"A" Pillar

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    Author Topic: "A" Pillar  (Read 1779 times)

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    "A" Pillar
    « on: April 08, 2013 - 09:06:14 PM »
    Here is that pic of the "A" pillar.

    Thanks
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    Offline jimynick

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #1 on: April 08, 2013 - 10:49:06 PM »
    Well, it's a postage stamp sized pic, but I can't see (no pun intended) why you couldn't patch repair it. Trust me, with an E-body, before you're done, unless you've got a desert car, you'll find other spots to patch! Remove the w/s and trim, cut out the rot with a slitter blade on a 4" grinder and make a patch that you can weld in. If you can solder or find someone to do it for you, that's the way I'd go and failing that, use the aluminum powdered filler for waterproof-ness. Good luck.  :2cents:
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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #2 on: April 08, 2013 - 11:27:37 PM »
    I appologize for the crappy pic JimyNick but evertime I tried sending it normally it said the file size was too big so I had to compress it. Anyways, thanks for the advice. I agree, I don't have a donor car nor a money tree in the back yard unfortunately so patching is going to be par for the course for most of this project. The reason I was wondering if I should replace it was because, and I'll try to end another pic if I can send it normally, that there is a large size hole on the bottom corner of the windshield as well.
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    Offline 72cudamaan

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #3 on: April 09, 2013 - 09:26:08 AM »
    Looks like you had best remove the windshield and carefully examine the cowl and windshield
    area. You may be in for a whole lot more than you might be expecting.  :2cents:
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    If I cant fix it, it's broke
     
    Andy  (phukker whither)

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #4 on: April 09, 2013 - 10:29:27 AM »
    Yeah 72cudamaan, that's what I was thinking too. Looks like there may be some nasty rot under the whole thing. If it is all rotted, is a whole new cowel indicated or would I be able to cut out the entire section and maybe fabricate something in there?

    Thanks for you help.
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    Offline dutch

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #5 on: April 09, 2013 - 03:29:35 PM »
    I think I`ve seen patch panels for that location
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    *** Bart ***

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #6 on: April 09, 2013 - 03:31:44 PM »
    thanks Dutch, I will check around.
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    Offline jimynick

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #7 on: April 09, 2013 - 11:30:23 PM »
    Both Andy and Dutch are right. There are patches for that spot and AMD make them. Having said that, there likely IS more rot once you get into it. Like the man said, remove the w/s- and start poking with a small screwdriver- you cannot poke through a good panel, just a punky one. Check the firewall carefully up where the inr apron meets it near the brake booster and look under the dash where the vent assbly comes up to the inr cowl, because those are classic places where these cars rot. If it's any more consolation, my car needs a complete firewall/cowl, so you're not alone here. Good luck.
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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #8 on: April 10, 2013 - 09:13:17 AM »
    Hi JimyNick, I did have a bit of a peak under the upper cowel underneath and it looks pretty good. Mostly surface rust no real big holes that I can see. There are some rust holes, though, on the front part of the cowel as well as on the firewall side panel driver side. However, I am going to take the windshield out and see what else is going on under there. Just been waiting for the crappy Alberta weather to clear up so I can clean out my second stall in my garage and get it in there to start.  Yes I did see those patches on the AMD webs site but it looks like the have to be attahed under the roof skin. Any ideas how to get under there?
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    Offline jimynick

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #9 on: April 10, 2013 - 10:00:31 PM »
    The A pillar pieces just stack up like a sandwich, so the trick is to carefully use a panel cutter air chisel with a thin section cutting tip and slice them apart. A thick, sharpened putty knife with a full tang can also be driven between them. Sometimes you can drill out some of the spot welds to make the job easier, but it's time and patience that does the job. As you mentioned, take a good look at that cowl/firewall since a hole 1/16" big will soak your carpets and rot your floors. These cars are notorious for it and where you see one, there'll be 3 more you don't see right off the bat. Not trying to bum you out, but it'd be a royal PITA to fix SOME of them, paint it and THEN discover there's more. Ian
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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #10 on: April 11, 2013 - 01:34:23 AM »
    Quote from: jimynick on April 10, 2013 - 10:00:31 PM
    The A pillar pieces just stack up like a sandwich, so the trick is to carefully use a panel cutter air chisel with a thin section cutting tip and slice them apart. A thick, sharpened putty knife with a full tang can also be driven between them. Sometimes you can drill out some of the spot welds to make the job easier, but it's time and patience that does the job. As you mentioned, take a good look at that cowl/firewall since a hole 1/16" big will soak your carpets and rot your floors. These cars are notorious for it and where you see one, there'll be 3 more you don't see right off the bat. Not trying to bum you out, but it'd be a royal PITA to fix SOME of them, paint it and THEN discover there's more. Ian

    Yeah for sure. It would be a real pain to have it all done and have that happen. I will have a good look for sure. Thanks for the suggestion on the À`pillar. I was lookling and AMD does have À`pillars but its hard to tell if they are complete pillars or just the outside patch. Do you know if they come with all the layers or just the outside pieceÉ

    Thanks
    Clarence
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    Offline R/T hedkace

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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #11 on: April 11, 2013 - 10:02:53 AM »
    Clarence, first of all, welcome to c.c  :wave:

    I have been going through the same issue with both A pillars on my Chally.
    I, at first was just going to change the lower part, so I bounght those pieces, but then I decided to cut it all out and do the whole A pillar.
    I still have the patch pieces.
    I can get you some pics of what I'm doing when I get home from work if you'd like.

    By the way, that corner is a pain in the @ss with all the layers there  :swear:
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    Jeff     
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    Re: "A" Pillar
    « Reply #12 on: April 11, 2013 - 04:37:52 PM »
    Quote from: R/T hedkace on April 11, 2013 - 10:02:53 AM
    Clarence, first of all, welcome to c.c  :wave:

    I have been going through the same issue with both A pillars on my Chally.
    I, at first was just going to change the lower part, so I bounght those pieces, but then I decided to cut it all out and do the whole A pillar.
    I still have the patch pieces.
    I can get you some pics of what I'm doing when I get home from work if you'd like.

    By the way, that corner is a pain in the @ss with all the layers there  :swear:

    Thanks very much RT Hedkace. Ahh so you can relate to my dilemma. I would very much appreciate some pics if you have some handy. Its always better to see these things sometimes. I know Jimynick was saying they are all layered so that adds to the problems there for sure. Thanks again>

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