to be in the garage.. HAHA

Rick, It looks like you are making some good headway. Car looks straight, and I am hoping that I do not run into anything out of wack on this metal.

Yeah Bill I try to work on it at least a few days a week. Just posted an update wait to you see what I did to my new fender :superhack: it's got lots of dents here and there but other then the left qtr it will be all original sheet metal, oh and the front of the left fender!!

Keep at it, every little thing you can do is one more thing done. I won't touch my car tomorrow but my dad is dropping off a bunch of stuff at the blaster for me. More checked off the list.

Keep at it Bill. Out of everything I've done to my car during the last 3 years, getting my gaps right was the biggest pain that I've experienced. By far!
And mine aren't SEMA perfect by any means. That door will line up, it just takes 3 hands, and a lot of patience. You've got this!

Ok, so a little more work today. Actually got some time in the garage today. Water heater not fixed, but the kids got to where they were supposed to go and the contractors showed up, and started the quote process.

So here is what I got. First, this happened. I'm gonna need a little help here guys to put this back togther. Actually did this yesterday getting it out of the window area. Yes, I screwed up big time.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb306f186.jpg

Somehow it came out in pieces.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps19c5a097.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1713aa2a.jpg

Pulled the rear window..

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa8c7186b.jpg

Popped all the spot welds in the door jam...

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...pse96c6ca5.jpg

So if someone and guide me on this area, I would appreciate it. Do I grind out the bondo in this area? Is this area leaded? If so, just how much heat can I use to get it out?

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps324d613d.jpg

In this area, these two welds are really dented in. Are all Chevelles this way?

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps91ae2a16.jpg

Thanks guys for the help.

See my answers in blue, keep going :superhack:

Thanks Rick.... You are really a great help on this. I guess now, I really will be putting in electric windows. HAHA

I'm just going to continue to find those spot welds and keep drilling them out, and will get there eventually. As for an earlier comment about haveing the area blasted, I don't see and rust inside the area where the window is. I'm replacing the outer and inner tub, so that takes care of the rust that I have.

I did find a little hole on the drivers side at the bottom of the window. The known areas that rust. I wish there was a way to put a drain in that area so that water does not just sit there.

Not really an update, but I think I may have found some rear calipers.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psabd68fa6.jpg

You won't see these at SEMA.. HAHA

Bill are those things as big as the pallet their sitting on makes them look?
I need some info here, please!

Scott, they are about 18-20" long. they go on a final drive brake for a large Komatsu machine. Not sure which one just yet. I am working with our Reman facility on a special project at this point, and those get rebuilt here. Kind of impressive for the process here.

Got two weeks left of a six week stint here. Really missing my family at this point.

:confused59: :confused59:

Those look HUGE!!! More specs please :confused18:

Wow six weeks that's a long time to be away from your family, how far away are you, do you get to go home on the weekends?

rick, they are 21" overall length. The pistons are " and 2.75" diameter and are six piston. They are for a Komatsu HD785 mining dump truck.

As for being away from the family, yes, it has really gotten to me this week. I do get to go home on Friday, and then return on Monday around 11. About 4.5 hrs away from home. Ready for a home cooked meal every weekend. I've had two Japanese men here with me for most of the time. One went back to Chattanooga to discuss my new roll within my company. The other is still here with me. He doesn't speak English as well as the other. Communication has been fun. He does love my truck, and Cracker Barrel. HAHA

love the progress
 

looks the same state as my 70 chevelle.

Thought about possibly changing from my 12-bolt rear end to something a little more beefy. Maybe a diff like a Ford 9" but little bigger. Say a 30"

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4b421fc5.jpg

Here is the ring and pinion. I've got to figure the ratio available though.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps510d0b39.jpg

:popcorn2: :D

Yeah Bill but your going to need a bigger motor to move that thing :waveflag:

Are you home yet??

Last Day today...... Yipeeeeee

I'm going home.....

Ok guys, finally back at it and kind of stuck with this quarter panel removal thing. My first thought was to cut every spotweld out and then install the new one. However, it looks like there may be some that will not be able to get to until the old is off.
so, today's question is, do I just cut this thing off close to the seams and then go back to the spotwelds? Or do I continue my first thought process?

Also, in this picture, this is where most body rot resides. I'm lucky on mine that there is very little, but in looking at the future, how can I keep the rot away? Has anyone ever put a drain in this area? Did it work?

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps43852b0e.jpg

Thanks in advance.

Bill, funny that you mentioned putting a drain there. My painter and I, talked about doing this for a while, but instead we settled on using POR 15 in these areas, for future rust control. As you know, the water gets in, and can't get out. I had a descent idea of using a stainless 5/16" tube with a flare on it, similar to brake line, and shooting it down and through the trunk pan, but I chickened out, and bought some POR 15.
These areas on my car were gone. The previous owner used steel wool, or it could have been an S.O.S pad, and covered it over with good ole Bondo. :headscratch:
Let us know what you end up doing.

I would think adding a drain is introducing the chance of more rot,if the Window is sealed correctly and/or flush mounted you shouldn't have a issue. Another tip from a detailer friend of mine was after your done washing the car take some compressed air and blow out any water that does try to sit in that area. He uses a leaf blower believe it or not, less pressure on a larger surface then a line right from a air compressor

Ok. So I will look into the drain or not later. So can anyone comment on the first question on my post today?

Bill, I just cut the outer skin off first then I go after the spot welds. Yes you will get into some crazy positions to weld back on the panels.

thanks Rick.... I will start today by cutting out the panel. I did hone my skills on spot cutting. HAHA

There is a lot of rust in the outer wheel house. It started just falling out as I was cutting the welds.

Well, I finally got a little time in the garage today. Amazing what an hour or two and a cut-off wheel and body saw will do.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psa99505e5.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps4f24c468.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps62469f45.jpg

So, in this picture, there is this foam. Do I leave it there? Waste of time?
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps1ebf827f.jpg

So, when I pulled off this rear area of the quarter panel around the wheel well, there was sealant between the quarter and the outer wheel well. What kind of sealant do I need to put back in that area?
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps17c56e31.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps8a114012.jpg

And finally, a few pieces on the floor.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psfef02e37.jpg

Looking good Bill! I am a bit late on the helping end, and you have some great help already. On my latest Chevelle I used an air hammer with a cutting bit to get the bulk of the quarters off, then I used a grinder and "weakened" the spot welds in some of the softer areas then used a chisel bit on the air hammer and broke off the remaining panels. Your doing great, keep up the good work!

Chris, Thanks for the props. The only hold up at this time is the time...... getting in the garage to work on this ting seems to be a never ending battle. I am hoping to get in there late tonight after my son's soccer game.

I thought I would be dealing with lead in the roof to quarter seam, but it was all bondo. I will start drilling out the spots in that area after I get the rest of the quarter off.

The areas that bother me the most are around the rear window and the trunk area. That will be tedious for me so that I don't screw it up.

I hear you on the "time" thing. I seem to be out of it daily. With a baby and a toddler the time is best spent with them. (Which they are the most important) We don't even really have time to take our 70 to any shows.... So I thought I would do the 69 I found to make a "driver" out of... we will see. LOL.
The biggest thing is getting things lined up, your eye will tell you a lot of where it should be. Keep the doors on, put the deck lid on, put the back glass in (not glued, but use some shims like paint sticks to hold it centered in the hole). Put the window rear mouldings on, just set it all in, you will start to see how it is coming together. You will "fit" the panels several times, don't weld anything permanent until your happy with the fitment of all of the panels inside and out. I.E. wheel wells to quarters and to floor.
I am using self tapping sheet metal screws to hold panels in place, it holds the panel tight and leaves a reference point when I take it apart to final prep the metal to do the final attachment. Once welded, I can pull the screws and plug the holes with the mig.
It is metal, it will move and can be moved. None of these cars were built perfect on the line. That is why there is big adjustment holes on the panels. It is intimidating, and can be over thought very easily. Especially seeing the cars that are on this site. Keep chipping away at it, you will do fine.

Thanks Chris. Never made it to the garage last night...well, I did, but just to hide a Christmas present that was on the porch. HAHA

I've got a lot of clamps, probably not enough, and clekos and such for the lining everything up. Put the passenger door back on with new hinges already. As soon as I get it cut off, I will start this process. I have a couple of days of vacation to burn in the next couple of weeks and two weeks off at Christmas. I'm hoping to get a lot of time in there.

Well, I got some time out there tonight and made some headway. Really got a lot done.

Got the front section taken off.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps60084bde.jpg

Not sure what this stuff was, but it sealed the lower front portion of the quarter to the rocker panel.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb040fd6a.jpg

It was really sticky. Although, a little heat took care of it.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps34523c33.jpg

Well, I didn't see this little part, but I was able get it removed without damage.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps7e1671d2.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9a56df5a.jpg

The "sticky" stuff is seam sealer. The factory used a couple different types depending on where in car it was. I had the same stuff on my 69, make sure to use a weld thru primer on the bare areas that are being attached and use seam sealer again on those areas as well. Glad you made it to the garage. I haven't been in mine for a while. Keep it going!

And was it ever sticky. It's out though and we are ready to finish it up tomorrow. Got a day off.
So at this point, you can see some surface rust on some of the areas inside the rear window and inside the quarter. So what do I do about that? POR-15 ?

I will get some weldable primer when I finish a little repair on the rocker.

Ok, so I finally have the quarter officially off. There is nothing left, beside a pile of metal and dust in the floor.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psb868d1d5.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd63e1e2b.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psd50351e0.jpg

Had a little help on Sunday after the quarter was off. Had to get to the wheelwells. Of course, there was seam sealer on the inside. Taught my son Cam how to use a needle scaler.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps23f47c06.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps91ccca08.jpg

The concentration was amazing.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...pseabc9921.jpg

Still need an answer on what to do about the inside of the quarter. What do I need to put on the rusted portion.

Yes, I did get ear protection for him.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps20a547ca.jpg

Ok, so here is the update for what I have so far.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psf284c2f0.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps9c700cd0.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps546e59c1.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps5d9202ee.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps69f689c8.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ps10f34d05.jpg

Bill, it looks like your doing a great job. How far did you stretch the inner? How much room do you have, from the lip of the outer, to your inner wall at frame? You'll have your quarter back on before you know it.

Hey Scott, I have not taken any measurements just yet. I will get some of those tomorrow. I'm hoping for at least 315's or better. I lost count of how many times I took the wells out an in. I talked to RickD today, and he gave me a lot of insight on some things I need to do. I've got a lot of cleko's to put in and probably a couple of pounds of sheet metal screws to get everything set up before welding it all in.

I guess, I can say I am on the downhill side of this at this point. I'll have to say a little prayer that everything else fits up properly.

Its looking good!

"Yes, I did get ear protection for him."
That's the first thing I noticed. Rushing air is one of the worst offenders for hearing loss. Ask me how I know.

Best help you'll ever have. Nice work.

Scott, I'm measuring 14.5" from the frame to the inner lip of the wheel well. Not sure what that gives me. I'll have to ask the experts or look up some sizes to know for sure.

nice job on the build! remember this is the worst part once you get past this the rest will be a cake walk!:thumbsup: keep chipping away and it will be on the road in no time!

Awesome job, I want to do a mini tub on my 72 Chevelle I'm building as well. Keep up the good work....

Thanks Eric's and Wayne. It is tedious work. Not sure how guys can do this daily. Well, I guess if I did this daily, then I would be good at it. HAHA

Nice job!! Remember, you will have this car apart and back together soo many times fitting and checking your head will spin. But the more you do it the better it will be. Don't over think it. The guys who do it every day have the practice, facility, assistance, and TIME. They get the 8 hours a day, but then a lot of them don't have the time to do their own cars.....
Keep up the good work!!