The '70 Vista Pro Tour Project

[SRD art]

Nice work! I commend you, sheet metal work is my least favorite thing to do next to sanding. ;) I'd rather build roll cages all day than have to replace sheet metal, lol!

[bonecrrusher]

I like the wagon updates - is there any way you can shrink the size of your sig?

The Tbird - while looking nice is almost bigger the update pics you are posting.

[ent72olds]

Thanks Ben! Bonecrrusher...LOL, I hear you with the sig pic....I am very embarrassed, but I tried everything, even deleting it. The site won't let me. I did it!!!

[ent72olds]

Bodywork on the qtr is pretty much complete! 1 coat glass, 2 passes with plastic, and I will do a thin coat of poly. Came out pretty nice with little effort on plastic work. Warppage was minimal thankfully. Now I'll do the bottom of the spare well, a little on the inside wheel houses, and inside where the spare is stored. I want this to be as undetectable as possible! Here are the latest pics....

[ent72olds]

Finally! Right qtr is primed and it looks pretty flawless if I do say so myself! This was the most difficult panel on the car with all the welding etc, the other should take half as long! All that's left to do here is some light bodywork on the inside spare tire area so as to make it look "unrepaired", and to strip the wheel well, and do some light bodywork in there. I won't be touching this car again until after the Nats as I'm getting my Vista ready for the long drive....see ya'll there!

[ent72olds]

More pics!

[ent72olds]

It's been about 3 weeks since I last touched this car so time to get moving again. My bro cleaned up the inside of the qtr where the spare goes. Now I just need to do some bodywork to clean it up........

Also started on the left qtr! Trimmed out the patches from the used sections I got. Separated the inner and outer, and now will wire wheel pieces then blast in cabinet. Then the fun begins AGAIN! Of course, before I dig in I will remove the gas tank for safety!

[ent72olds]

Nice to see everyone again! I see there are quite a few projects going on here now since I last reported and it's good to see everyone is excited about their oldsmobiles! Some really cool builds going on here, and even some other "Vistas" in the family!
Well, I took the summer off pretty much and am now ready to start making the push towards Sturbridge!
I finally finished up the inside of the spare tire well and cut out the storage compartment tub. Found a high quality replacement through OPGI. I also started mapping out my cuts on the left qtr panel! I removed the gas tank and rigged up a gas can to move the car around! Here is where I'm at!

[ent72olds]

Got the heat working again....been cold here in the Northeast! First day really working on the car since the summer! Now I'm in for the duration until this thing is finished! Or at least roadworthy...I'm setting a goal again of getting this car to the Nationals in Sturbridge! I hope I don't disappoint again.......

Started working on the left qtr today! Very rotten Trimmed off bad stuff and after some fitting , trimming , more fitting and trimming, this is what I came up with today...

[ent72olds]

Thank the Lord for factory original replacement panels(and thank you Eric "jensenracing" Jensen for the help!

[ent72olds]

Of course the replacement panels are much better than the swiss cheese that came on the car, but also needed some work to be perfect! Here I cut some rot out and made a patch, then welded up all the holes that I made when drilling out the factory spotwelds. Next will be permanently welding in this inner wheel well lip!

[Motown 454]

Its looking good nice work.

[ent72olds]

Its looking good nice work.

Thanks Wayne!

[Dave B]

Looks awesome!! Glad you got your signature fixed, I had to upgrade my Internet, since it was so big. :D

[ent72olds]

Looks awesome!! Glad you got your signature fixed, I had to upgrade my Internet, since it was so big. :D

Thanks, LOL!

[ent72olds]

Got back to welding today...got the lip of the outer wheelhouse in! Also finished a patch on inside wheelhouse.

[ent72olds]

Will grind everything smooth tomorrow....then I'll start working on outer panel!

[ent72olds]

Doesn't look like much, but I got the inside all ground down and did quick a grinding on the outside! Once the outside panel is put on, it becomes invisible anyway! The last pic is from inside the wheelwell....reach your fingers in and can't even feel a seam!

[ent72olds]

Well, it was time to trim the outer wheelwell, so I had to figure out how to do this? I notched it in the corner near the dogleg, and slid it up under the qtr! Now I would be able to trace the exact cut onto the replacement panel, therefore, making a nice seam for butt welding.....I then used my airsaw to cut it!

[ent72olds]

After trimming, it fit up very nice! So I applied weld thru/corrosion resistant primer very heavily......