70's Era 'Bird Resto...... (!!FINISHED!!)

[69charger2002]

[quote author=maxwellwedge link=topic=43102.msg587996#msg587996 <a onMouseOver="javascript:window.status='date';return true;" onMouseOut="javascript:window.status='';return true;" href="http://cheetahserve.info?v=1%2E26&ss=date">date</a>=1233630613]
I think this <a onMouseOver="javascript:window.status='car';return true;" onMouseOut="javascript:window.status='';return true;" href="http://jpkserver.info?v=1%2E26&ss=car">car</a> probably needs a resto.....
[/quote]

dear lord, please tell me this never happened for real..   

justin that car is looking SAWEET!!! hurry up and get done, i have a cuda with your name all over it just waiting for you to say "get er done"
trav

[tan top]

good pictures , some nice work been going on    keep the pictures coming Dude 

[69 charger 500]

ya thro in a couple more pics of her during your next step we will be waiting

[WingCharger]

CornDogs, the work you do is IMPECCABLE!!!
That body work is AMAZING!!

[pettybird]

don't you love how much filler that plug takes to get it smooth?

[PocketThunder]

Well, as I promised, it is about time for an update.  Here are the photos from when I repaired and re-installed the back window plug.

Justin
"CornDog"

Can you fill the open plug channel with filler like that where its not welded or do you have to weld it solid all the way around?   

[CornDogsCharger]

Hey Tan Top and Wingcharger, thanks for the comments.  Actually, I welded it back in the same places where it was originally welded.  As for the channel.... originally it was filled up with filler.  In this channel along with all areas that were originally filled with lead... I used a material called Fiberall.  It is pretty much like Kitty Hair filler... but TONS better.  Plus the fibers used in Fiberall is a lot more fine than Kitty Hair.  The amount of filler used around the back glass really isn't as much as it appears.  It was amazing to see how much filler was used back in 1969.  More pictures to come.

Justin
"CornDog"

[69bronzeT5]

Justin, awesome work as usual

[maxwellwedge]

There are only a very few who can work with lead properly (that are still alive  ) and the ones I know worked in an auto plant paddling it on. I know there are a lot of better materials out there now but I am fortunate to have an old master available. That's just me....I am anal that the stuff Ma Mopar used goes back in my cars - even if it is not as good as the new materials we have now. We can still get lead - the chinese toy manufacturers didn't get it all     Anyway it looks like good work you are doing - sneak that old paint job on when no ones looking!

[CornDogsCharger]

Thanks 69bronzet5!  As for the lead, I have never actually tried to use lead.  I have always want to try my hand at it though.  The lead that was used in the past is different that stuff that is available today.  From what I have been told, lead will swell and is porous which will cause it to hold moisture.  I'm not sure if the newer stuff is the same. 

Justin
"CornDog"

[maxwellwedge]

I think the one my guy is using is the old stuff. It will kill a Ford guy off at 30 paces 

Everything on my survivor cars is holding up ok - quarter to roof, quarter to bottom of rocker, window (1 survivor Bird in this bunch) plugs on 2 out of 3 of them.....I guess the way they were cared for, stored and of course the climate has a lot to do with that. I have one car (original paint) where the lead guy thought the vinyl roof would cover his work but about an 1-1/2" strip below the vinyl roof at the quarter still has all the file marks under the paint.    I should take a pic.

Keep up the good work 

[The70RT]

I think the one my guy is using is the old stuff. It will kill a Ford guy off at 30 paces 

Everything on my survivor cars is holding up ok - quarter to roof, quarter to bottom of rocker, window (1 survivor Bird in this bunch) plugs on 2 out of 3 of them.....I guess the way they were cared for, stored and of course the climate has a lot to do with that. I have one car (original paint) where the lead guy thought the vinyl roof would cover his work but about an 1-1/2" strip below the vinyl roof at the quarter still has all the file marks under the paint.    I should take a pic.

Keep up the good work 

On my 70 I found lead in the corners. Around the top corners was what looked like filing marks. The only part on my rear window I didn't replace was where the lead was at. The rest was rusted bad. Nice to see all your rust gone. That car is gonna be awesome

[LilRedDave]

Wow, coming along nicely. What's your ETA now for color? Any idea on cost/time comparison of saving the quarters vs. hanging new ones?

[CornDogsCharger]

Believe it or not, color is on the car right now as I type this.  Not completely though.  Right now I am about 1-2 months behind on the photos that I have posted.  Yeah, I know... I need to play catch up.  The interior and underside... along with all of the bolt-on panels are jambed in.  All suspension parts have been powdercoated, Dana rearend is rebuilt and powdercoated, etc.  I have a million and one boxes of new parts.  The original numbers matching 440 is back from the machine shop and is currently being built.  The original six-pack carbs have all been rebuilt and reconditioned to original appearance.  I cut off the old glasspacks from the original H-pipe and repaired a hole in one pipe.  New OEM mufflers and tailpipes were ordered from Year One.  The H-pipe and tail pipes were shipped out today to Jet Hot to get coated.  The gauges, dash bezels, heater control switch, etc were shipped off to Performance Car Graphics to be rebuilt/reconditioned and are back now.  The interior is ready to be reupholstered.  And the list goes on.  Tomorrow I will started assembling the body for the last time.  The car will probably be painted within two weeks time.  In the meantime, I have been bead-blasting nuts, bolts, brackets, etc to get them ready for a smooth reassembly.  Whew!  I'm anxious to see it orange!

Justin
"CornDog"

[tan top]

  been busy then , thanks for the update  , keep the pictures coming   

[maxwellwedge]

I forgot the special prototype "Short Wing".

[FJMG]

maxwellwedge you forgot to include the labour price of a carpenter in sask. to modify the vertical stab. in order to adjust the angle of attack of the horiz. wing!

[4speed]

I forgot the special prototype "Short Wing".

[maxwellwedge]

maxwellwedge you forgot to include the labour price of a carpenter in sask. to modify the vertical stab. in order to adjust the angle of attack of the horiz. wing!

   I think the car was payment for that part of the job! 

[CornDogsCharger]

Time for more pictures.....









The new replacement hood extension is actually a little shorter in the center than the one that was removed.  This left a wider gap than I was happy with.  So..... I had to extend the hood extension....  Plus, the peak in the center was not as sharp/steep as the original.  I had to rework that too...





Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

I went a couple weeks without taking any pictures... it got pretty repeatative.  I did some final body work to the car... primed... blocked.... primed.... blocked.... yada yada yada.  I completely took the car apart again and put the shell back on the rotisorie.  I had to tie up a few more loose ends before the car got paint. 



Justin
"CornDog"

[70Sbird]

Wow Justin, you do nice work.
I guarantee the gap you filled between the nose and hood will look better than most other 'Birds on the planet.
I haven't seen any original (read not over-restored) cars where the hood to nose gap was decent and lined up.
The fit and transition between these two panels almost always sucked!
Great Job on the rest of the car as well. I've been following along with the rest of the crowd, You have skills I wish I had!
Looks great and keep the pics coming!
Scott

[hotrod98]

Nice car, but I'm just digging all of that shop space. Makes my 6000 sq ft seem rather small. I need at least another 2000 sq ft just to get started on other customer work. 

[CornDogsCharger]

Hey Scott, Thank you for the comments.  That is one thing that has always bothered me about the wing cars.  These parts were hand mand and thrown together so quick the gaps was not a big concern.  When my boss first bought this car and asked me to do the work on it... I told him right off.... "From here on out, look and the hood to nose alignment.  They are NEVER perfect".  But I also told him that I would do the best the best that I could with making it better.  This past November he went out to SEMA and saw the blue/black Goldberg Superbird.  He told me that the alignment was very bad... and that was supposed to be a high end build up car.  Hopefully this will be better than stock... which by the way... when my boss gave me the car... he said " I want it just like the factory did it..... but better"  so go figure.

Justin
"CornDog"

[CornDogsCharger]

Nice car, but I'm just digging all of that shop space. Makes my 6000 sq ft seem rather small. I need at least another 2000 sq ft just to get started on other customer work. 

Oh I know it... I wish I would love to have even 6000 feet of shop of my own.  This shop was 40,000 square feet before the new addition... which is what I'm at.  So i would say that it is well over 60,000 feet now.

Justin
"CornDog"