Build Thread '83 T-top Coupe - Cliff Notes Edition
- Thread starter Davedacarpainter
- Start date
I'm out in the garage, happily plugging away. Got the rear of the new frame rail welded in, things are golden. I swear the Swedish Bikini Team was coming up the drive way...........
I just wanted to do a perimeter weld around the rear bracket on both sides. Got the outside done, come around to the inside and my welds go nuts. Sputtering and popping, I literally had hot pants. Luckily no flames.
I ran out of argon......I though I was pretty low. Oh well, I'll get a new bottle monday and finish welding the rest of the rail. Mainly the new front upper cap and the line that's used to allow the slight arch in the rail.
So the rear area up through the strut tower is welded, probably good enough, but again I will finish the perimeter weld around the rear bracket. Also the upper crush tubes plate and sway bar mount. I'm close.
The top cover for the crush tubes fit nicely, I didn't get it welded on yet. Holes line up fine though. If someone buys this kit, the instructions talk of bending the rail down to match up to the top cover, it's pretty easy. I used vise grips mainly.
By this stage I knew I was screwed for anymore welding today, so I fitted up the radiator support one more time and check my measurements again.
Funny how good they are to the original.
You'll notice the ears that wrap around the radiator support are longer in the new frame rail than the original. I ended up cutting a half of an inch of them
I ground some of the welds, but I tired of that fairly quick.
I need to bring home my body hammers tomorrow to straighten the upper radiator support mounts and weld up some holes and tears there.
One last picture with the Scott Rod panels sitting in place. Luckily I know what to do to make these look nice after having done Doby's.
I just wanted to do a perimeter weld around the rear bracket on both sides. Got the outside done, come around to the inside and my welds go nuts. Sputtering and popping, I literally had hot pants. Luckily no flames.
I ran out of argon......I though I was pretty low. Oh well, I'll get a new bottle monday and finish welding the rest of the rail. Mainly the new front upper cap and the line that's used to allow the slight arch in the rail.
So the rear area up through the strut tower is welded, probably good enough, but again I will finish the perimeter weld around the rear bracket. Also the upper crush tubes plate and sway bar mount. I'm close.
The top cover for the crush tubes fit nicely, I didn't get it welded on yet. Holes line up fine though. If someone buys this kit, the instructions talk of bending the rail down to match up to the top cover, it's pretty easy. I used vise grips mainly.
By this stage I knew I was screwed for anymore welding today, so I fitted up the radiator support one more time and check my measurements again.
Funny how good they are to the original.You'll notice the ears that wrap around the radiator support are longer in the new frame rail than the original. I ended up cutting a half of an inch of them
I ground some of the welds, but I tired of that fairly quick.
I need to bring home my body hammers tomorrow to straighten the upper radiator support mounts and weld up some holes and tears there.
One last picture with the Scott Rod panels sitting in place. Luckily I know what to do to make these look nice after having done Doby's.
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I just didn't do much tonight. I hammer and dollied the upper radiator support mounting area. They're so swiss cheesy! I'm going to shape a piece of copper to clamp underneath them so I can repair all of the damage with the welder.
It'll be wednesday before I have my gas, so wednesday night I'll finish the frame rail. Tomorrow night I can keep busy with grinding the welds I've already done.
I slapped things back together for another measurement fitting, all is well. I put one of the Scott Rod panels in there to get an idea of what trimming I'll need to do. It's gonna be purdy .
It'll be wednesday before I have my gas, so wednesday night I'll finish the frame rail. Tomorrow night I can keep busy with grinding the welds I've already done.
I slapped things back together for another measurement fitting, all is well. I put one of the Scott Rod panels in there to get an idea of what trimming I'll need to do. It's gonna be purdy .
I just spent the last hour doing what might be considered a little task.
I straightened out the upper mounts the radiator support gets welded to.
Tomorrow I’ll have argon again and I’m going to fill in all of the holes that have been drilled into them and weld up the tears. If anyone cares I’m just going to clamp my chunk of copper to the backside and erase those holes with my welder. The copper is just a flattened piece of copper pipe.
I’m also getting some fiber wheels to make all of that area shiny bare metal before I weld of course.
My jobber is providing me with free consumables for the welder too, yay me!
I’ll finish off the rail too, obviously.
Then I’m going to go dark for a couple days to do something to the engine bay. I’ll be back with pictures of that so y’all can berate me then at your leisure, lol.
That's through page 220 on the regular thread.
I straightened out the upper mounts the radiator support gets welded to.
Tomorrow I’ll have argon again and I’m going to fill in all of the holes that have been drilled into them and weld up the tears. If anyone cares I’m just going to clamp my chunk of copper to the backside and erase those holes with my welder. The copper is just a flattened piece of copper pipe.
I’m also getting some fiber wheels to make all of that area shiny bare metal before I weld of course.
My jobber is providing me with free consumables for the welder too, yay me!
I’ll finish off the rail too, obviously.
Then I’m going to go dark for a couple days to do something to the engine bay. I’ll be back with pictures of that so y’all can berate me then at your leisure, lol.
That's through page 220 on the regular thread.
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I said I was going away AFTER I fixed the radiator support mounts and finish welding the frame rail!
Radiator support mounts repaired: check
Right side.
Left side.
I’m taking a cool off break right now, it’s 100 and we have a bunch of humidity.
I’ll work on the frame rail next.
Radiator support mounts repaired: check
Right side.
Left side.
I’m taking a cool off break right now, it’s 100 and we have a bunch of humidity.
I’ll work on the frame rail next.
Okie dokie, The frame rail is welded in. It took a little longer than I thought it might (surprise!
).
I started by clamping the radiator support back on and measuring it out so it was in the correct place. Then I welded up the slot in the middle. After welding that I slobbered some more POR15 on the inside to coat the weld. Then I slapped the front top cap on, clamped it down and welded the living hell out of it.
Then I welded the top cover over the crush tubes.
I dressed (code for grinding, this way I can tell my wife how much I hate dressing) about fifteen welds and grew weary of that and stopped. Only 50 or 60 to go, plus my perimeter welding.
BTW, if you're tired in the first place, welding pretty only happens about every third spot weld. Whatever, they're good welds and I would have had to dress them anyhow even if I had @Hoytster himself in my garage welding for me! Don't mean to keep picking on you, but DAMN, you weld nice!
So I won't start my double knot, super secret idea until at least friday, probably Saturday. I got to dress all of those welds and still weld in the sway bar mount as well.
So it might be a couple of days before you don't hear from me, you got that @Noobz347 ?
).I started by clamping the radiator support back on and measuring it out so it was in the correct place. Then I welded up the slot in the middle. After welding that I slobbered some more POR15 on the inside to coat the weld. Then I slapped the front top cap on, clamped it down and welded the living hell out of it.
Then I welded the top cover over the crush tubes.
I dressed (code for grinding, this way I can tell my wife how much I hate dressing
) about fifteen welds and grew weary of that and stopped. Only 50 or 60 to go, plus my perimeter welding.BTW, if you're tired in the first place, welding pretty only happens about every third spot weld. Whatever, they're good welds and I would have had to dress them anyhow even if I had @Hoytster himself in my garage welding for me! Don't mean to keep picking on you, but DAMN, you weld nice!
So I won't start my double knot, super secret idea until at least friday, probably Saturday. I got to dress all of those welds and still weld in the sway bar mount as well.
So it might be a couple of days before you don't hear from me, you got that @Noobz347 ?
Ok, trying to stick to the schedule here.
I got the sway bar bracket welded on
And dressed the welds, front and the ones in back that needed to be
Frame rail is done except for the smoothing now.
Now, no updates for a couple days unless things go smoother and quicker than I expect (but when does that happen?
).
I got the sway bar bracket welded on
And dressed the welds, front and the ones in back that needed to be
Frame rail is done except for the smoothing now.
Now, no updates for a couple days unless things go smoother and quicker than I expect (but when does that happen?
).
Ok, I'll tell you now what I'm going to do. Too late for anyone to convince me otherwise.
Before:
After:
What's different? Scott @90sickfox , you had it right.
It looks better here than in the engine bay.
I did it in bite size chunks and spot welded each small area as I went along.
Five pictures to a post. Next one.
Before:
After:
What's different? Scott @90sickfox , you had it right.
It looks better here than in the engine bay.
I did it in bite size chunks and spot welded each small area as I went along.
Five pictures to a post. Next one.
About the only other thing to show you is that I finally removed the steering column and pulled out the auto pedal assembly.
I went ahead and did that because I wanted to scrape the seam sealer from the backside of the pinch weld area before I welded it up.
I'm probably going to weld the entire seam.
When I'm through with this I was going to go ahead and weld the radiator support on. I may wait while the support isn't in the way and plug all of those damn holes!
I went ahead and did that because I wanted to scrape the seam sealer from the backside of the pinch weld area before I welded it up.
I'm probably going to weld the entire seam.
When I'm through with this I was going to go ahead and weld the radiator support on. I may wait while the support isn't in the way and plug all of those damn holes!
I went ahead and welded across the seam. More or less a crapload of spot welds. The upper cowl panel is a bit thinner gauge than the lower or firewall.
I then went over to the inside of the right strut tower and welded up some of the holes.
But, you know what? I got tired of playing with my Booger. That's it for today. Tomorrow I'll fill holes. Maybe Monday or tuesday I'll weld the radiator support in. The the Team Z lower. Then the Scott Rod panels..........and then the smoothing.
I then went over to the inside of the right strut tower and welded up some of the holes.
But, you know what? I got tired of playing with my Booger. That's it for today. Tomorrow I'll fill holes. Maybe Monday or tuesday I'll weld the radiator support in. The the Team Z lower. Then the Scott Rod panels..........and then the smoothing.
All I did today is weld up the holes I wanted welded up. I did not break my grinder out at all. Tomorrow night after work though I'll get them dressed and I'll get after welding in the radiator support. It may be tuesday before I get to that though.
So I made a template out of cardboard for my small brace.
Then I transferred it over to my scrap metal. It'll be three pieces, the main plate and two 3/4" strips to weld at 90* to the plate against the lower cowl panel.
Tomorrow I'll cut that out with my plasma cutter and bring it home to do the final fitting, then weld it in.
So I made a template out of cardboard for my small brace.
Then I transferred it over to my scrap metal. It'll be three pieces, the main plate and two 3/4" strips to weld at 90* to the plate against the lower cowl panel.
Tomorrow I'll cut that out with my plasma cutter and bring it home to do the final fitting, then weld it in.
I got the brace for the firewall cut out and cleaned up this morning.
I’ll weld it in tonight probably.
I’ll weld it in tonight probably.
I dressed all of the welds. This picture won’t look that much different than the last one I posted. I’m worn out from grinding though, it deserves a picture or two.
Tomorrow that radiator support gets welded on, woohoo!
Tomorrow that radiator support gets welded on, woohoo!
I’m out in the garage fitting up the radiator support. I brought home one of the measuring rods from work, it’s a lot easier measuring the squareness of it all this way instead of a tape measure.
I got to clean up a couple of the welding areas and then it’ll be on there for good! Yay!
I got to clean up a couple of the welding areas and then it’ll be on there for good! Yay!
So the next thing is to cut the lower part of the radiator support off and weld this in. I’m not sure if I’ll get it done today. I also have the firewall brace I made to weld in.
Here’s one with the Scott Rod panel, that’ll be after the lower radiator support.
Starting to look like an engine bay again, huh?
Here’s one with the Scott Rod panel, that’ll be after the lower radiator support.
Starting to look like an engine bay again, huh?
Alright, I couldn't stand it! I got the reciprocating saw out and cut off the lower part of the support.
It's not trimmed up to where it needs to be yet, but I had to see how it would look with the Team Z lower. I like it bunches.
I believe that I'll leave the lower off till I'm almost done smoothing the eb. It's easier to get in there and work without it in the way. I will get it all fit up though.
I trimmed the firewall brace and got it fitted. I know that's a lot of holes. I'm not going to weld everyone of them. I wasn't sure exactly where I would be welding it because of the contours in the firewall, so I just drilled the hell out of it at work. I still have bits there that will cut a hole in steel, lol. My ones at home are now good for wood and some plastics.
That's it for today fellas. Tomorrow night I'll start fitting the Scott Rod panels. Yay!
It's not trimmed up to where it needs to be yet, but I had to see how it would look with the Team Z lower. I like it bunches.
I believe that I'll leave the lower off till I'm almost done smoothing the eb. It's easier to get in there and work without it in the way. I will get it all fit up though.
I trimmed the firewall brace and got it fitted. I know that's a lot of holes. I'm not going to weld everyone of them. I wasn't sure exactly where I would be welding it because of the contours in the firewall, so I just drilled the hell out of it at work. I still have bits there that will cut a hole in steel, lol. My ones at home are now good for wood and some plastics.
That's it for today fellas. Tomorrow night I'll start fitting the Scott Rod panels. Yay!
Ok, I got up.
I started to fit the panel in. I just used a marker and started marking the places that were rubbing. Then I lightly ground these areas. Then kept repeating that step till it was were I wanted it.
For the right side I just need to clean the panel up a little, then put some POR15 in the various can’t get to later spots.
So it’ll be tomorrow before I weld them all of the way in.
I’m working on the driver’s side right now. Maybe I’ll get them spotted in tonight.
I started to fit the panel in. I just used a marker and started marking the places that were rubbing. Then I lightly ground these areas. Then kept repeating that step till it was were I wanted it.
For the right side I just need to clean the panel up a little, then put some POR15 in the various can’t get to later spots.
So it’ll be tomorrow before I weld them all of the way in.
I’m working on the driver’s side right now. Maybe I’ll get them spotted in tonight.
No welding tonight, I've decided to take the SR panels to work to etch primer them.
I did get both panels fit up. here's a shot through the t-top.
And from the front.
I got all the areas I will weld stripped. I sprayed weld through primer on the areas getting welded and I put POR15 on the top front of both rails. It's next to impossible to get full coverage on those areas after the SR panels are in.
Tomorrow night I will weld the SR panels in.
I did get both panels fit up. here's a shot through the t-top.
And from the front.
I got all the areas I will weld stripped. I sprayed weld through primer on the areas getting welded and I put POR15 on the top front of both rails. It's next to impossible to get full coverage on those areas after the SR panels are in.
Tomorrow night I will weld the SR panels in.
I sanded the SR panels with 180 and then got them etched and primered this morning. I’ll spray the weld through primer on the bare spots I’ll be welding.
