The old rockers haven't been removed yet. 

Quote from: Satellite smithy on May 27, 2015, 07:59:11 AM
The old rockers haven't been removed yet. 

Ahhhh...

Says something...not sure what.

I'd have to see how they were supporting the car to really see what was going on.

Yup-I lack sufficient info to really know. Those early unibody Chryslers were quite stout.

The guy who owns this shop teaches some car customizing courses with Gene Winfield. You may recognize the name.

He's pretty damn good and has been doing it for around 50 years now.




I wouldn't bring my prized car to just anyone.

Back then you could possibly tug open or slam closed a door when a car was on a lift if it was new.  Work well?  No way.  Some rot?  Could miss by a quarter of an inch or more.

if nothing else, it makes me glad they're doing the rockers-the whole scope of the project is beyond my ability. If I had known how bad it had gotten again....I would've done it anyway.

It slices! It dices!



The sword of Charlemagne The Just
Is Ferric Oxide, known as rust.



Now to cut this one out to fit.

There's a better way to cut the panel...

Cutting the new one out? Please to share.

Quote from: Satellite smithy on June 01, 2015, 01:21:09 PM
Cutting the new one out? Please to share.

Trim the old panel off the car. Clean all the edges of spot welds, bumps...like you would to get ready to mount the new panel.

Trim the new panel, but leave it long by several inches.

Mount the new panel...it will overlap the old.

Using a 3M cutoff wheel...the thinnest you can buy...cut through both panels. It will now fit the hole and have a very small gap, which is better than being screaming tight because you'll get less warpage when you weld.

If I were doing that job I'd go all the way to each end.

You're saying take off the entire old panel?

Quote from: Satellite smithy on June 01, 2015, 01:55:05 PM
You're saying take off the entire old panel?

No...

It looks like you're high enough, but I'd go all the way to the ends.

It looks like the replacement panel has the flange inside the door opening and the joint to the rear body panel.

I'd use the new panel all the way to there.

If I'm seeing wrong then disregard and do it your way.

No door flange, the joint in the rear is not obvious to me.

Quote from: Satellite smithy on June 01, 2015, 02:29:14 PM
No door flange, the joint in the rear is not obvious to me.

Then don't worry about the ends but don't try to trim the new panel by the old scrap.

Leave the new long and cut everything at once,

Think I put it up whole and hack or maybe rough cut it, clamp it up, then cut?

I could move the wheel, clean the new panel and then use the old as a guide for the plasma cutter. Might be too fancy. 

I very much appreciate the input Nate-I don't actually know what I'm doing.


I won't let that stop me, though.