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Build Thread My 1986 T-top Build - Lasting Memories

  • Thread starter Thread starter Davedacarpainter
  • Start date Start date Nov 28, 2015
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90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
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Mar 18, 2016
#821
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #821
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]
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
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Discordia
Mar 18, 2016
#822
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #822
90sickfox said:
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]
Click to expand...
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

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
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Mar 18, 2016
#823
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #823
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.
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
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Mar 18, 2016
#824
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #824
90sickfox said:
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.
Click to expand...
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

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Aug 27, 2012
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In the garage
Mar 18, 2016
#825
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #825
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

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
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Mar 18, 2016
#826
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #826
Davedacarpainter said:
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.
Click to expand...
That's Indiana dust and not rust on my firewall. He's in for a good cleaning when the motor comes out.
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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#827
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #827
90sickfox said:
That's Indiana dust and not rust on my firewall. He's in for a good cleaning when the motor comes out.
Click to expand...
Beautiful man, thank you, exactly what I needed.
 

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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#828
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #828
mikestang63 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Last edited: Mar 18, 2016

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
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Birmingham, al
Mar 18, 2016
#829
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #829
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.
 
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90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
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213
Mar 18, 2016
#830
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #830
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.
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
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Mar 18, 2016
#831
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #831
madmike1157 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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#832
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #832
90sickfox said:
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.
Click to expand...
Below the seam will not be touched. I have to stop somewhere.
 

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl
15 Year Member
Mar 4, 2003
4,014
1,698
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Allentown, PA
Mar 18, 2016
#833
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #833
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.
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
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Discordia
Mar 18, 2016
#834
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #834
RacEoHolic330 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Thanks man, I guess I have tomorrow planned now. I LOVE your car btw.
 
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Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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Nov 28, 2015
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Mar 18, 2016
#835
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #835
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

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Mar 18, 2016
#836
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #836
dave, scott rod and others make a panel you can just overlay over the cowl on top of the pinch weld.
 
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mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
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214
In the garage
Mar 18, 2016
#837
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #837
Davedacarpainter said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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#838
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #838
mikestang63 said:
Heading to the JY tomorrow. I'll grab one if I come across a 4 eye
Click to expand...
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

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
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#839
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #839
mikestang63 said:
dave, scott rod and others make a panel you can just overlay over the cowl on top of the pinch weld.
Click to expand...
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

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
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#840
  • Mar 18, 2016
  • #840
Davedacarpainter said:
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.
Click to expand...

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