Finally done a bit more work on the 58 that's worth putting up!
Firstly a job I wasn’t looking forward to, I sorted out the passenger’s side gutter.
Here's a shot of the gutter.
Although it was generally pretty good, there were two bits that needed sorting out. Here’s how I sorted out one of the said 'bad spots'.
Where the gutter were showing signs of rust, they were opened out, sand blasted (horrible job!
), primed with weld through primer and then shut up.
And here's the gutter all finished!
Next up was the bit I've been saving till last (well nearly last!). Fitting the rear valance!
Due to replacing the bumper hangers on both sides the valance was already out, but the inner seal panel had been left in as a guide, so it was time to remove it!
I used a new panel from Autocraft as I wanted it with a single central exhaust cut out. Big thanks to Karl for getting this exactlly spot on for me!
As I’m a detail geek, I had to add in the wire holders that run inside the panel! (Yes I know I need to get out more!
)
Next up was trial fitment. Notice the panel doesn’t line up very well with the wings, and the gap on the engine lid is way out.
However, after a lot of fettling (including reshaping all the edges of the hanger panels where they meet the valence) I got the panel to line up much better!
At this stage everything was loosely bolted up to make sure it all fitted right! I love this shot with the T bars on!
However, not all fitted right, and this shot shows how bad the seal channels line up.
This was soon sorted out though! (Sadly I havn't got a photo of the finished panel.
)
Finally time to weld the rear valence in!
And then grind back and paint!
And finally she’s in!
I'm much happier with the final fit now, as the engine lid sits nice, with good small gaps!
The last bit I did was only a small job, but was an absolute nightmare, to get it looking right, as well as clear of everything!
I've got a glass SWF washer bottle that I was going to put in the car, but I wanted it to look factory, as if it always came with it. I know most people put it in the wheel well next to the brake fluid pot, but I still wanted to run a spare wheel, as I am going to use the car. Thus I came up with this location, up in the under bonnet area.
It took a lot of measuring (a sitting in the bonnet area with the bonnet closed!
), but I finally got it in the right place so the hinge doesn’t hit it when it closes! I'm really pleased with this!
Anyway, other than a few little bit's, that the body fully done now!
TIme to move on to building the chasis, and trial fitting everything!
Dude
The Cal-look Lounge
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