'70 Vista Cruiser Project
August 15th, 2010, 03:39 PM
#361
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,696
So the damaged fender did not give up it's heel in vain! 
Thank you for posting all the pictures you have on this build. One of my goals this summer was to try and fix all the rusted window channels on my collection. I've been using plastic tarps on them to reduce the water damage in the winter, but that cooks the paint off the metal, and I'm getting tired of spending $150 a year on tarps that only last one season. But the summer is getting away from me again and work is taking too much of my time!
Back to your car, the pictures will help guys like me know how it should look if we do it right. Keep up the good work Erik and by all means keep posting pictures
Thank you for posting all the pictures you have on this build. One of my goals this summer was to try and fix all the rusted window channels on my collection. I've been using plastic tarps on them to reduce the water damage in the winter, but that cooks the paint off the metal, and I'm getting tired of spending $150 a year on tarps that only last one season. But the summer is getting away from me again and work is taking too much of my time!
Back to your car, the pictures will help guys like me know how it should look if we do it right. Keep up the good work Erik and by all means keep posting pictures
August 16th, 2010, 08:25 PM
#363
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
What's up Rob? Only bodywork left is 2 fenders......rest of car is primed. Finally went to Bellmore for 1st time this year Fri nite! Will probably go again this Fri! You should go!!!!
August 17th, 2010, 07:43 PM
#368
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
I then cut out the outer skin of the replacement panels for two reasons...1-they were rough and B-it allowed my bro to media blast the other side of the brace for a thorough job! He then applied POR-15 to the inside while we had access. These bottoms will never rust again!!!!
August 18th, 2010, 02:14 AM
#369
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,430
Are you going to weld those seams Erik?
Seems like overkill, I would just use liquid nails to stick it together, the woodgrain vinyl will cover it.
They don't call it panel adhesive for nothin'.
Seems like overkill, I would just use liquid nails to stick it together, the woodgrain vinyl will cover it.
They don't call it panel adhesive for nothin'.
August 19th, 2010, 05:41 PM
#370
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
....hey Allan, at least you're not a butcher!!!! Not that there's anything wrong with that...just that in my business, butcher is a derogatory term.....
August 19th, 2010, 05:47 PM
#371
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Started working on a "patch for the patch"! I spot welded the fender bottom on, and spent about an hour getting the line between the fender and door acceptable....gotta say, the '70-'72 model year fenders for an olds A-body are about the worst to line up!!! The patch looks good, and I even hammer shrunk it to the exact contours.....
August 19th, 2010, 08:44 PM
#372
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,430
Started working on a "patch for the patch"! I spot welded the fender bottom on, and spent about an hour getting the line between the fender and door acceptable....gotta say, the '70-'72 model year fenders for an olds A-body are about the worst to line up!!! The patch looks good, and I even hammer shrunk it to the exact contours.....
Those fenders are a challenge, it took me 3 years to line mine up.
The day before I took it to be painted I was still messing with the gaps on those along with the hood.
There is a big factory gap between the fender and door and that point on top of the door still gets within a hair when you open it. I guess as long as there's room for paint a miss is worth a mile but it looks scary close.
The tailgate gets tight on the left when you open it sideways too, it started to rub after I put the new seal on
, better just to open it the up and down way until the seal breaks in.I'm going nuts, both my cars are finished, I need something to do...I'm envious of all the fun you're having Erik.
August 21st, 2010, 07:15 AM
#374
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
i COULD PUT YOU TO WORK ALLAN.....like Craig said, I wish I would have left my '72 in the garage last night! First time out in 2 yrs, and I forgot to turn the hood locks!
The rest is history....car is now safely back in garage minus hood and hinges.....anybody have a hood for sale?
The rest is history....car is now safely back in garage minus hood and hinges.....anybody have a hood for sale?
August 21st, 2010, 10:54 AM
#375
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 548
O man, that sucks! Was there any other damage. I was wondering what happened to you. We left Bellmore around 8 then went to Massapequa (thats was better). We must have just missed you. Maybe next week.
August 21st, 2010, 03:16 PM
#376
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,430
i COULD PUT YOU TO WORK ALLAN.....like Craig said, I wish I would have left my '72 in the garage last night! First time out in 2 yrs, and I forgot to turn the hood locks! The rest is history....car is now safely back in garage minus hood and hinges.....anybody have a hood for sale?
The rest is history....car is now safely back in garage minus hood and hinges.....anybody have a hood for sale? I had that happen when I was driving my '56 Furd Victoria many moons ago.
Was it an original OAI type hood?
August 21st, 2010, 03:24 PM
#377
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
No Allan, it was an all glass deal....Luck for me it was aftermarket, if it was steel braced, it probably would have stayed attached to the hinges....this thing took off like a kite...hinges look like pretzels! Put claim in to Hagerty today....not sure if I replace it or just get an original non w-25 hood...
September 4th, 2010, 08:20 PM
#379
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
I Think I'm Done Welding & Grinding!
Well, today I finished welding the other fender up! Made a patch for the patch, welded it up, and ground it down...of course, I hammer shrunk them to the proper contour!
September 6th, 2010, 04:25 PM
#382
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Picked and filed the left fender today....just need a couple hours to do the plastic work, and then do the right fender! By the time I finish this fender, my bro will be done stripping the right fender.....
September 15th, 2010, 01:40 PM
#384
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ukiah, California
Posts: 95
Erik, It looks like I showed up late for this party, but it looks like you have it well under control. Its lookin very good!! I love this site, seems I'm always learning from everyone here, Keep up the great work, Dan
September 15th, 2010, 02:03 PM
#385
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,430
Makes me nostalgical, those Vista bodywork times were the good old days.
I worked on the tops of my fenders alnmost up until the day I took it to be painted. Kept finding dings when I was blocking out the primer.
I see others, not as well prepped, with those dings on the tops of the fenders. I've deduced by location, size and shape that they're caused by pointy elbows leaning on the fenders.
Don't ask me how I deduced, intake manifold weight + elbows x leaning surface metal tensile strength x surface area factor squared is the formula.
September 15th, 2010, 06:07 PM
#386
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
September 15th, 2010, 06:10 PM
#387
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
I approve.
Makes me nostalgical, those Vista bodywork times were the good old days.
I worked on the tops of my fenders alnmost up until the day I took it to be painted. Kept finding dings when I was blocking out the primer.
I see others, not as well prepped, with those dings on the tops of the fenders. I've deduced by location, size and shape that they're caused by pointy elbows leaning on the fenders.
Don't ask me how I deduced, intake manifold weight + elbows x leaning surface metal tensile strength x surface area factor squared is the formula.
Makes me nostalgical, those Vista bodywork times were the good old days.
I worked on the tops of my fenders alnmost up until the day I took it to be painted. Kept finding dings when I was blocking out the primer.
I see others, not as well prepped, with those dings on the tops of the fenders. I've deduced by location, size and shape that they're caused by pointy elbows leaning on the fenders.
Don't ask me how I deduced, intake manifold weight + elbows x leaning surface metal tensile strength x surface area factor squared is the formula.
September 18th, 2010, 05:22 PM
#388
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Finished the bodywork on the right fender...also was able to spray-poly both fenders today! Only thing left is to block them both, and prime them! After that, I can move to the firewall......
After that, I can move to the firewall......
September 22nd, 2010, 08:12 PM
#390
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Bodywork finally complete on car!
Yes it's true...all the bodywork is complete on this monster! Blocked down the spray poly tonight on the fenders, now tomorrow, I will prime them! Next stop, paint firewall and do front suspension....
September 23rd, 2010, 03:17 AM
#391
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,430
Oh no!
What are you going to do for fun Erik!
Too cool.
Congratulations on a job well done, just the way I would of did it.
Doing your own bodywork is one of the things that seperates the men from the boys.
A man's man does his own paint.
The most manly men do Spies-Hecker paint jobs.
Can I have your autograph Erik?:
The fender to door gap looks a little big on the left side.
What are you going to do for fun Erik!
Too cool.
Congratulations on a job well done, just the way I would of did it.
Doing your own bodywork is one of the things that seperates the men from the boys.
A man's man does his own paint.
The most manly men do Spies-Hecker paint jobs.
Can I have your autograph Erik?
: The fender to door gap looks a little big on the left side.
September 23rd, 2010, 04:38 AM
#392
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Well thanks Blue......I didn't notice that gap! Good thing I didn't put the woodgrain on yet! Should I do that now, or after it's painted!
Yeah, I couldn't sleep at all last night......not sure what I will do next! Maybe I'll forget this one, and start the next project! Seems I have a million of them at about 75% completion...some kind of mental block I have! I saw a '72 Vega Wagon, all original, clean with no plates on it at a gas station! Wonder if it's for sale? I will check into it...maybe take out the 4 banger, and put the 330 from my Vista in there......stay tuned!
...I didn't notice that gap! Good thing I didn't put the woodgrain on yet! Should I do that now, or after it's painted!Yeah, I couldn't sleep at all last night...
...not sure what I will do next! Maybe I'll forget this one, and start the next project! Seems I have a million of them at about 75% completion...some kind of mental block I have! I saw a '72 Vega Wagon, all original, clean with no plates on it at a gas station! Wonder if it's for sale? I will check into it...maybe take out the 4 banger, and put the 330 from my Vista in there......stay tuned!
September 23rd, 2010, 07:09 PM
#393
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
OK....primed fenders tonight! They look mint!
For anyone interested, I did infact check out that Vega today! It's a '71 wagon, old lady owned, excellent all orig condition, mint black vinyl auto w/console interior, w/39K original miles....the service station guy says the lady is a customer, and can't drive anymore! I asked how much and his reply..."$3000...she's not in a hurry to sell!".....I laughed and said, "have a good day!"
For anyone interested, I did infact check out that Vega today! It's a '71 wagon, old lady owned, excellent all orig condition, mint black vinyl auto w/console interior, w/39K original miles....the service station guy says the lady is a customer, and can't drive anymore! I asked how much and his reply..."$3000...she's not in a hurry to sell!".....I laughed and said, "have a good day!"
October 4th, 2010, 09:04 PM
#395
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
Work On Firewall!
Progress continues as we stripped 80% of the firewall and cowl...etched it, seam sealed it to match factory application(in other words,"sloppy"), sealed it, and painted it...wet on wet on wet....we also decided , since they were off, to paint the insides of the fenders satin black.
October 25th, 2010, 08:09 PM
#399
Registered Luser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 3,783
