Crashed my Fastback - The rebuild thread

[DarkBuddha 107]

I can't tell a Laurel from a Cedric, but it's always cool to see some vintage JDM stuff.

[fvike 173]

I helped my brother clean and polish his wheels today, so before we started, the 335s found their way to my rear suspension! Kinda looks bad ass... But 315s is what I got my sights on.

 

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A little inspiration there.

[fvike 173]

I'm adding reinforcment just like the Boss 429 has. This is an area that saw som twisting force in my crash. The Boss 302 reinforcement plates are also going in.

 

 

 

 

They are going to be welded in, and with the Monte Carlo bar they will triangulate the whole firewall area.

[RPM 1,190]

Good idea on the apron reinforcement. Who did you get it from, do you have a part number?

 

Bob

[fvike 173]

It's just something I noticed in this Boss 429 resto picture I found online. Don't have any p/n, so I made my own.

 

[RPM 1,190]

Very cool! I almost asked if you made them, nice work.

 

Bob

[fvike 173]

Well, I won't take full credit here. I made the cardboard templates, then had my friend who's an metalworker/crafter fabricate them. They are made out of 1.5mm steel. Same guy welded them for me today, as he's got a professional grade MIG at work that he brought with him.

 

Note the pocket in the shock tower for the Hydraboost/Wilwood reservoir. EDIT: Here you can see that the reinforcement plate is welded directly on top side of the tower, and stitch welded all the way back to the firewall.

 

Finished result. The Boss 302 reinforcment was also step-welded in place.

 

The internal Boss 302 reinforcement plates. The Dynacorn front aprons came with the Big Block braces installed. Also filled in the vacuum canister hole. My car didn't have one, and is running hydraulic brakes.

 

Next up; centering the mounts for the rear seat back. It was ofset to the right (left in the picture).

[fvike 173]

Well, I won't take full credit here. I made the cardboard templates, then had my friend who's an metalworker/crafter fabricate them. They are made out of 1.5mm steel. Same guy welded them for me today, as he's got a professional grade MIG at work that he brought with him.

 

Note the pocket in the shock tower for the Hydraboost/Wilwood reservoir. EDIT: Here you can see that the reinforcement plate is welded directly on top side of the tower, and stitch welded all the way back to the firewall.

 

Finished result. The Boss 302 reinforcment was also step-welded in place.

 

The internal Boss 302 reinforcement plates. The Dynacorn front aprons came with the Big Block braces installed. Also filled in the vacuum canister hole. My car didn't have one, and is running hydraulic brakes.

 

Next up; centering the mounts for the rear seat back. It was ofset to the right (left in the picture).

[RPM 1,190]

Very nice fvike! Any chance you have pics of the panels pre installation? Or pics of the templates, I'm considering adding them. Thanks.

 

Bob

[RPM 1,190]

Very nice fvike! Any chance you have pics of the panels pre installation? Or pics of the templates, I'm considering adding them. Thanks.

 

Bob

[fvike 173]

This is my first template, in thin cardboard. Pretty simple.


This is the second template.


A detail, the side goes on the outside of the firewall edge. The lower edge adds strength.

Pretty straight forward, easy to duplicate. But I would imagine the fenders will have to come off.

[fvike 173]

This is my first template, in thin cardboard. Pretty simple.

 

This is the second template.

 

A detail, the side goes on the outside of the firewall edge. The lower edge adds strengt.

 

Pretty straight forward, easy to duplicate. But I would imagine the fenders will have to come off.

[RPM 1,190]

Thanks partner. My entire front sheet metal is off, so I've got that going for me. I sure wish this was happening when the car was on the rotisserie.

 

You seem to be getting pretty close to done. Do you expect it'll be on the road in 2015? I keep saying mind will on the road next year, hopefully it'll come true. Thanks again.

 

Bob

[RPM 1,190]

Thanks partner. My entire front sheet metal is off, so I've got that going for me. I sure wish this was happening when the car was on the rotisserie.

 

You seem to be getting pretty close to done. Do you expect it'll be on the road in 2015? I keep saying mind will on the road next year, hopefully it'll come true. Thanks again.

 

Bob

[fvike 173]

No, I have a lot left. I don't expect it to be on the road this year either... :online2long:

[Snookman35 10]

looking good

[fvike 173]

I've started removing the paint on the body. So far so good. Very little bondo, only a bit on the bottom rear quarter, but I knew that as that is something I did to the car waaaay back. 

 

[DarkBuddha 107]

Glad to see you're still making progress. I remember being pretty bummed when you posted the car was crashed... I loved that you actually DROVE it. Keep it going and I'll keep following. :)

[fvike 173]

Thanks for the support. Still a long way to go.

[TexasEd 188]

I've started removing the paint on the body. So far so good. Very little bondo, only a bit on the bottom rear quarter, but I knew that as that is something I did to the car waaaay back. 

 

 

 

 

And now you get to fix it!

[fvike 173]

Got the welding done on the car now. This is one of the rear suspension mounts.

 

This is another.

 

A big hole in the tunnel reinforcement was welded.

 

And the brackets for the rear fold down seat was moved, as they was a bit off center.

 

Got alot of paint off the car. It has a pretty thick layer of bondo on it, but clean metal underneath.

 

I'm trying to be careful with the roof. It was pretty rond and had a good shape to it, so I don't want to take to much off. I'll leave something for the professionals to work with.

 

I've also started to do some mock ups to get the holes drilled before primer goes on. I still need to buy a radiator and oil cooler for mock up.

[sixt9stang 36]

Where did you get the bracing?  Looks really nice.

[fvike 173]

It's the one from Total Control Products.

 

Here's another picture of it.

 

[stangnet33 88]

That TCP front bracing looks really nice ! Hope to go that route with mine. On the second pic with the rear suspension bracing is that some rotting on the frame rail or just cutting from torch ? Look forward to see how it turns out. 

[fvike 173]

 On the second pic with the rear suspension bracing is that some rotting on the frame rail or just cutting from torch ?

 

No, no rust there, but that hole in the frame rail has been repaired at one point. It is soldered with the same gold colored materal as other places on the car.