Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design

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Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« on: December 19, 2008 - 03:10:18 PM »
Ned got taken by a shop in Southern Oregon.  Ned paid to have a lot of custom metal work done, but the end result was far from acceptable.

Quick Specs-
-1970 Plymouth Barracuda
-Alterkation front suspension
-Air Bar rear suspension
-Air Ride front & rear
-6.1 HEMI - Pro-Charged w/comp cam
-4l80e trans
-Dana 60 rear
-3 piece 19 & 20" wheels
-14" Wilwood Brakes
-Vintage Air A/C
-FAST engine management
-XV subframe connectors, rad support

Rendering by Carter Hickman - Carter Hickman Design

Work in progress rendering (not finalized).  http://www.carterhickmandesign.com



Before & After build gallery on our website - http://www.bruningautodesign.com

More pics in a few...




Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2008 - 03:17:50 PM »
Growing list of issues…

-Wheel tubs were butchered; quarter panels damaged (warped) during the process

-The spoiler and deck lid are beyond repair – new deck lid and spoiler in the works

-All the patch work (door handles, marker lights, etc) were warped to hell – poor fitment, bird poo mig welds, not metal finished.

-Hard stone grinding disc used on the quarter skins, firewall, tubs, so there are tons of thin areas with holes

-Inner fenders had over a ½” of bow to them. Seams are lap welded, pieces scabbed over the suspension mounts, poor fitment at the subrails (filled void areas with weld).

-Cowl patches butchered (previous patches cut out and replaced)

-Firewall warped to hell from various patches that were poorly done (cut out and replaced)

-Front core support wasn’t straightened out before the inner fenders were attached (straightened, ready for new inner fenders)

-The car was bent upwards from the sub rails forward (snow plow effect). The front end relaxed over 1/2” once the inner fenders were cut out.

-The tunnel was butchered. Ned worked on it quiet a bit, and we addressed the opening shape during the firewall fab process (smooth continuous radius).

-The rocker replacement on the driver’s side needs to be replaced – bowed, fitment is terrible, lap welded on the bottom.

-Weld seams at the qtr panel to sail panel flange had to be cut out and replaced. The panels weren’t lined up before he went to town with the welder. The seams were then ground down with a hard disc, which created thing areas next to the weld. Impossible to metal work the area because of the over abundance of weld even if the metal wasn’t so thin around it.

-Driver’s side quarter panel alignment at the deck lid was longer than the passenger side (corner structure wasn’t supported correctly during the skin install). The shape didn’t match either when looking at the car from the back.

Firewall - BEFORE - severely warped



glimpse of the inner fenders as well...


Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2008 - 03:27:56 PM »
Firewall - section removed - Severely warped!



More sections removed


"Modern Art" - layer after layer of mig tacks in areas where fitment was very poor


Firewall - AFTER - shape of tunnel opening was also fixed (radius wasn't continuous)

Offline 71bigblock

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2008 - 03:48:34 PM »
Wow, that really sucks.

Firewall looks great though now, very smoooooth.   :cooldancing:

Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2008 - 04:01:43 PM »
Inner Fender - BEFORE - more layers of weld.  Front end relaxed over a 1/2" once the inner sheet metal was removed (which is a good thing)


more booger welds - at the rad support


Top view of the inner fender (before).  Over a 1/2" bow in panel


Inner fender - Removed - severely warped.  Lap welded edge on the back side.


back side


New Inner Fender - in the works.  Temporary brace is there to support the fender mounting flange.




back side radius corner


another top view

Offline 72hemi

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2008 - 04:06:39 PM »
Wow totally night and day. You guys do some amazing work. I think I have seen 5 year olds weld better than that other shop, how can they be in business doing work like that.
1972 Dodge Challenger 340 6 Pack 4-speed
1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe

Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2008 - 04:14:18 PM »
Fusion tack for perfect fit (no filler rod needed).  Seamless finish after final welding and metal finished.



Backside of radius

Offline ragtopdodge

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2008 - 04:59:40 PM »
Horrific story. :22yikes:

What's the name of this Southern Oregon shop?


Nice repair work fo sho!
'70 318-auto Chally 'vert
'71 383-auto 'Cuda 'vert (sold)
06 300c SRT8
04 2500 QCLB 4x4 HO

Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2008 - 05:08:13 PM »
Another beauty... Sail panel seam below the rear window.  The seam was welded, and welded, and then welded some more.  The area around the weld seam was very thin and impossible to metal work flat.







after...




Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2008 - 05:13:50 PM »
New deck lid also fit and gaps fine tuned.  New spoiler in the works as well...



Upper cowl corner also replaced... Impossible to work with (unless you want a 1/2" of mud)



New Patch-

Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2008 - 05:16:08 PM »
I will post more Before & After progress pictures soon.  Patch panels worked over (quarters, doors, fenders,etc), panel fitment, spoiler progress, etc.

Almost 200 pictures on our website.
http://www.bruningautodesign.com

Offline NoMope Greg

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2008 - 05:23:23 PM »
More amazing work from you guys.  Those welds were terrible.  I've never welded a thing in my life and am reasonably certain I could have done a better job.  Guess I ought to get myself a welding machine and find out.
Greg
2003 Ford Escape XLS
Currently Mopar-less :(

Offline MoparCar

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2008 - 12:33:08 AM »
I've been watching this "rebuild" over on protouring or lateral g (can't remember which....). Like I've said before, amazing work by your shop. I really feel bad for Ned. He did get taken big time. Luckily he'll have one very nice Bruning built machine! Please keep us posted with progress especially for us Mopar pro-touring guys.

Wes

Offline Bruning Auto Design

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2008 - 12:45:06 AM »
I've been watching this "rebuild" over on protouring or lateral g (can't remember which....). Like I've said before, amazing work by your shop. I really feel bad for Ned. He did get taken big time. Luckily he'll have one very nice Bruning built machine! Please keep us posted with progress especially for us Mopar pro-touring guys.

Wes

Thanks Wes!  We'll keep working with Ned and help steer him in the right direction... :)

Thanks for the positive feedback!

Offline tyler

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Re: Ned's Barracuda - Metal Work, take 2 - Bruning Auto Design
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2008 - 03:47:59 AM »
looks great!  i hate fixing other peoples' crap work...its the worst!  what kind of "pullmax" is that in the background of one of the pictures?