360Fish Semi-Pro Touring

Author Topic: 360Fish Semi-Pro Touring  (Read 83173 times)

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #75 on: September 19, 2012 - 01:24:16 AM »
I was able to get some time and guts enough to start in on the grille repair... made sure the fridge was well stocked with suds for this one!  :)








I had to litterally cut the plastic spacer off the grille because the screw heads were too rusted out to pull...  that piece was in bad shape anyway so no loss.





The grille is craked all over the place... 




I plan to use thin metal splints to fix these broken supports






I drilled a hole at the end of the major cracks to stop them at that point (fingers crossed).  I plan to fill the screw holes from the spacer too...






Then cut a grove along the line of the crack to give the filler a place to hold on to.




 
The backside of the San Andreas fault line... 




Then there is this thing...  will need a shot of taquila for this one...


To be continued...
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0




Offline GranCuda1970

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #76 on: September 19, 2012 - 06:32:12 AM »
So far the repairs are looking great  :2thumbs:  nice drilling. I used an expoxy That I  picked up at Baxters auto parts 2 tubes connected mix em and you got maybe 5 min to work with the stuff, but boy was it strong and it looks like the factory resins. Milky whiteish.

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #77 on: October 01, 2012 - 02:09:43 AM »
So far the repairs are looking great  :2thumbs:  nice drilling. I used an expoxy That I  picked up at Baxters auto parts 2 tubes connected mix em and you got maybe 5 min to work with the stuff, but boy was it strong and it looks like the factory resins. Milky whiteish.

Thank you!  It's all a learning process...  :)
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #78 on: October 01, 2012 - 02:10:01 AM »

A little update on the grille repair and bumper pull-in...

I chose to use JB Weld and so far it seems like a good choice.  I'm getting used to the process in general and have learned a lot.
I used way too much material on the first application... luckily it sands down really well.

I used the material right away which meant it seaped into the crack really nicely but left a bit of a divot behind.  This is probably a good thing
in the end because the first application has made the grille nice and solid.  No problems with any of the cracks moving.  They are sealed nicely.

I've sanded down the excess material and took it down past the prior paint so the next application lays flatter. 

I'm past the fear stage of doing this now so sanding the grille is no big deal...  ;)

Pictures showing the first application, prep for the second and slopping that on...  it seems like this process works well...  I'm putting on a fair amount of material (again)
and will sand it flat when it dries.





Bad picture, but the JB Weld seaps thru which is nice...




Sanded down for 2nd go...





This part is mostly done... filled the screw holes.




This stuff works...


Second application... thick now to be sanded down later






While that dries...  This is where the front bracket needs to be drilled to pull the 73 bumper in to 72 length.



The deed is done...  I fitted this and it was close... I had to drill it out a bit more that shown to get it right...



I had a problem with this bit of thin metal being in the way on both sides...




Was eaisly removed with my stone-age tools



getting close!



Will let the JB Weld dry tonight and sand it back tomorrow... 

More soon!


Alan
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline Travis72

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #79 on: October 02, 2012 - 01:27:45 AM »
Mine had the same basic cracks.  In some of the highly stressed areas I bonded in some thin strips of aluminum to the back side of the grill to give it some strength.  Otherwise I was worried the cracks would just come again.  You can't see it once it's installed.  Anyway, unless its an OE resto, its something you might want to consider.

Keep up the good work!!!

Travis
72 Cuda

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #80 on: October 02, 2012 - 01:27:18 PM »
Mine had the same basic cracks.  In some of the highly stressed areas I bonded in some thin strips of aluminum to the back side of the grill to give it some strength.  Otherwise I was worried the cracks would just come again.  You can't see it once it's installed.  Anyway, unless its an OE resto, its something you might want to consider.

Keep up the good work!!!

Travis
72 Cuda
I bought some thin sheet metal to do the same thing to the top "supports".
Like you said... you can't see those anyway... and this is all being painted black when done... :)

I just want it to hold up for a long time.

Thanks for the note!

Alan
« Last Edit: October 02, 2012 - 01:29:57 PM by 360FISH »
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #81 on: October 07, 2012 - 11:43:29 PM »
More from grille repairland...

I worked on getting the vertical supports fixed by JB Welding metal strips to each one.  The first one was completely missing so the metal becomes the support.
Filed the metal rough, a layer of JBWeld and clips to keep them tight.  So far so good.  When dry I added a layer of weld to the outside of the metal strip thinking paint might stick better to the weld than the metal... I'm just guessing there...

I'm going to sand these smoother before painting, but no-one is going to see these except the bugs that run into my grille, so I'm not going to get picky on this part.

The horizontal bits are a bit more of a pain.  I put some really tacky Weld in the V of the divot and placed this metal bit in there...  I'll fill it out with more weld when it's dry tomorrow...

I'm not going to go too much more crazy on this grille because the bad stuff is fixed and it's going to be flat black so a lot of it will not be visible...

I hope to get primer on it by mid-week.

Metal bits numbered for placement


The left support is gone



This one is a challenge


The major cracks along the underside of the headlight are gone (and strong)


Front crack is gone


Clamping down on things




After drying


An outer coat of weld (to be sanded)
 

Filling the gap
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline GranCuda1970

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #82 on: October 07, 2012 - 11:46:16 PM »
looking good , will never know after she is painted.

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #83 on: October 07, 2012 - 11:53:20 PM »
looking good , will never know after she is painted.

Thank you...  I'm sure it's the same story for most of us...  you get started on something like this and get fixated on it well beyond reason.   :bigshades:
There is a point where you gotta say it's good so you can move on...

1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline brads70

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #84 on: October 08, 2012 - 10:04:34 AM »
Wow! Great job on the grill!  :faint:  Good for you! I would have given up and bought another one! Great vision! :clapping: :2thumbs:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline mopar12372

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #85 on: October 08, 2012 - 08:40:32 PM »
great thread.   ill have to try this like the ideas!!
MOPARTECH.NET ( come over and visit some time )
RESTO PICTURES
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=71096.30

Offline moparclown

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #86 on: October 10, 2012 - 08:41:21 PM »
Nice job
I have a couple of Cuda grilles I am rebuilding right now,I use a product by Devcon called plastic-weld that I have found to be very good for grille repairs.

Offline vinb

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #87 on: October 10, 2012 - 08:53:17 PM »
I used Manley epoxy #907 , works good too...

Offline 360FISH

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #88 on: October 11, 2012 - 12:32:59 AM »
Wow! Great job on the grill!  :faint:  Good for you! I would have given up and bought another one! Great vision! :clapping: :2thumbs:

Ha thank you!   I have to save what I can to get the car painted...  EFI... suspension... wheels...   :drunk:
I learned everything from the net and (honestly) the show Wheeler Dealers... 

great thread.   ill have to try this like the ideas!!

Bill!!!   there you are...  get your car done!  :)

Nice job
I have a couple of Cuda grilles I am rebuilding right now,I use a product by Devcon called plastic-weld that I have found to be very good for grille repairs.

Wow.. you are in much deeper than me... looks great.  This becomes an art if you get enough practice!

I used Manley epoxy #907 , works good too...

 :2thumbs:


The spray booth...



1st coat of primer





After the second coat... hard to see but the main fissure is extinct...





Hope to hit it with the Black on Friday and wrap this up by Sunday
1973 ‘Cuda   Semi-Pro Touring
360 SB - 518/OD auto tranny - FAST EZ EFI - Edelbrock Fuel sump - HHR fan
Hella H4 headlights on relays - 97 Dodge Avenger seats - Chin spoiler - Bumpers pulled in to ’72 offset

Build: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=74674.0

Offline GranCuda1970

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Re: 360Fish
« Reply #89 on: October 11, 2012 - 02:32:21 AM »
 :clapping:  turning out great!!