A little body work advice needed

This is my 482a. I bought it from someone who started rebuilding it, little did I know what I was getting into.

to do it properly, start with getting the body sand or media blasted. that will remove everything to give you a fresh start. you can buy the steel panels already shaped from numerous places or if your crafty buy a blank sheet of steel and shape your parts. cut out all the rust. weld in the new panels. if you are going that far to restore it, you should not cut corners.

Jeepermat,  I had some of the same problems, swiss cheese floor panels, but none of the body filler that you have.  I've been replacing parts by cutting out bad steel and welding in good 18 gage sheet metal.  I'm replacing 4 of my hat channels.  Since you're in Colo, I'd tell you to go ahead and get your tub sandblasted to get rid of the filler.  That will also show you where you have more problems with pinholes or weak steel.  I had my tub sandblasted in August ($480) and I'm still working on the bare steel.  (yes, I'm slow doing body work)  The only surface rust that's shown up is where I spilled some water on it.  For your project, I'd consider looking for complete replacement panels, unless you're a good welder and have the tools to do the corner rolls.  Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time with a bodywork hammer to flatten out all those wrinkles. 

For butt welding in patches, I've been cutting my patches just a hair smaller than the hole I'm filling.  I use a copper plate behind each seam I weld to help avoid burning thru the seam.  I made the copper plate by cutting a piece of copper pipe lengthwise and then opening it up and pounding it flat.  I made a small one for holes and tight places, and a long one for long seams.  It sure seams to help me get a good butt weld, and since I'm not a school-trained welder, everything I can do to help, does help. 

http://picasaweb.google.com/lomar15CJ2A

That was very impressive! Very nice work Lomar15, I dont think I have the patience for all that, but my body isnt nearly that bad. I have a sandblaster so I am going to blast it anyway, I just hate the mess it makes.

For the flat panels I will probably just weld in new sheet metal, but the curved section aroun the fender I will look for replacement panels. Any recomendations on who to buy from?

Thanks

I used parts from Classic enterprises ( http://www.classicent.com ) (still can't get a clickable link to work, sorry) They're US made, I've had good luck with the panels I used (floor channels and a rear floor) I have no experience with the exterior panels, I agree with your idea about making the flat panels out of sheet stock and buying the curved parts, they would be very difficult to make without a lot of fabricating tools. 

I second m38mike on Lomar15's hat channels.
I too got a set. Great work.

Wow, thanks guys, for all the good words.  I missed this post last week, just read it now.  Jeepermat,   your body looks great to me.  I would patch the rust holes, its not all that hard to do, mig welder works great, but a stick welder will work just as good. I would invest in a good body hammer and dolly, you would be amazed at how smooth you can get the panels in just a few minutes of hammering. At the least you will get the body filler needed,  to a minimum.  Eastwood has some nice body hammer kits for reasonable prices. 

Scott R, I'm curious what rod you're using and what settings for using a stick welder on sheetmetal.  I've never had good success with my AC arc machine.  Even using very thin rod, I just seem to burn thru.  I've tried 7018, and 6011 rod but it just seems too hot.  I'm using a Millermatic 130 wire feed with gas and getting good welds, but even set on power 2, I can burn thru the 18 ga sheet so I use the copper backplate to keep the heat in place and control the wire from going thru.  That backplate really helps this amateur.  I hope it works for you.

Jeepermat, Lomar15's words are true.  A little work with a hammer and molly could save you lots of work replacing body parts.  The 18 ga sheetmetal responds easily to reshaping.  It's worth a try, and the tools are inexpensive to help you do a great job.  I'd consider it.

 

I don't know for sure but everyone on the "G" swears that there is only one US manufacturer of body panels and that is:

Edited by Longhunter - 29 Nov. 2007 at 8:01pm