The Cal-look Lounge

This is something I have been thinking about for a VERY long time - De-seaming the front quarter panels on my 65......

So what the BSET way to do this  ??? what are the DO'S & DON'T's  ???

Does anyone know how it was done on the Goss "choptop"  ???
(although it does look to have been changed back in the pictures in the original cal look bible  :-\)

I am REALLY hoping Mr Gabbard will drop in on this thread, I am sure I have seen him posting about this subject before  :-\

I would also LOVE some pictures of other cars (not the choptop) with this modification done  :)

DONT do it would be the first suggestion.

If you must ruin your car ;) only cut a couple inches at a time, weld them closed and move on to the next.

Lee, Zack posted the same question some time ago ! On my 67 that I removed that seam, I saved the corner that butts up to door. And cut out about 3/16 on each side of seam, And butt welded a new peice in to the gap. After you tack new peice into place and about 3/16 to 1/4 inch between tacks, Then I welded complete! Chaceing a untacked section by welding will lead you into trouble!! Any questions call me !! Will walk you through it !! Can you heli-arc weld yet ??

This was covered in a really old volksworld

My 2 cents is that I wouldn't do it , I did it on my car and had it changed back at a later date, one of the biggest mistakes I made with my car way back when

Honestly..don't do it unless you REALLY want to...makes the ugly door hinges - even uglier...if it's beyond your comfort zone to repair it..pay someone to do it for you and if you are going to do it..listen to Danny :)...also if your welding isn't 100% or you are using a cheap welder - sand blast your welds to check for any pinholes and weld those ... ;)

Si

If you don't need to do it Lee, don't!

We did my brothers car simply because there wasn't enough seam left when we replaced the front quarters, and the Goss car had been done so it seemed ok. Didn't think about water coming in at speed either! Pain in the arse job for no benefit.

Can someone post a pic so I can see what the hell you guys are talking about???? First, I thought he was wanting to take the fender beading out and weld the fenders to the quarter panels. Now, I know it's not that, so what is it?

Thanks

Here is a 67 I am doing! Started off just cutting drip seam off and it rapidlly snowballed from there! Ended up completely cutting rockers off and now body goes under door to make a door gap around and under door, If that makes since. I also made a jig that bolts on front/rear bulkhead to relocate pan bolt holes after rockers/heater channels where cut off. Anyway here are a few shots I have. There is NO bondo needed to finish. Sorry the drip seam is primed, These where shot about 6 years ago

Thank you Danny! Excellent work there. It's looks cleaner for sure, but where that water will go is anyone's guess now. I suppose if it's a hotrod who cares! I wish I could have you do my car. My decklid is popped to clear my linkage/aircleaner and I hate it. I want some bubbles or vents in it so it clears my air cleaner and linkage.
      Maybe I can run my decklid over to Chip in HB and he can cut me some sweet holes freestyle!!!!! LOL
   

Kinda like this one ? Sorry to get off track lee.

show off!! ;)

Thats it! Thats what I need right there! That's really nice! IS that for sale? I'm gonna print that out and show it to Foose.............lol

Foose who ? Kid'n ! He and I did a bike together 20 years ago. Sorry, Just a couple old pictures of one I did for a customer a few years back. I can always do another?

Randy, you know I only buy smart tools ! That way all I have to do is hang on to them, They do all the work !! LOL

I'm good friends with him. I watch his show all the time....lol. What state are you in Danny?

Was in anaheim/placencia Ca, Now in carson city nevada. About 30 minutes from reno .

DANNY!
Did you remove the drip rails as well on that '67?
What is/would be involved in THAT?
Thx,
TxT

wow thanks for allthe replies guys  :)

Now I know ALOT of you don't like the idea of this "mod" but it is just one of those small details that REALLY bugs me (excuse the pun)
I just hate the way it "breaks up" the line of the side of the car - And its a cool old skool hot rod style mod  ;D

I am a pretty capable MIG welder and I can "butt weld" very nicely - I am totally self taught but I have learnt ALOT in the last year from some VERY VERY good welders  :)

I really like the way Danny describes his method and it was the way I was thinking of doing it  :)

Anyone got any other pic's of cars with this done  ??? :)

P.S I will call soon danny - I have found the PERFECT design for my decklid  ;)

I had deseamed my bug back in about 1990 so it stayed that way, when I rebuilt it.

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f28/Scrapefest/Green%20Bug/IMG_0307.jpg)

One tip I would give is use lead as filler, if you need it, by the hinges, as the stress in these areas could crack epoxy fillers.

Very nice car andy ! Have and more close up shots ?

Thanks Danny, I can get some pics tomorrow  :)

Super clean look, I like it!
TxT

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f28/Scrapefest/IMG_2570_zps1606fbfb.jpg)

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f28/Scrapefest/IMG_2569_zps2f562bf0.jpg)

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f28/Scrapefest/IMG_2571_zps8d256c88.jpg)

Here are the close up pics, excuse the dirt  ;)

Looks good. The top hinge is a bit more obvious, but not bad at all. I like it.

Next step, hidden hinges!

I like it also, I say do it!

Next time I jump on my 67 and get going again on it, I'm hide'n the hinges ! Andy Your car looks great ! How long ago did you do the cut'n ?

i want to add Danny is a talented Professional!!! and were are some updated pics of the 67??

I agree, the work Danny does is inspirational.

I think I did the deseaming work, second time around, I fitted new front quarters so had to do it again, somewhere around 2001 or so. The car got painted in 2005 so it is definitely before then. I used lead to cover the weld, I am pleased that it has held up. :)

Danny you won't hide them. If I know you, you'll make your own.

Perfect - It just looks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better  :)

Thanks ! I wish I could find time to get something done on it !! LOL. Got to get my white car done first.

I'll have to get a picture of mine - we left the gutter on over the front of the hinge and radiused it out at the bottom of the hinge, which stops the hinge looking too big.

Hidden hinges and removed seam/drip rails are the really 80s cal look. My early 20s imaginary fantasy car had them, and had Heather Kennedy sitting in the passenger seat.

Didn't know the Goss chop was built in the 80's. That's news to me ::)

Shaved drip rails is a bad idea, I'll agree with you there.

I'm not saying the first hidden hinge car was done in the 80s or shaved drip rails, or deseamed 1/4 panels, I am saying it was pretty popular on "cal look" show cars... in the 80s.

 ::)

Was this a common mod on Cal-Look cars or just show cars? I've just bought a car to build for Street'n'Strip use an possibly a bit of track too. The 1/4 panel seams have been shaved, I presumed it was done as part of the bad lower A post / hinge repair an was thinking of trying to replace them, perhaps I should just leave them off? They were bugging the hell out of me. ??? ::)

Well the only car I know of with it done is the Goss chop top  :-\ I am not saying there weren't ALOT more bugs with it done  ;)

Its just one part of the bugs body that has ALWAYS "bugged" me  :-\

I hate the look of the Seam, it just looks SOOOOOO much cleaner with it removed  :)