Potential project, nothing major. Just looking for advice.
ghaasl said
Jun 29, 2021
So, the minor bodywork that my car could use is really bugging me. It’s going to need a driver side lower fender patch panel. So, if I do this, should I just repaint the entire car? And, do any of you know someone that does decent, driver quality paint (not looking for a show stopper)? I’m not the greatest welder, so I’m likely going to need help installing said patch panel too. Likely a winter project. Which winter? Who knows?
-- Edited by ghaasl on Tuesday 29th of June 2021 04:56:06 PM
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 29, 2021
Finding a QUALITY patch panel is key and installing it with the fender on the car is crucial to correct orientation and fit. Is your garage suitable for doing this in the winter ? The only panel I'm finding that I would buy is a Dynacorn and it doesn't come with the brace behind it, which is probably rusted too. If no replacement brace is available, that would need to be hand fabricated.
I would only paint the patch area for now. Painting the whole car would, most likely, open a big can of worms with more rust repair and other issues that should be attended too before paint. And painting the whole car will get very expensive, very fast, for a quality job.
Derek69SS said
Jun 30, 2021
Avoid a full repaint if you can. I'd just paint up to the body line where you can hide a tape-line pretty easily.
more ambition than brains said
Jul 1, 2021
Unless you have 20-30,000.00 dollars that is ready to be spent on the car, and be without it for a while, take a complete refinish off the table.
Focus on preservation. Gain access to inner panels by removing door and 1/4 trim. Clean out dust and debris from inner areas. Spray with a good quality runny rustproof product after taping drain holes so product stays inside panel. Do the same for any other panels you can get access to through holes, hood, trunk etc.
The rust you see is only a fraction of what is there. ALL panels rust, their location on vehicle determines how fast and how much. "Can of Worms" is very accurate.
If you absolutely have to do something to that fender, find another rusty placeholder to bolt on. Find a qualified tech to patch panel for you, or if you have the tools and skills, do it yourself. Keep area as small as possible while still removing all rust in that area. Yes, inner brace can be a problem too. Also, common on that model to rust through near marker lamp area.
Not sure of the fit and finish quality of aftermarket fenders for that model, if that is an option. Remember also, many new old stock panels ended up that way because there was something wrong with them in the first place.
My Blue El Camino was taken apart 25 years ago for "just a Paint job".
Biskwik and the White ElCamino took seven or eight years each.
I own a Collision repair shop, Blue ElCamino still not done, classic Body Shop Jail. Even more difficult now as most current collision repair skills do not transfer well to restoration. Very difficult to do both.
To that point, in the future, most of my old stuff is pretty much not welcome in building unless it is the weekend and I am doing the work myself.
Sign of the times, Collision shops do very little fabrication and repair now. If a shop still works on old stuff, they probably should not be working on our current high tech vehicles.
Sorry for the rambling rant.
Karl
P.S. no such thing as "minor body work" on these cars.
Everything we touch is a slippery slope, body and mechanical.
-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Thursday 1st of July 2021 07:12:54 AM
SShink said
Jul 1, 2021
Karl is spot on, trust me...I know something about rust from the '72 vert frame off that came from Wisconsin.
ghaasl said
Jul 5, 2021
Thank you for the advice, gentlemen. I’ll live with it, for now. I’m still waiting on winning the lottery to bolster my bank account. Too darn many other expensive hobbies. See you at SMN!
So, the minor bodywork that my car could use is really bugging me. It’s going to need a driver side lower fender patch panel. So, if I do this, should I just repaint the entire car? And, do any of you know someone that does decent, driver quality paint (not looking for a show stopper)? I’m not the greatest welder, so I’m likely going to need help installing said patch panel too. Likely a winter project. Which winter? Who knows?
-- Edited by ghaasl on Tuesday 29th of June 2021 04:56:06 PM
I would only paint the patch area for now. Painting the whole car would, most likely, open a big can of worms with more rust repair and other issues that should be attended too before paint. And painting the whole car will get very expensive, very fast, for a quality job.
Unless you have 20-30,000.00 dollars that is ready to be spent on the car, and be without it for a while, take a complete refinish off the table.
Focus on preservation. Gain access to inner panels by removing door and 1/4 trim.
Clean out dust and debris from inner areas.
Spray with a good quality runny rustproof product after taping drain holes so product stays inside panel.
Do the same for any other panels you can get access to through holes, hood, trunk etc.
The rust you see is only a fraction of what is there.
ALL panels rust, their location on vehicle determines how fast and how much. "Can of Worms" is very accurate.
If you absolutely have to do something to that fender, find another rusty placeholder to bolt on.
Find a qualified tech to patch panel for you, or if you have the tools and skills, do it yourself.
Keep area as small as possible while still removing all rust in that area.
Yes, inner brace can be a problem too.
Also, common on that model to rust through near marker lamp area.
Not sure of the fit and finish quality of aftermarket fenders for that model, if that is an option.
Remember also, many new old stock panels ended up that way because there was something wrong with them in the first place.
My Blue El Camino was taken apart 25 years ago for "just a Paint job".
Biskwik and the White ElCamino took seven or eight years each.
I own a Collision repair shop, Blue ElCamino still not done, classic Body Shop Jail.
Even more difficult now as most current collision repair skills do not transfer well to restoration.
Very difficult to do both.
To that point, in the future, most of my old stuff is pretty much not welcome in building unless it is the weekend and I am doing the work myself.
Sign of the times, Collision shops do very little fabrication and repair now.
If a shop still works on old stuff, they probably should not be working on our current high tech vehicles.
Sorry for the rambling rant.
Karl
P.S. no such thing as "minor body work" on these cars.
Everything we touch is a slippery slope, body and mechanical.
-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Thursday 1st of July 2021 07:12:54 AM
Karl is spot on, trust me...I know something about rust from the '72 vert frame off that came from Wisconsin.