Flip - '69 Firebird Build

[CarQz17]

I think the butt weld gap is .040 correct? How do you recommend holding the panel in place? Magnets? Any suggestions welcome.

[dhutton]

I think the butt weld gap is .040 correct? How do you recommend holding the panel in place? Magnets? Any suggestions welcome.

I shoot for the narrowest gap I can get and that usually holds it in place if I cannot use vice grip clamps to hold it. I know this goes against the gap being the same width as the thickness of the material but I found that did not work too well for me.

[CarQz17]

Cut out the floor on the passenger side. I'm going to have to replace the under seat reinforcements before I can do the floor pans. Not sure if jigging the car is necessary for this part of the process since it may move the front mounting point of the leaf spring.


I've gotten all of the filler and paint off of the center of the tail panel. Looks like someone backed into something just off the passenger side of the license plate. I may be able to save it but since the edges are iffy, I may just go ahead and replace the whole thing.


I am also thinking about either 80% quarters or just skins since I am in such a small space, don't want to take the glass out, and do not have the option of getting the car blasted so I could cut on the sail panel. Opinions?

[gearheads78]

I think the butt weld gap is .040 correct? How do you recommend holding the panel in place? Magnets? Any suggestions welcome.

Little strips of sheet metal with clecos work great. Drill a small hole on each end of the metal. Drill a hole in the panel you are welding to and hold the stip of metal with the cleco. Now line up the perfectly fitted panel butted right up against the car. You then drill another hole in the new panel lined up with the hole in the metal strip and hold in place with another cleco. once its all welded together you can weld up the few small holes you made for the clecos.

Before you weld on the car practice a lot with scrap. But welding is by far the best way to go but will take practice. Also when you start welding on the outside get a dolly basicly the same shape as the inside of the panel you are working on. When you start tacking right after each tack put the dolly on the back of the weld and use your body hammer to hammer right on top of the weld. As the metal cools it will shrink. By hammering on the weld you are helping to stretch it back out and keeping the panel more true.

[CarQz17]

I spent the weekend with the old man stripping out the old and patching in the new. The frame rails were spliced, and the under seat reinforcements were replaced. The photos only show one side. I also ended up in the hospital after my grinder caught my hand. I've got mini tubs and trunk parts to be put in next. Feels good to actually add to the car instead of tearing it apart. Success!

[68400BIRD]

Did the PO replace the rockers and just spot weld them in on the bottom?