Metal work is finished!

[ryangtogtx]

http://www.musclecarrestorations.com/ga ... g2_page=22

The metal work is finished. It feels good to have a whole car again. I think the metal work turned out great. Next step is E-coat and then picking it up from the resto shop.

[ajcpaperboy]

Congrats, It looks like that is some first class metalwork.
I really enjoyed your pictures.

[ryangtogtx]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed them. It's nice to be able to view progress photos of a restoration. It gives you a good idea of what's involved during different phases of the resto and it's also good documentation.

[ct71rr]

Wow!! Looks great. You must be psyched!!

[rr6pak]

Looks good Ryan. Couple of questions:

Picture of the guy with the tape measure-Is he checking the squareness of the front end?

Did you have rust behind the trunk lock?

You probably feel like a new proud papa taking it home

[DeLorean00]

WOW, that is going to be some car when its done! I have no doubt that it will be world class with that kind of prep work being done.

[ryangtogtx]

Looks good Ryan. Couple of questions:

Picture of the guy with the tape measure-Is he checking the squareness of the front end?

Did you have rust behind the trunk lock?

You probably feel like a new proud papa taking it home

I assume he's checking the squareness. They replaced the left front inner fender. I don't believe there was any rust behind the trunk lock, but the deck lid had been hit just to the left of the lock and that is what was repaired. As far as feeling like a proud papa, the answer would be yes. It feels good to have this stage completed.

[general]

Looking good, keep the pics coming

Ryan, could you tell me what you used for the left inner fender replacement.... good used piece or a new reproduction panel. I'm just getting ready to start my V code RR this fall and I would also like to replace that left inner fender. I believe they are the same as the E Bodies inner fenders.

Thanks Norm

[ryangtogtx]

Norm, it's a reproduction piece and yes it's the same as an E-body. Trying to find a clean original is pretty much impossible. They are always rusty from the battery acid, no matter if the car was from AZ or MN. The front floor pan is also a repro piece. It only needed a small patch where the driver's feet are, but to make it look clean, they replaced the whole piece at the factory seams. Interestingly, the repro floor pans have the mounting reinforcement brackets below the floor, but the original had them mounted on top of the floor. They removed them from the bottom and placed them on the top to duplicate the factory reinforcements.

Norm, are you restoring your car yourself?

[general]

Hey Ryan, I'm trying to do as much as possible myself. I actually started about 1.5 yrs ago with the components. Currently the transmission and shifter, the Dana, K frame and all front suspension parts, heater box, pedal assembly and some other small parts are all done. I'm currently working on the Dash assembly while trying to find the parts to start the bodywork. I've got a local bodyman with 35yrs experience and is a Mopar guy who is willing to do everything but the paint at his house, so I'm trying to find a painter. I will help this guy but I would not attempt to do body/paint myself. Before I agree to this, I told him we must find a painter who is willing to work with us. I know a lot of painters won't touch other peoples work for fear they will get blamed for something that might of been done by the previous steps. I guess I can understand their point.
This is my second resto I've done, it is easier the second time. PM be your email address I can send you some pics of the pieces if that would help you.
Norm