Say Hello to Project "SurpriseBird" (FINISHED) ...Updates Pg. 7 on 12-2-11

[CornDogsCharger]

Thanks man, I appreciate the compliment. 

I've got a lot more "updates" to post.  These pictures were from months back.  As of today the car is painted and halfway assembled!

Justin
"CornDog"

[wingcarenvy]

Hey Justin,

I have watched you restore 2 birds now, i am impressed with your work. I actually looked at the six pack bird at Bo's place in Costa Mesa Ca right before your boss bought it. Anyways its time for an update!

[tan top]

Thanks man, I appreciate the compliment. 

I've got a lot more "updates" to post.  These pictures were from months back.  As of today the car is painted and halfway assembled!

Justin
"CornDog"

clever stuff Justin !  nice job , looking forward to seeing  more pictures , love looking at this kind of stuff

[moparstuart]

Hey Justin,

I have watched you restore 2 birds now, i am impressed with your work. I actually looked at the six pack bird at Bo's place in Costa Mesa Ca right before your boss bought it. Anyways its time for an update!

we need an update on you clone

[Finn]

 

[CornDogsCharger]

Ok, it's gone long enough without an update.  Here you can see what was the final "surprise" in the "Surprise-Bird".  I kept seeing this ripple in the front edge of the roof panel so I decided to hit it with a grinder to see what was under it.  Yup, you guessed it.... another hidden treasure.  Apparently the front edge of the roof panel rusted and the previous body man decided that it would be a good idea to hammer it down and braze a metal patch over the existing rusted metal.  As you can guess, this repair didn't last and was eventually going to come back worse than it started.  I cleaned it up, removed the patched, cut out the bad metal, formed a new piece, and welded it in place.

Justin
"CornDog"

[randr]

nice!

[CornDogsCharger]

[CornDogsCharger]

The rear window plug came from Jack (wingcarfab.com). 

[CornDogsCharger]

The topside of the tuned out to be really good.  There were a few small holes in the back edge of the skin which needed patching but other than that, that was about it.  The bottom side on the other hand was another story.  A lot of the framing was rusted out and fiberglassed over.  I have looked and apparently I didn't take pictures of that repair.  If I come across them then I will post them.  I had to totally reconstruct one of the front corner frame pieces and half of the other.  I also rebuild along the rear edge underneath and a few random spots throughout the center.  But these pictures will have to do for now until I find the others.

Justin
"CornDog"

[ChgrSteve67]

Great work CornDog!

Awesome to see this level of work being done.

[moparstuart]

Great work CornDog!

Awesome to see this level of work being done.

[tan top]

   some real nice work going on there !!  keep the pictures coming  , love looking at this kind of stuff   

[montana bird]

Hi were you really happy how the plug fit? I just ordered one so I am currious on your oppinions. 

[CornDogsCharger]

Thanks for the comments guys.  The plug fit very well.  It took a little bit longer for him to get us our plug because for some reason, he said it wasn't fitting his templet too well.  It did seem like it was a little bit too wide on the edge that rolls over into the trunk opening.  When you would push it down in one spot, it would flop up on the other side.  I had to shirk the metal just a little bit to get the knots out along that edge.  Other than that it seemed like a very nice piece. 

Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

I'm bad about keeping these restoration build topics updated!  I guess I should finish what I started........  Uploading pictures now

Justin
"CornDog"

[nascarxx29]

Welcome back .Always impressed by your level of work

[CornDogsCharger]

Fender repair...

Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

[CornDogsCharger]

Frame repair.  All four frame rails had significant damage to them from either jumping curbs, going off-road, or who know what else.  The were solid.. just BEAT!  I cut out the bad sections, hammered them back into shaped, welded up the rips in the holes, and then welded the piece back into place.

Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

[CornDogsCharger]

Here you can see the frame rails after they were all repaired.  The repair work done to the undercarriage of the car became very repetitive and drawn out.  I didn't take pictures of everything done to it and I wish I did.  I spent a lot of time welding, grinding, and chipping away at removing the undercoating with a pick.  Oh what fun!

Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

After the metal work was done, the fenders were stripped to bare metal, worked, and primed.  When the car was wrecked in the late 70's, a Coronet driver side fender and door were installed.  The panels once had body side moldings, so the holes had to be welded up.

Justin
"CornDog"

[The70RT]

Wow..... glad your back on it 

[greenpigs]

I gotta ask. Any idea of how many hours you have in it so far?