72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

[Rush]

Good read, Byron. Thanks for sharing. Your friend sounds like a very skilled guy.

Today, I cut a hunk of the passenger rusted lower quarter panel out to see what I'm dealing with. It doesn't look good, but I feel confident I can repair it.


I got it cleaned up and POR 15ed inside as far as I could reach and tomorrow, hopefully I can make the repair for the support and finally, the skin.


While researching converting over to electronic ignition, I discovered I have a SSS distributor, so, rather than change it out completely, I was thinking of putting in a Pertronix (I think it's called) unit.


Another question, I can't get my wheel off. There's 1 lug nut left on it and I can NOT get it off. It's seized on the stud, in the lug hole. I tried JB80, a MAP gas torch, an impact and a 4-way & 6lb hammer. No luck. I tried putting the other lugs back on, then trying to take the stubborn one off. Nope.
Any suggestions?

[Rush]

I got the wheel and drum off! Yay for small victories!

[Bike papa]

Ms Rush,
I Like many others have had to replace the lower sections of the rockers. i used 18ga for the inner panels and 20ga metal for the outer skin. be aware that the dimensions between the 2 lower bends get smaller, these are the ones on the right side of the pic (somewhere between 1/8" to 1/4") as you get closer to the rear wheel.

I also had the oil slinger in backwards when I reassembled my motor and that was after I specifically checked on which direction it was mounted Somehow I was able to install the oil pump in spite of it. Ended up pulling the motor to find the problem when the crank would not turn.

enjoying your build
Bike Papa

[two_68_510s]

You made that piece Joel? Muy bueno!

[Bike papa]

Joel,
That was one of the templates I made when I made this rocker panel and lower quarter replacement piece


Ms Rush,
Get all of your dimensions and make a mock up piece and see if a local sheet metal or HVAC or sign shop will bend them up for you.

Bike Papa

[Rush]

Wow! Those are fantastic pieces!

All I have is 20 ga steel, so I used it to make my patches. I never even thought of taking it to the sheet metal shop! However, I'd have no idea where to even start making a template. I bent my piece in the vice and then "tuned" it with flat billed vice grips.

Here's what I made:






Still battling with the welding. I'm pretty shaky after not doing it for so long, but I hope I improve as I go. I call it a win when I don't cook holes in the factory sheet metal. Lol!

A note on the oil slinger; when I turned it around, I got the pump and shaft in, no problem, but then, just like you said, the crank wouldn't turn. Somehow I both ways were wrong, so it's now in my parts bin and not on the car.

[Bike papa]

Rush,
The 1" wide strip of metal is really easy to bend. To make the template I used a piece of blue painters tape Laid it over the lower rocker panel just below the back edge of the door Used a fine line pen to mark the bend lines and put the tape on the metal strip and then shaped it to match the rocker profile.

Hey, I've used the bench vise and sheet metal vise grips to fab many pieces. ( as the Poor Mountain Kid will attest)
Nothing wrong with "McGiver" metal work!

Keep banging away

Bike Papa

[Rush]

Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a go.

[Rush]

So, I followed Bike Papa's suggestion and made a "template strip" to help me bend my quarter panel patch. I called the sheet metal place in town to see if they'd be willing to bend up the piece for me but got no answer, so I tossed together a temporary brake with stuff I had laying around.
























The patch is wrapped around, forming the lower wheel well. I formed that area with a body hammer and dolly. It came out pretty nice.

Thanks for the tip, Bike Papa, especially the note about the 1/4" change.

[Bike papa]

Rush,
I love your "can do" attitude.

Keep up the good work!

BP

[two_68_510s]

nice work

[Byron510]

Bloody rights- that's great.

Now this is the stuff I love to see. Good work!

Byron

[Rush]

Thanks guys!

Now that I have a very basic understanding how it works, I might pick up an inexpensive brake from HF. There is so much panel work to be done, it might be worth it for me not to have to drive to town all the time.

[Byron510]

My shipmate bought an 18" brake/roller/bead roller combo machine. It's ok for the odd less than 20 gauge bend. I've never has access to a decent brake myself, be a nice tool to own one day.

Byron

[noramost]

I just built me a 44" brake out of scrap steel I had laying around with the help of U-Tube and a couple Z24 valve springs I had. My local steel shop has a 8' brake for the big stuff. My total cost $14