1990 country squire resto/lowrider in UK

[andyfanshawe]

Your wish is my command!

Welded in all the panels this morning but also had to patch a rusty and thin spot above them in the corner (went through with the media blaster). Quite difficult to cut it all out up there, but my trusty air saw came to the rescue again!



I had to peel back the cargo area panel in the front corner and hold it up with a screwdriver so I could weld it.



Any panels I won't have access to when it is all finished I etch primed and painted red (avoiding any flanges I need to spot weld soon) to prevent corossion inside



I had to cut a good corner out to get access a few days ago



This now needs closing off, so I made up a panel with a step/joddle and an overlap to try these new modern adhesives that some manufacturers use to bond panels on. Supposedly stronger than welding and seal the joints at the same time.

Heres the panel



and heres the glue



Heres the new corner panel in place





Lets see how strong it is in a few days.

I used the same adhesive to bond a 1.6mm reinforcement panel to the top of the frame mount hole but will still tack it into place tomorrow to prevent shear fractures (twist).

Compere the view now to what it was a few days ago





Bit better!

Andy.

[87gtVIC]

Awesome. I always wondered about those panel adhesives. Eager to see how it holds up.

[gadget73]

wow, I can't say I've ever seen this in-depth of a restore on a panther chassis car. Looks great.

[andyfanshawe]

Managed to persuade a straight piece of steel to curve into the right place!









Andy.

[Grand_Marquis_LSS]

Wow This is gonna be one sharp lookin car when she's done

[ÆJackacks]

How long to get these skills? Started bodywork when I was about 19, and I'm 49 now. Thats 30 years practice. WOW!

that's a bit discouraging to start doing body work on my cars

[grandpaslincoln]

Gotta start somewhere.

[andyfanshawe]

that's a bit discouraging to start doing body work on my cars

Don't forget that this is not my day job, so anybody with any enthusiasm could learn the skills a LOT quicker and produce good results very quick.
Learn to weld and bend steel in a vice, angle iron, hands etc.... , pick up some equipment bit by bit, and you are away.

Don't be put off. Get stuck in.
How much are you going to save in labour costs? And having the satisfaction of doing a job yourself.
I would quite happily help you if we were a bit closer!

Andy.

[Pirate]

wow, I can't say I've ever seen this in-depth of a restore on a panther chassis car. Looks great.

I agree. The quality of work done here....even on parts of the car that no one will ever to see....I really want to see how this turns out.

[andyfanshawe]

Thanks guys.

Onto seat belt reinforcement panel replacement.

In the rear seat area the metal around the seat belt bolts is not good, Can't risk this, so out they come

Heres one already marked for cutting, with slots cut with the cut off wheel to get the air saw through





Heres my favourite tool of all time!!



Out it comes



Heres one I cut out earlier





New plate being joddled



Ready to media blast the rusty plate and weld on and weld back in



Andy.

[johnunit]

This is incredible stuff. I'm sure this car will bring about the phrase "better than new" a few times when it's done.

[andyfanshawe]

Managed to weld all 3 plates in













Andy.

[Nathan in MI]

So THAT'S where I left my crayons!

[johnunit]

That pic reminds me of when I first looked through my car. I found pencil crayons, happy meal toys, and this funny note from a little girl to a little boy about being mean. I should scan it sometime.


I can only imagine what would show up if I stripped it out to the point of re-welding seat belt mounting points. Wow.

[andyfanshawe]

Anyway, final bit of structural welding done today on the seat belt bolt reinforcing plates.
Media blasted them all and welded them back in,







This was the one above at the start



Then repaired the drivers and passenger front seats reinforcing panel.



Not bad since this is how it started out!



First coat of silver epoxy mastic 2 pack paint went on with a brush. Bit of a poor photo but I'll get better ones tomorrow.



Andy.

By the way, crayons have now gone!