70 Chevelle - My First Car

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by HEEP

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.

[HEEP]

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.

[HEEP]

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.







So, in this picture, there is this foam. Do I leave it there? Waste of time?


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?




And finally, a few pieces on the floor.

[Wissing72]

Originally Posted by HEEP

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.







So, in this picture, there is this foam. Do I leave it there? Waste of time?


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?




And finally, a few pieces on the floor.

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!

[HEEP]

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.

[Wissing72]

Originally Posted by HEEP

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.

[HEEP]

Originally Posted by gmtech921

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.

[HEEP]

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

Got the front section taken off.


Not sure what this stuff was, but it sealed the lower front portion of the quarter to the rocker panel.


It was really sticky. Although, a little heat took care of it.


Well, I didn't see this little part, but I was able get it removed without damage.

[Wissing72]

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!

[HEEP]

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.