Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 I started out with a very clean 68 6 cylinder coupe .You will need to strip the car out ,glass included .The first thing to do is align the doors to the quarters and the rockers the very best possible .I didn't even have to touch the doors on this coupe they fit so nice .The doors will stay in place until the conversion is complete . Time to start cutting .The roof is first .I decided to save the roof because it was so clean but what a pain in the butt .I had to drill a lot of spot welds where normally i would just cut the roof off . There is a plate inside the roof at the front pillar on a 67-68 that has to be saved no mater what it is where the new door opening will reattach . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Time to trim off the unwanted sheet metal ,quarters,tail light panel as i used a new one,all the inner back seat area. The wheel tubs stay in place along with the rear door posts and the complete front wind shield framing as it is the same ,coupe,convertible and fast back on a 65-68 . If it were a 69 the windshield frame and front posts would have to be changed because a coupe and a fast back have different front windshields . Well my computer just hickuped ...i will have tp post this and start again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 As i was saying before my computer dumped on me , the rear door jamb stays just the quarter skin is removed along with the inner quarter window structure . The back end is trimmed of all the coupe sheet metal and ready for sand blasting and epoxy primer . To be continued ...as i need to dig up more pics and resize them . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan_Mac 48 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Do you have a donor car or are you going to use repop Awesome project, I will be reading all your posts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 All brand new Dynacorn sheetmetal .I will post pics tomorrow . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DocWok 30 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Very interesting, thank you for sharing this with us Ridge, great to see how it is done, step by step. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Looks like i am missing a few pictures but i think i have enough. The sheet metal came in three very large boxes and a few smaller ones . I laid out the new fast back pieces for pics but i think i only did the one side so imagine this doubled ,at least for the inner structure pieces .I bought the un welded parts because the welded pieces have been sometimes welded together wrong .I don't see how they are welded wrong because they have alignment notches and if they are aligned they fit perfect . there will be pieces leftover that you probably not need ,but they come in the kit and they is the only way you can get the parts that you will actually need .save the left over parts because you may need then on another project ...or you could sell to someone needing them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 The back end of the car was sand blasted and epoxy primed ,mainly where i would not be able to easily get to later . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Next ,i moved it under my car port ,it has a cement floor . It was placed on several jack stands and leveled ,i use 5 levels at the same time in different locations to make sure it stays level at all times . I made sure the door to rockers gap was straight as it was before panel removal.Next i spot welded in the inner fast back part of the rear door post . The trap door area was welded in next ,and then the tail panel . What is the matter with the internet today ??? looks like i get to shut down and restart AGAIN!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 Stupid internet !! Remember when it used to work? Tail panel in place Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 I clamped the upper door frame together ,aligning the notches ,and spot welded and mig welded them together . To be continued ...Again! 1 mwye0627 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 Just to let you know i am not just hanging sheet metal where ever it hits ,I am using my 67 fast back for the measurements .This was my Nephews ,It is a GT 390 4 speed car ,i gave it to him in 97 .He was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after and passed away in 99 at 14 years old .He made a will ..something i did not know, and left the car back to me and it has been sitting the garage the same all this time .I still have a hard time calling it mine . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 After the door upper frame was welded together I clamped it in place and after Measuring several times i welded it in There is a bracket that welds to the wheel tub that the inner structure attaches to .It was clamped in place and welded in . One more bracket attaches to the inner structure and welds to the wheel lip ,the inner structure is very solid by this time . This side was finished and i moved to the pass side . The trunk divider between the trunk lid and the back glass was next .It sets on top of the trap door divider .I did not weld the trap door divider to the side structures because i needed to be able to move the divider fore ward or back ward to get the window opening positioned correctly . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 The rain gutters are next ,they have to go on now because the roof attaches to them . I dont have the picture ,but the rear roof brace is next .Now it is time for the rear quarters drivers side first .I did not weld to the tail panel because i will be fitting the trunklid and the ends need to be move able to get the proper gaping Passenger quarter was next ,again not welded to the tail panel and still not welded to the trunk divider .And i dont have that pic.EDIT: I found the pass side pic. Pic of the door to quarter alignment .You could not ask for better gaping . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
70Nightmare 20 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 Good work man Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Footcutter11 23 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 You are a master cutter. Nice work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MustangBobby 28 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 I noticed your pile of extra parts has the correct B pillar without the slot for the quarter window. Are you going to weld up the opening on the existing piece, or replace it after the quarter is on? Nice work. They did this on an episode of Horsepower TV a while back. It is very interesting to watch. Thanks for taking the time to keep us all informed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 This was actually the very last thing i did .I simply filled in the original B pillar opening .It was much easier than removing the original that fit so well .The only pic of this i have is of one of the 65s i did but it was the same . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 The roof was next ,it wasn't easy setting it in place all by my self but i managed .It is spot welded at the rain gutters just like the factory did ,but it is plug welded at the window openings front and back . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ash 145 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 Looking just like a real one. Nice work! I know you copped some hate about doing this but who cares. A fastback is a fastback and looks better than a coupe any day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raven R code 281 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 awesome work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 The lower rear window panel can now be set along with the rear trap door area and the tail light panel .After measuring the window open on my 67 and fitting the trunk lid and end caps at the same time i noticed the Dynacorn quarters are 1/8 inch longer than the original .If i would have made the trunk lit fit tight the rear window would have been a bit to long so i split the difference between the rear window and the trunk to hide the extra length of the quarters .That worked fine ,not to wide in the trunk lid and not to long in the rear window .I set my glass in place and everything works perfect .Sorry no pic . The trunk lid and end caps was a fiberglass Shelby type ,and i didn't find that pic but i did have a pic from an earlier conversion that came out the exact same . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 4, 2015 This one was done .A 69 should be very close to being the same build ,except the front window posts and the top roof brace will have to be changed over to fast back because a coupe and fast back have a different windshield in 69-70. I cant wait for Dynacorn to come out with all the 69 convertible pieces ,that is going to be my next project . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mustangstofear 608 Report post Posted December 6, 2015 We just installed a right Dynacorn qtr panel and found that the width at the rear where the end cap goes, was a 1/4 inch narrower than the factory left side. This caused a problem fitting our end cap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,113 Report post Posted December 6, 2015 They were not that when i did this car ,but i had a problem with a convertible at the end caps .It was to narrow at the the ends of the quarters also .I had to split the end of the quarter and widen it and fill it back in . For some reason sometimes you get a quarter that is to narrow at the end every now and then ,i dont see how unless they have more than one die set ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
