You're nuts. It will be extremely difficult to get everything lined up after popping the car in half behind the firewall. It's bad enough to get things lined up as it is...

 

I think it depends on two things:

1. How good your jig is - meaning does it have enough support *and* reference points that you'll be able to build a perfect rear end?
2. How hard will it be to seperate the convertible superstructure pieces from the old body without ruining them? Also how hard will it be to get to all the spots you'll need to in order to weld it all back together.

I think you are probably nuts - but then so are most of us.

Good luck with whichever way you decide to do it.

John Harvey

 

Yes I think you are nuts too. I don't see the benefit splitting it in two, I only can imagine potential problems.

 

You may be nuts... you may be a genius. I say do whatever works for you.

There's definately an order of operations here that has to take place. Be sure to think through everything so you don't shoot yourself in the foot.

The way I see it - it's just a bunch of metal!

Todd

 

I was kind of thinking out loud and trying to consider various approaches to go at something this drastic.

I understand why best to do a little at a time.

At this point I have one side of the floor cut out and the new inner and outer rocker tacked in place with the doors mounted. I'm planning to put in a complete one piece floor but with the shape everything else was, that's what made me feel I should get the rear end more in shape first? Maybe that was bad thinking??

I had planned to replace the same side rear frame rail when I found how bad the transition pan was so I was thinking I should put it in as well. Also the rear cross-memeber area is needing to be replaced. That is the point I'm at now that made me start thinking about alternatives and how best to re-build it all.

I realize building in air would be pretty hard.

I have a transition panel on the way I'll look it over when it comes in and plan my approach then.

I will try to figure out how to best support what little is left to that back end that will allow me to work on that area with the rest there. Seems to me I need to get the rear frame rail cross member in place to mount the rear frame rails to? I will look at leaving something in place there while I do one side first. When I got the car the quarter panels where not attached to anything in the wheel well area or the trunk, so that is all pretty loose.

Thanks for helping to keep me from cutting it in half!

 

Lots here on Lemondrop's site can help you. Good luck!

 

check out this guy also, he and lemon drop are my heros.

http://www.57rustbucket.com

 

Have you considered doing a coupe to convertible conversion? I'm in the middle on one right now, we are at the fitting the convertible well part right now. It's going quite well. Floors are in, window frame is in. Inner rockers and sub frame connectors made for one heck of a solid floor. The rustang was just too far gone and the doner looked like a more viable option.

 

with all due respect, you are totally nuts...take lots of pictures if you do it!