[jrock]

Just a small project I did.
Most of you probably know about doing this but I recently came across this idea. It was really cool.
My original rear valance with backup lights was pretty good shape but I found another in even better shape but no backup light holes so I had to transfer the location of the holes over.

I used 3 layers of painters tape to make the "mold" and cut out the holes with every layer I put on to keep it thin and easier and more accurate to cut. Then I peeled it up carefully, put baby powder on the tape to take the adhesion away and laid it out on the other panel. Traced the hole locations and cut them out with a jigsaw then I used a file to get it right where I wanted it. Turned out really nice. This was Ford part to Ford part. Not a Ford and a repro as I'm sure they wouldn't line up with each other using the tape.

 

[jrock]

The last picture I didn't align the two panels together perfectly side to side.. I just put them together roughly and took a pic. They are spot on with each other. And I left a little bit of meat where the posts go in and gets tightened down.

 

[jrock]

I've just been mocking up the car lately. I'd slap the panels on, do some tweaking and be done in a couple weeks I said. Months later I'm just about done. Still have some small stuff to do, a little filing for some gaps. I went way deep in that rabbit hole!

Just have front and back pics for now. Forgot to take side pics when I pushed the car out the other day. Doh!
I'm using new bumpers and light housings etc. Didn't wanna bring the new stuff out and probably bang it up.

 

[jrock]

Scary stuff here for me.
My driver side bottom door gap was huge and needed to be addressed. So I'm taking an almost perfect door and welding 2 pieces of 1/8" rod to it. I'm just working on the first piece of rod for now.

Tacked the rod on a few inches apart with a Mig welder. Looking pretty cool.

The cardboard taped on there is to protect from splatter.

Then I just started to fill the gaps in. Little by little. Welding is a tricky sumbitch. One weld goes on looking good then the next one looks like crap but I keep moving on. And I do have good penetration. I looked at the backside to make sure.

I got all of the welds done, I filed them by hand to knock them down. I have an air grinder but with the high rpm"s I can't control it as well. As we know the door has a curvature to it.

I will go over it with 40 grit on my electric sander tomorrow to get then more flush then I will weld again where the gaps and inconsistencies are. Then grind those down. And then I will do the backside. And eventually add the second rod on and repeat. Oh the fun! I'll put up pics of the finished product once I'm done.

 

[jrock]

I got the first rod mostly done and smoothed out. There's a handful of tiny holes left but filler will take care of that no problem.

As an extra precaution I'm going to rehang the door to get a look at it, check the gap out etc before I put the 2nd rod on. I'll get around to that tomorrow I hope.

 

[jrock]

I got the rod on my door all finished up. Looks great but forgot to take pics. Thus was done about 2 weeks ago. So now I started stripping the paint off the one door and I started to take off the undercoating inside of the door. Really really hard to get off. I got about 2/3 done and it was all nice shiny metal under there so I just left it as is.
.Getting the paint out of the 'grain" pattern on the door, the best thing that worked for me was a nylon wheel with the abrasive in it. 80 grit. Turned out pretty nice.

 

[jrock]

Lots of things done but haven't kept up on here. But I did wanna document this patch panel.

The wheel well had some pitting. Gave it the wire wheel and Master Series treatment. It will be fine. No pics. I forget about that sometimes.

Here's the new. My first time. Not perfect but I like it. Still have minor work to do.. Will need just a little bit of filler.

 

[jrock]

Wow. I haven't posted in my build thread for a loooong time. I've been keeping at it but got lazy taking pics I guess but I do have a few.

I got my panels blasted. Doors, fenders etc. Found a really cool body shop who would let me bring in a couple panels at a time to epoxy awhile back. I supplied my own materials. Makes it much easier to pay for. They were ready to go. Just wipe down and prime. They are done. My blaster was the same. Just brought in a couple and when ready brought more. No pics right now of those. Shell of car is in garage. The rest is in my basement. I'm full. Lol

 

[jrock]

Over the winter and beyond that I've been working on things I could do inside. Got my quarter and vent window frames together. New glass etc. Horn ring done and repainted. Splash shields. Stole the idea for the bolts instead of staples for the rubber. You know who you are. Lol.
Cleaned my wiper motor and new grease. Don't have pics of it all but I have some. Will try to keep current from now on.

Cleaned up my seat frames also. Got them covered in new vinyl. No pics but will try to get some up.

This has been probably over the last 2 years. Do as I can. It seems close but oh so far away yet.