Let the Body Work Begin!

[Steve]

Hey Mike!
Hadn't heard from you in a while!

Trust me, it doesn't look that nice up close! I learned to weld putting in those floor pans! I guess I could smooth out the pans and do color, but that's a lot of work! I'm hoping that the truck bed liner will keep things cool and quiet.

As for the trunk area, I finally just welded that stuff up! I took as many measures as I could and figured that the trunk opening is square. Now, get this, I went to the Garlits show and took some measures off of some very high-dollar and original cars. The quarter to tail panel alignment was all over the place. On any given car, one side might have a 1/4" overhang while the other might have a 1" overhang. So, the moral of the story, for me, was not to get too picky about tolerances since the cars were pretty sloppy from the factory.

[crcarch]

Steve,

Some thoughts before you finish up the under side:

I'd recommend installing torque boxes http://www.autorust.com/k_2627.html on that bad-boy before you applying the undercoating. They address some pretty weak areas, especially around the front of the rear leaf-springs.  I literaly ripped the front P/S leaf spring mounting bracket out of the car by showing off with the 340 in my younger days.  Now that the 440 is going in, they're a requirement.

You may also want to consider putting in subframe connnectors.  I installed the Mopar connectors and they really helped mine from twisting up like a pretzel every time I got on it.  I saw a thread recently that showed subframe connectors that were made from a c-channel with the edges cut to meet up perfectly with the floorpan. Continuously welded.  Looked like something the factory would have done!  I couldn't find the thread again or I'd have linked it. Worth checking out.

Clif

[Steve]

Hey CR,

Yah, I have the connectors from  US Car Tool. I just got them and I'm going to start the install today! I'll take lots of pics! For those who don't have connectors yet, check these out! The profile mirrors the underside of the floor pans, allowing you to weld them the entire length of the connectors! That should hold me together, especially since I have a small block.

Just another thought for those starting a resto and for our new friend pipefish {?} who just got his car blasted. Check the frame rails over very closely for cracks and holes. I had two seperate sections that had some rot. These problems were not evident prior to blasting, even when I had the car on the rotiserrie. I picked up some 12 gauge metal and fabrication patches. Fortunately, the rot wasn't in critical areas.

[Steve]

Here are more pics of progress!

I also have the quarter skins ready to go on! I trimmed the flanges off, stripped the crappy primer from the insides, primed the insides with DP40. They fit pretty well. Just working on getting the trunk primed. I have one more frame connector to put on and then I get to do the quarter skins!

[lemurfart]

looking great.  hey im just wondering, how many of the thousands of holes in the engine bay are actually used.

[willhaven]

I can't tell from the pics. What year is the car?

[Steve]

It's a '72.

I don't know for sure what holes are used! Note areas that are dimpled, which are for items the car doesn't have (like the heater control valve which mounts on the firewall?).

[RUSTY Cuda]

Lookin good, very nice work on the trunk pans,
I won't be opening my trunk at any shows, a tad too much heat, but I learned what not to do on the quarters! 
You get the valence mounts figgered out yet? Rich.

[Steve]

Hey Rusty,

No, haven't figured that out. I need more pics. Did some of the quarter skins come with that valance mounting flange stamped in?

[RUSTY Cuda]

Got mine at auto body specialties in conn. not sure of the brand.They were stamped in,also on the trunk extensions but getting them anywhere near matching up was a chore.
I also stripped the paint off em & used por 15, was very dissapointed to find many spots of rust under that prime coat.
If no one can come up with those pics, I think I can pull the valence off the 74 & shoot some pics for ya, a bit muddy out there now, shoot me a line when your close to finial fitting & if others haven't jumpped in I'll tear into her! Rich.

[Street_Challenged73]

Steve, your progress is looking great!!!!  That car is going to be very solid and look very nice when you're finished with it.

[Oldschool]

She's coming right along.     Looks like you have a handle on this one, and it won't be too long until---       Keep us posted!       .....Oldschool

[RusTy/SE]

Those are nice clean results Steve...thanks for the pictures and comments

Russ