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Pantera rear rail and tower rust repair
Working on a 74 Pantera at my job. Not unlike old Mustangs, there are corrosion hotspots flanking the engine. I have one side done-
Now I am working on the other side, where previous patching was done and rust damage is more extensive- Thats where I am at. Anyone want to offer guidance on how to make the outer panel? The channel locks aren't quite gonna cut it over on this side. Is this something I should attempt to make in one piece? Please keep in mind this is a bread n butter job, not a hobby project. Also, it is under the car and obscured by suspension so appearance is less critical than in would be on a skin panel. So think fast and firm rather than beautiful and lovingly crafted to perfection. As an example, the right side is satisfactory. I am thinking pie cuts for the bend but my first reflex was to wish for a short stick of muffler pipe the right diameter. Thanks
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Matt |
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I think I'll try it this way-
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Matt |
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How you do this depends on only two things:
Your creative ability, and how you are set up - tools and equipment. Basics you show nicely done - measure, cut, form, fit, weld. Finding the end of the rust is harder on undercoated than on painted. I use a torch for this and the glowing metal is like Xray vision for rust and spotwelds. (The torch heat oxidation on the metal also slows down the re-rust potential on rust-pitted steel .... ) Shaping your part is another step above where you show your work, so far. The pattern work is nice - and also demonstrates shaping this with a cross-pein - your folds imitate the hammer strokes, and also the stretch and shrink in the gentle bends. I think you are on a good path if your hands and tools deliver what the part needs.
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. Last edited by crystallographic; 11-18-2019 at 02:18 PM. |
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Thanks for the reply. So far, so good.
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Matt |
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Not much shaping involved here, sorry. Worked out that way!
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Matt |
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Matt |
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. |
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Thanks. Wording of the rules. As I understand it, this was more fabrication than shaping. I was hoping some ideas might surface about shaping this piece but as it turned out there was little or no shrinking or stretching involved. Its just rusty car. Seems like I have seen some posts here about working on "exotic" stuff like a Pantera might fit among, so someone here may find it useful to see how that area of the body is constructed and a couple example repairs someday. The rail and apron are both boxed and spotwelded but then the outer rail and inner apron were sandwiched bare and perimeter welded, creating a major corrosion hotspot.
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Matt |
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The top gap grew but I can handle it. Doing so is all thats left.
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Matt |
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Quote:
Yep - and they were nekkid and rusting for long months in the warehouse prior to paint. The hot Italian sports car business got so damned good back then that Lamborghini went into making cars when he could not walk in and buy a Ferrari from the showroom floor. (He was a major tractor manufacturer.) Chassis stuff is basic fab so don't sweat the shaping on stuff that "never sees." Another guideline is: "It's either going to be a lot of shaping and a little welding - or a little shaping and a lot of welding."
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. |
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