Day 64/65 - 3/2 & 3/3/12

Double update day back to back. This Friday evening I work on 'cleaning' up the window opening getting it that much closer to the addition of new metal. Started to work on getting the new metal cut down to fit in the opening. Lots of clamping, measuring, looking and back and forth trips to the grinder. You can actually start to see how it should look if there isn't big rust holes in the roof. Makes me very happy because I know it's that much closer to drivability.

In some areas the pinch welds were still connected so I gave it a little 'love' and helped them out.

Got the underside lip pretty well cleaned up of residual roof. Updated the towels that cover the quarter glass to avoid sparks eating them! Held on with my friend hard drive magnets.

Here's the lower window channel corners. I cut/ground the excess off to save the 90 degree bend (in my left hand). These will butt up to is the black panel we already tacked in.

Cut a little slit to hopefully overlap it to make some scribe lines for final cuts.

Saturday Day 65:

Got the new metal on the 'workbench' Getting ready for the numerous cuts/grinds ahead.

Made the biggest cut, it'll keep getting smaller and smaller to fit where we need it to.

 

Dad giving me some help. Eventually it will just fit into place! We got it overlapped in there making scribe lines for final cuts.

 

 Made an even closer cut up to about the third vise-grip, so it sits pretty flush along the vertical part.

A closer view, you can see we've had the moldings out getting fitment. I made the final cut along the top as well but it looks pretty much like this except the two are flush instead of overlapping.

I'll see you soon...

Day 63 - 2/19/12

Back for another update on the old Chevy. We continue to work on the rear window which has been and will continue to be the main focus. I got the entire window channel cut out, so now the roof skin is free. Did a little welding today as well and got the parallelogram like patch piece in the passenger quarter in. I did a little oops and got it too hot and warped my nice original quarter by not blowing the tacks in between welds. We'll have to use a spitznagel to pull it back out and then give it a thin layer of filler (which the roof was going to get anyway).

Back to the blankets. Getting ready for the mega cut and welds.

 

 Cut the vertical part out, that was easy compared to the corners. I'm getting better!

Made the money cut, there's no going back now!

 During my learning experience.

Welding and sort of ground. You can't tell here, but its mega warped from above the paint line. (Body line saved me, thankfully)

All cut out and ready for the edges to be cleaned up.