'70 Vista Cruiser Project
May 4th, 2009, 04:06 PM
#162
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We all know, got pics to prove it and will show them to everybody that feels inside there.
Happens every day to me, can't get in the car and go anywhere without checking. I sure don't want to run over some guy feeling inside my wheel openings.
Looking good Erik, you are a true craftsman-dude-guy and my hero.
Do you ever hear, "But it's just a wagon?" from people.
Happens every day to me, can't get in the car and go anywhere without checking. I sure don't want to run over some guy feeling inside my wheel openings.
Looking good Erik, you are a true craftsman-dude-guy and my hero.
Do you ever hear, "But it's just a wagon?" from people.
...Allan, my answer to the first part! My answer to the second part usually is,"but yours is just a camaro(or chevelle or corvette)...they are a dime a dozen!"
May 4th, 2009, 04:07 PM
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May 8th, 2009, 04:43 PM
#166
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More cheese!
I figured I'd finish up anything on the inside before I weld on the outer panel. So we got the ole' wire wheel working again and what do you know! More swiss! Oh well, better to discover now than after it's finished...so I made up a bunch of patches. Hopefully weld these in tomorrow!
May 10th, 2009, 07:29 PM
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May 23rd, 2009, 08:05 PM
#171
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Back At It Again!
Took a little break from the project. Welding was making me crazy!
But when I went back, it still had to be done. So here we go...
When I last left off, I needed a couple more patches on the inside of the spare tire well, as well as plug welding a bunch of "new" holes that cropped up!
But when I went back, it still had to be done. So here we go...When I last left off, I needed a couple more patches on the inside of the spare tire well, as well as plug welding a bunch of "new" holes that cropped up!
May 23rd, 2009, 08:16 PM
#173
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After all of that, I decided to torture myself one last time, and pull back the support for the spare tire. The bottom was like everything else....rotten! So I cut the bad off and welded on a new base, but first I sand blasted behind and under it while I had access. You win again! More daylight! If I didn't take care of this area, it would be like taking a shower, and not washing your@#$%....so it was the right thing to do. We will all sleep better tonight!
The bottom was like everything else....rotten! So I cut the bad off and welded on a new base, but first I sand blasted behind and under it while I had access. You win again! More daylight! If I didn't take care of this area, it would be like taking a shower, and not washing your@#$%....so it was the right thing to do. We will all sleep better tonight!
May 23rd, 2009, 08:24 PM
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Took a little break from the project. Welding was making me crazy! But when I went back, it still had to be done. So here we go...
When I last left off, I needed a couple more patches on the inside of the spare tire well, as well as plug welding a bunch of "new" holes that cropped up!
But when I went back, it still had to be done. So here we go...When I last left off, I needed a couple more patches on the inside of the spare tire well, as well as plug welding a bunch of "new" holes that cropped up!
May 23rd, 2009, 08:26 PM
#176
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Finally, to the part you see!!!
Yes, I know...all that work, and it gets buried by a spare and a cover! Well, I'm not done yet, it still needs a light coat of plastic, primer, and paint....
We now move to the outer panel! Horray for me. I feel like Michael Vick. I just got released, but still have that bracelet on my ankle!
After several test fits, I marked and trimmed the patch panel. I then made a patch for the patch panel...
We now move to the outer panel!
Horray for me. I feel like Michael Vick. I just got released, but still have that bracelet on my ankle! After several test fits, I marked and trimmed the patch panel. I then made a patch for the patch panel...
May 23rd, 2009, 08:35 PM
#177
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After much more welding, I patched the patch panel. Put it in its final resting place, and spot welded it in (I'm butting the panels of course!). I will finish welding it up sometime this week! Then, a lot of grinding! Also, wear sunglasses when looking at these pics, I loaded all the hard to reach, never to be seen again places with corrosion protecting/weld through/ etch primer before install.....
Put it in its final resting place, and spot welded it in (I'm butting the panels of course!). I will finish welding it up sometime this week! Then, a lot of grinding! Also, wear sunglasses when looking at these pics, I loaded all the hard to reach, never to be seen again places with corrosion protecting/weld through/ etch primer before install.....
May 24th, 2009, 05:20 AM
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I am enjoying this thread, it is informative and inspiring. What kind of shape is the other quarter in? Hurry up and get to the paint will ya.....ha ha ha.
I know once you get into a resto like this it's like free falling. How far do you plan on going with everything like rechroming, interior, engine, suspension etc....?
I know once you get into a resto like this it's like free falling. How far do you plan on going with everything like rechroming, interior, engine, suspension etc....?
May 24th, 2009, 07:35 AM
#180
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I am enjoying this thread, it is informative and inspiring. What kind of shape is the other quarter in? Hurry up and get to the paint will ya.....ha ha ha.
I know once you get into a resto like this it's like free falling. How far do you plan on going with everything like rechroming, interior, engine, suspension etc....?
I know once you get into a resto like this it's like free falling. How far do you plan on going with everything like rechroming, interior, engine, suspension etc....?
The other qtr is just as bad...only there is no spare tire well to repair so that's a plus! Chrome is ready to be picked up, so that's done. Interior is going to be done, engine an tranny will be pulled when we get to the front of the car(tranny will be rebuilt, engine will be detailed and painted), while that is being done, front suspension will be done also. Pretty much 80% of the car...I will be posting it all....
May 24th, 2009, 09:32 AM
#181
Nice work! I applaud your patience with all the metal work. My 53 Chevy Suburban needed alot of metal work but a welder buddy of mine owed me a favor and took care of it. I will have to dust off the mig welder on my Firebird. That wagon is going to be cool. We had a 64 Buick Sport Wagon as a kid.
May 24th, 2009, 07:21 PM
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Nice work! I applaud your patience with all the metal work. My 53 Chevy Suburban needed alot of metal work but a welder buddy of mine owed me a favor and took care of it. I will have to dust off the mig welder on my Firebird. That wagon is going to be cool. We had a 64 Buick Sport Wagon as a kid.
May 28th, 2009, 05:35 PM
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May 28th, 2009, 05:44 PM
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Very nice Eric....I know you said you were keeping the fenders for a car for your wife, but would you happen to still have the rad support for that vista? I may have a line on a '70 Supreme convertible with 350 and muncie from factory. I think it was pretty rare, not many made? Anyway, the nose has been changed to a '71...would need rad support, hood, fenders(if they've been changed), and headlight buckets(I guess?).....let me know. I haven't looked at the car yet!
May 28th, 2009, 06:06 PM
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i don't want to get rid of that support or front end but i have another one out of a Rallye 350. i will have to look to see if it is any good. i have not looked at it for many years. i have ben busy lately so you may need to remind me in a couple days.
May 28th, 2009, 08:17 PM
#188
Very nice work. I'm a bodyman by trade and I worked in a few resto shops. Doing a nice job. Like i say when I try to teach people, Never say it's good enough untill it's right. Any corners cut will stick out to you and you will know they are there. <S> I salute you
May 29th, 2009, 04:53 AM
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June 1st, 2009, 07:20 PM
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Welding Continues!
I know this is beginning to seem like a repetetive thread, but I'm just trying to demonstrate, how much work goes into a job like this to do it correctly....I don't mean to bore anybody, but here we go....
I did not work on the car during the week or the weekend as I was busy around the house and my wife had to go out of town for a couple of days and I was left behind with my 2 girls. Some things are much more important!
Tonight I welded up the outside panel, inside the dogleg, started doing some grinding, and redrilled the holes for the molding. It took me about three hours to weld it up because I could only do a spot at a time and jump here and there, also giving plenty of cool down time in between, so as to minimize warpage. Came out pretty good! Here are some progress pics...
I did not work on the car during the week or the weekend as I was busy around the house and my wife had to go out of town for a couple of days and I was left behind with my 2 girls.
Some things are much more important! Tonight I welded up the outside panel, inside the dogleg, started doing some grinding, and redrilled the holes for the molding. It took me about three hours to weld it up because I could only do a spot at a time and jump here and there, also giving plenty of cool down time in between, so as to minimize warpage. Came out pretty good!
Here are some progress pics...
June 1st, 2009, 07:26 PM
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Daylight almost gone!
Here are a couple of inside pics....I covered the flash on the second pic to show where the light is coming through. I still need to weld under the spare tire well(you can see the seam) and spot weld around the wheel well(under the wheel opening molding). I did not feel like welding upside down tonight! The holes you see are the ones I drilled for the molding!
The holes you see are the ones I drilled for the molding!
June 2nd, 2009, 02:18 PM
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June 3rd, 2009, 06:42 AM
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GREAT WORK, ERIK! I can appreciate that spare tire wheel well more than most, as I've been there/done that! Seems that it took about 12 weeks (2 class sessions - Friday nights/Saturday at the local community college AutoBody shop) to fabricate the metal to "FIT" in that area. You are right, only way to do the job is to do it right, whether you are doing it personally, or paying to have it done. Keep up the great work, and keep putting the pictures on CO!
June 3rd, 2009, 12:45 PM
#197
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GREAT WORK, ERIK! I can appreciate that spare tire wheel well more than most, as I've been there/done that! Seems that it took about 12 weeks (2 class sessions - Friday nights/Saturday at the local community college AutoBody shop) to fabricate the metal to "FIT" in that area. You are right, only way to do the job is to do it right, whether you are doing it personally, or paying to have it done. Keep up the great work, and keep putting the pictures on CO!
June 22nd, 2009, 05:11 PM
#198
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Finally done welding and grinding!
At least on this panel....I haven't been putting in too much time in the last few weeks. Trying to get MY VISTA roadworthy enough to make it to the Nats...anyway, all the grinding is now finished and I picked and filed a few other dents on this panel. This is the first panel we've run across on this car with any old bodywork in it! Pretty amazing....small amount at the top of the qtr. There was a major crease at the lower back of the panel that was "hidden" by the woodgrain. Fixed it up and put a foundation coat of fiberglass filler over the welds for a good base. I will now proceed with plastic and poly. I'll get the outer panel primed before moving in to do the inside area and the wheelwell. Here's where we are at!
June 22nd, 2009, 06:05 PM
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Thanks, being you're in Jersey, that might just happen one day! I'd like to see the Satellite in person myself!
