Hey John, have you tried to put a straight edge in the peak between the fender and door? On mine the the peak goes in and I have about 1/4” gap. Do you have this problem too? Wondering how to deal with this?

Looking good John...

I'm no body expert, but it seems as though if the fender peak is too far in, and it needs pushed out, you might need to remove shims at the top of the fender and possibly the bottom to make the fender "push out" in the middle. You'll still keep your door gap width. Just shim accordingly to keep the height correct.
Another thing to try is remove the fender and place it with the inside facing up on the ground and put blocks of wood along the top and bottom to support it, and then step on the fender to try to bend it outward a little. I had to do this with one of mine, but the other way, as the peak was too far out.

One thing with these cars, is you will be using body filler to perfect it. There's no getting around it, unless you're a metal working expert.

Also make sure the fenders are attached to the core support, because just a little bit of movement up front will make a difference at the door. I loosely bolt the entire front end, to the car, and don't tighten the inner wheel wells, because you want to be able to have movement of the fenders.

Thank you!!

Thanks John, I’ll try to push it out. Just don’t want 1/4” of body filler. That’s sure to chip off. Thanks!

That's why I used the Eastwood body solder to build up my passenger fender, because I knew to much filler isn't good. Tends to shrink over time as well. At lease the solder is actual metal, and won't shrink.
Is your fender an aftermarket one?

Yes aftermarket doors and fenders. The peak bows in where it meets door to fender. If I add filler or metal it will then rub on the inside of the fender when I open the door. The body shop that was undercoating and painting firewall suggested to cut the edge of the peak and pull it out. Then weld it. That’s the only way they said it won’t rub.

I have had to cut the inner edge brace of the fender to get the shape correct. Then reweld the cut once you have the shape you need.

Don

I agree with Don, that way you still get the stiffness you need to hold the fender shape and you get the room you need.

When I was having issues with an AMD driver fender, I had a guy tell me the same thing. He said cut the brace in the back by the "V" in the fender, and it will cause it to basically "relax" into place.
I ended up finding an OEM fender, so I didn't have to deal with that issue.

Fixing the droopy eye
 

This is an issue that has plagued me from the start. Trying to fix the droopy eye, which seems to be a common issue on 69's on the driver side especially. Don't know why. When I had an AMD fender it was even more pronounced. Not quite as bad with an OEM fender.
The fix was so simple, I don't know why I didn't do it before. Just a little cut with a cutoff wheel, move it down, and re-weld. 10 minute fix.

Here's how it was before. It was way worse at one time, but some tweaking and pulling got it close. I'll post a pic of the original issue before the OEM fender first, so you can see how bad it was.

Here's the only pic I had. Even though the grille isn't bolted in, you can see the extreme angle it has.

https://i.imgur.com/VoglclS.jpg

Here's how it looked before the easy fix. I was almost willing to "live with it" till I tried one last thing.

https://i.imgur.com/eAnOCd5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Kfihyxc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/849vZop.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WNDTuLW.jpg

Here's where I made the cut, and welded back together.

https://i.imgur.com/srftZXp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9UyuaJ6.jpg

The final outcome, and a comparison shot. I even did the passenger side, just to flatten it out a little more.

https://i.imgur.com/l5bPfJE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1AtvKw2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WnGjuRR.jpg

Nice job, that looks a lot better, and will make your life easier.

Thanks Wayne. Today, I'm going to try to do the RS headlight stuff. Get things cleaned up and test fitted.
I didn't want to go to work today, so I had a case of anal glaucoma :lol:

RS Hideaway headlight stuff
 

Started messing with the headlight items. Luckily I was able to source complete OEM headlight assemblies from a friend. The OEM stuff is much better than aftermarket. I tried just using an aftermarket bellcrank, and was having issues, so I can imagine what other fitment issues I would have with all aftermarket parts.

You can tell it's an aftermarket grille. Even with the outside lined up perfect the inside area is crooked. Guess I'll have to trim the grille a little.

https://i.imgur.com/QM9etph.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Dgc1u95.jpg

That's pretty close. Going to need some fine tuning.

https://i.imgur.com/471BgTj.jpg

Cleaning and painting the RS headlight assemblies
 

Today I disassembled the assemblies, sandblasted and painted the parts. I have new bushing kits for them, although the original bushings are in great shape.

https://i.imgur.com/6VEv6nY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LU0LkBs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/T2e5iIV.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/j8Nym97.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bUSfi6R.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PHHAqfA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2YOIQvA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/57MJOb5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dyi4eab.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fO0syQT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1qyFLlx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5HFWETW.jpg

Check all the holes some of mine were a little out of round and gave me trouble,if they give you more problems.
They look nice all painted up.

That green looks so nice! I just want to bit into that candy apple. Is it a tri stage?

The holes are in good shape, luckily. Even the long shoulder bolt doesn't have any wear on it.

It's just 2 stage. House of Kolor Lime Mist. I'm not that talented to do a 3 stage, unless you want to count the sealer before color as a stage :lol::lol:

RS Hideaway Headlights final fitting
 

Hopefully these are finished and can be boxed and put away till final assembly of the car.

https://i.imgur.com/DWBWbF6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xN5wtNE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/06a4OYv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0ZqBK8a.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oHD3duO.jpg

Hood to fender gaps
 

Not at all happy with the hood to fender gaps. I guess that's not surprising, considering I haven't been very pleased with much of this build, as far as body gaps go. 🤣
The gaps at the very front and rear are good, but it's like the hood/fenders are bowed in the middle. When I lay a straight edge along the length, I can see some daylight, so it is bowed a little.
I went ahead and added a 1/8" thick piece of metal along the length of the hood, to help close it off.
Hopefully, I can finish it off tomorrow. 14 and 15 hour days at work are taking it's toll on me.🥱

https://i.imgur.com/9GJYCJy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KLp3XWf.jpg

Looser than a hooker on 50 cent night :D

https://i.imgur.com/74DMlVu.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SQi8pCu.jpg

Ends are good. about 3/16" or a little less

https://i.imgur.com/mo8UaBV.jpg

Middle is about 1/4" No bueno

https://i.imgur.com/6bcAw6J.jpg

1/8" x 1/2" flat bar, welded along the edge and ground down. Bottom side

https://i.imgur.com/0os55e4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IEhWDYC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z74NSYZ.jpg

Top side

https://i.imgur.com/fcjo1RC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Kr83egz.jpg

Finish grinding

https://i.imgur.com/v5JUzlM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Rtl8Ki5.jpg

Wheels
 

WOW!!! Has it been 3 months since I last posted!!?
I've been working pretty much, 7 days a week lately.
Here's a little update. I finally got my wheels ordered, built and received. Mounted the tires on the rear ones. It's a super tight fit, but these pics are with the springs out of the coil overs, and the suspension fully collapsed, which it will never be that far up in the travel, because I will be installing jounce bumpers to keep the suspension pieces from hitting the frame.

Just a little test fit!!! Like a kid at Christmas

https://i.imgur.com/xz1SwEz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/f76Ws2E.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/R1CQTnE.jpg


Now with the tires. You can see how close to the outer lip, the tire is. It doesn't rub, and like I said, that's with the suspension fully collapsed, and the upper arm hitting the frame

https://i.imgur.com/F6tfKfa.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7c5gDiY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bOmzaka.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/klSRf18.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8uYDQn3.jpg

Looks great!

Thanks!!

You didn't want to roll the fender lips to gain more clearance? Rims look great, John. Will you be adding some color or keeping them shiny?

I'm going to install the jounce bumpers on the coil overs first, and see where the tire is after that. I may cut the lip, but I don't know if I'll roll it or not.
I don't think I'll add any color. Probably just leave them as is. Was hoping to paint the car at the end of this month when I'm on vacation, but I have way to much to do still, so it's going to wait another 6 months, till I'm on vacation again.. :mad: :(

those 335/30/18s? Yep, looks tight but centered in the wheel well nicely from what I can see in the pictures.

345/30-19's actually. Surprised they're centered since the Heidt's instructions leave an awfully lot to be desired on the installation.:headspin:

Holy Beejeezus!!! 2 yeas since I updated this!!!
I'll have to get my act together. I have moved from AZ to WA and left my old job and started a new one, since I last posted. I'll try to update here shortly.

Don’t worry we all understand. Life gets in the way sometimes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TEASER!!

I'm going to try and update soon, now that winter is here.


https://i.imgur.com/PsQ1ioJ.jpg

Us married guys don’t like teasers

Help her brother out show off some pictures


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have to get my pics off my phone and loaded to Imgur, which is a total PITA to navigate. I miss the old PhotoBucket for hosting pics.

I never visit forums on my phone, so I'm not 100% sure how it works there... but you can attach images directly to posts! No need to rely on another host which could shut down at any time.

Apologies for this huge attachment -- vBulletin made it twice as large as it actually is.

I agree about pic hosts shutting down. I was just trying to keep from using site resources for pics, unless it doesn't affect anything as far as bandwidth etc.

I'll do some updating now :lol:

Last I left off, I was working on the hood gaps adding metal to the sides to close them up. I was living in AZ at the time and working for the railroad. I had enough of the Railroad BS and switched jobs and states. Moved from AZ to the PNW, just outside of Spokane WA. Some people think I'm crazy for leaving the RR, but it's hard to have any kind of life working that job (conductor/engineer). Basically home for 12 hours and gone for two days. 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
So, I left to become a field service technician and do forklift/warehouse equipment repair. 4/10 schedule/40 hours a week. Less money, but at least I have a life back. This was in January 2022.

I had to thrash pretty hard to get the car ready to travel to WA in the middle of winter. I needed to get all of the bare metal covered in primer, put the car together, and pack up all my stuff in a months time, while still working the RR job!

Loading up.

https://i.imgur.com/bT06C3J.jpg

On the trailer. Now to load the inside of the car and get everything secured.


https://i.imgur.com/SIjWsHX.jpg

Stopping for fuel, in ID.


https://i.imgur.com/6oLJpji.jpg

Made it to the new home.


https://i.imgur.com/pK94aft.jpg

Once I finally settled into the new house and after winter was over, I got back to it. Just that 1000 mile haul on the trailer through winter weather caused all kinds of issues I had to repair. It let me know where I missed with paint, as rust was forming in nothing flat.
Anyway, I'm not sure of the order of things, but I basically did the firewall and door jambs about the same time.

Front end sheet metal off and time to start smoothing out the firewall.

https://i.imgur.com/uknlGxW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VauBiS6.jpg

It had a few waves in it that required some skimming.

https://i.imgur.com/wJd6yN2.jpg

All painted and cleared, along with the door jambs and trunk surround.

https://i.imgur.com/9HzGsYw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/IwqAW48.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ahcQcn7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tiQcXQc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/cwqytyt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2qzNTu4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kXH0F7e.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RY3Pro6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1hMyB2l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/m4itdwp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dEkaBFv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Rgu9VhA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bbrdh5Z.jpg

I ended up having to re-block the whole car after moving to WA. Found a few issues from the trip as well as a few other things that needed repair before I could lay down paint.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I ended up not using the steel AMD hood that I out tons of hours into, and went with a Glastek Sunoco style hood instead. I like the look of it better. Also the gas shocks on my hood hinges are for a fiberglass hood not a heavy steel hood, so rather than tying to figure out what shock I would need, it was just easier to kill two birds with one stone. :lol:

Old hood

https://i.imgur.com/LHn7jFc.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VHOAkFp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/U20PlVm.jpg


New hood

https://i.imgur.com/vdwtW7x.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Tnxieiu.jpg

If your using your phone Taptalk is a great app that makes it super simple.

Hell, even I figured it out without my daughters help.

mj

Just a few pics of door hinges and door jambs.

https://i.imgur.com/gzWyyPY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LpNxpwo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tn6q7Qo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PzeTPf4.jpg

Now that panel fit and body work is done, it's time for stripe layout.
First time around I tried black stripes, but I didn't care much for them, so I ended up doing a ghost/faux/carbon fiber type of stripe.

black stripe