Build Thread My 1986 T-top Build - Lasting Memories

[90sickfox]

I say go for it man...might as well. Your car is coming together really well. People hardly ever look in the lost tool storage area on our cars. I had an Allen key ride there for 5yrs before I found it....right next to a razor blade from the previous owner. That upper firewall, however, does draw some attention. When the hood is up you see that before you see the inner fender panels. I say go for it man...you've got a few days till it warms up. [emoji106]

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I say go for it man...might as well. Your car is coming together really well. People hardly ever look in the lost tool storage area on our cars. I had an Allen key ride there for 5yrs before I found it....right next to a razor blade from the previous owner. That upper firewall, however, does draw some attention. When the hood is up you see that before you see the inner fender panels. I say go for it man...you've got a few days till it warms up. [emoji106]

I'm considering it, Just need to figure what I can fill and what I can't. I remember the hinges and the wiper motor, the vacuum tree and the holes for my brake lines....The rest is a blank.....

 

[90sickfox]

You have the windshield sprayer hose up there too. About an inch from center towards the drivers side. Nothing else that I can see looking at my car. The only other stuff, other than stuff you mentioned, can easily be moved somewhere else ie. HVAC vacuum diaphragm thingy...several clips holding the harness...bracket for MAP. You could even run the sprayer hose through a nice drilled hole on the side of the cowl behind the fender.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

You have the windshield sprayer hose up there too. About an inch from center towards the drivers side. Nothing else that I can see looking at my car. The only other stuff, other than stuff you mentioned, can easily be moved somewhere else ie. HVAC vacuum diaphragm thingy...several clips holding the harness...bracket for MAP. You could even run the sprayer hose through a nice drilled hole on the side of the cowl behind the fender.

Would you take a picture for me? I'm going carbureted on Doby, so some of the efi stuff is gone. It's been a couple years since tear down though. Kind of forgotten some stuff.

 

[mikestang63]

The holes are for the MAP sensor, Vacuum tree. You can actually remove that entire firewall seam and smooth it out Not sure what dimples you are pointing to.

 

[90sickfox]

Would you take a picture for me? I'm going carbureted on Doby, so some of the efi stuff is gone. It's been a couple years since tear down though. Kind of forgotten some stuff.

That's Indiana dust and not rust on my firewall. He's in for a good cleaning when the motor comes out.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

That's Indiana dust and not rust on my firewall. He's in for a good cleaning when the motor comes out.

Beautiful man, thank you, exactly what I needed.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

The holes are for the MAP sensor, Vacuum tree. You can actually remove that entire firewall seam and smooth it out Not sure what dimples you are pointing to.

The dimples look like a place to keep something from rotating, or possibly a marker for the place to drill holes at the factory?
The entire seam? Really? What do I do there at that point? Do I weld along the entire area where the seam was to maintain the connection of the panels? Would that require a wire tucking afterwards?
Hey @madmike1157 , chime in here. You started this, help me out. I'll have to grind, cut, weld, and fill tomorrow if I do this.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Do not completely grind the seam flush. You'll open a giant can of worms. Both Scott and I only ground the overlapping steel smooth down to the factory spot welds.

If you try and grind that seam smooth all kinds of bad things start happening.

 

[90sickfox]

I wouldn't worry about anything below the seam....except.... The huge hole on the passengers side where the harness runs through. Not sure what wires are needed over there for the gauges.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Do not completely grind the seam flush. You'll open a giant can of worms. Both Scott and I only ground the overlapping steel smooth down to the factory spot welds.

If you try and grind that seam smooth all kinds of bad things start happening.

Ok, cool. What about adding a shock tower brace like MM's that attaches to the firewall. Will this effect the use of that?

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I wouldn't worry about anything below the seam....except.... The huge hole on the passengers side where the harness runs through. Not sure what wires are needed over there for the gauges.

Below the seam will not be touched. I have to stop somewhere.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

Smoothing everything behind the towers and below the pinch weld is somewhat futile. I did it because I had the time and I'm anal, but it's very hard to notice. Definitely spend the time to at least clean up the area above the pinch weld. Those dimples must have been a pre-87 thing from certain plants or something. You don't see those on every car. They sure look like hell though. Keep the holes you need up there and smooth everything else out.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Smoothing everything behind the towers and below the pinch weld is somewhat futile. I did it because I had the time and I'm anal, but it's very hard to notice. Definitely spend the time to at least clean up the area above the pinch weld. Those dimples must have been a pre-87 thing from certain plants or something. You don't see those on every car. They sure look like hell though. Keep the holes you need up there and smooth everything else out.

Thanks man, I guess I have tomorrow planned now. I LOVE your car btw.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Here's one for you guys. I need the front emergency brake cable that connects to the handle. I found all sorts that work for '87 up, not '86 and before.
Worse comes to worse, I can just clean mine up and get a new boot/seal.

 

[mikestang63]

dave, scott rod and others make a panel you can just overlay over the cowl on top of the pinch weld.

 

[mikestang63]

Here's one for you guys. I need the front emergency brake cable that connects to the handle. I found all sorts that work for '87 up, not '86 and before.
Worse comes to worse, I can just clean mine up and get a new boot/seal.

Heading to the JY tomorrow. I'll grab one if I come across a 4 eye

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Heading to the JY tomorrow. I'll grab one if I come across a 4 eye

I have my old one still, just wanted new. Thanks though brother.
I'm replacing as much of the old stuff with new as I go through the build.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

dave, scott rod and others make a panel you can just overlay over the cowl on top of the pinch weld.

Yeah, I guess I could look it over again.
This is just a new thought for me and I've run out of time to do much more before paint.
I'll look at Scott's parts again though. They shipped my front panels to me three days after I ordered last time.

 

[mikestang63]

I have my old one still, just wanted new. Thanks though brother.
I'm replacing as much of the old stuff with new as I go through the build.

NP man. If you want new, try Scott Drake or National Parts Depot