Next Restoration...Chevelle Convertible

[BlueSS454]

I thought some of you guys might like to see this since it involves some pretty extensive metal replacement.  I picked this car up 5 years ago right after I started the restoration on the Charger.  It's been sitting since then as I've been collecting parts for it over the years so I can just go to town.  I have all the metal I need now so I figured it was time 
I spent the weekend bracing and cutting apart the cab. Yesterday I built a cage in the cab to keep it from twisting and chopped most of the floor out. Today I removed the rear seat divider, B pillar braces (what a major pain that was), chopped out the rest of the floor, and cut the rockers out. I have some rust repair to do on the A pillars and the quarter window support panel in the back then I can fit the floor in. I might have that done next weekend. Once the floor is in, I can start cutting out the trunk, wheel houses, quarters, and deck filler panel.

[dads_69]

Awesome car to restore for sure. A friend of mine here has a 70' SS 454 convert. Needs restored as well, I told him 25 grand top to bottom start to finish turn key. So far, 8 years later since he first got it, he has yet to find anyone who will touch it for less than what I quoted him once again recently. Keep us informed on your resto.

Mark

[BigBlackDodge]

Wow! Looks like it came with the 'Flintstone' power option! No floors!

Good luck!


BBD

[The70RT]

WOW...I can't imagine doing that much work, kudos to you  Im glad my 68 convertible that I picked was sitting idle since 74 inside a garage. A little rust with the original top and interior still in good shape.

[earthquake68]

That's ambitious. Good luck!

[69 OUR/TEA]

Would'nt this be easier?

      http://www.dynacornclassicbodies.com/images/70Chvlcnvrt_collage.jpg

[BlueSS454]

Would'nt this be easier?

      http://www.dynacornclassicbodies.com/images/70Chvlcnvrt_collage.jpg

Easier yes, cheaper no.  I think the cost on those bodies is somewhere in the $15,000 range.  I bought all the sheet metal I need for less than $5000 and I'm good with an air chisel and a welder 
Those bodies aren't bad but they lack the detail of certain things only an original car has.  There is also the VIN tag issue that comes along with it that I don't want any part of.

[1969chargerrtse]

Would'nt this be easier?

     http://www.dynacornclassicbodies.com/images/70Chvlcnvrt_collage.jpg

Yeah but not the same? Close to the same though.  
Love Chevelle conv's. Would love that 70 454 big time. 

[BlueSS454]

Here is what it will look like done...

[resq302]

Tom,

Youre going brown with it?    I would have at least thought maybe fathom blue with the white stripes!

[BlueSS454]

That's Autumn Gold Brian...brown, LOL.  I have 1 brown car in the yard, that's more than enough.  I think ya need to adjust the colors on your monitor 

[resq302]

nah, its just the lack of sleep.  All colors are starting to look that color of sleep.  black  lol

[maxwellwedge]

Nice jig job.......Very Important!   

[terrible one]

Ready to see how this progresses! WOW it'll look good when done 

[71green go]

Awsome car.....After My Charger is complete I have a 1970 Olds Cutlass convertible I will be diving into!...Much the same structure as yours, so I will follow along with your progress also!
Thanks for Sharing

[BlueSS454]

Few more pics.  Dealing with some rot at the bottom of the door hinge posts.  I'm working on fabricating pieces to weld in.  This is a very difficult area to reach with cutting tools so it's taking me a little longer than I figured.  I'd really rather have a clean parts car to chop this stuff out of but I'll make due with what I have.  I also ordered what I hope is the rest of the metal pieces I need which include Inner & Outer cowl boxes for both sides, rear seat divider, windshield frame bridge, front floor sections, and a CI hood from AMD.  I really should put a cowl and firewall in this thing too but I don't want to mess with the VIN tag or have the partial VIN stampings missing off the firewall.

[BlueSS454]

Time for an update.  All the metal work is about done.  New floor with rockers, new 1 piece trunk, new fenders, door shells, hood, deck lid, deck filler panel, rear wheel houses, tail panel.  I had to fight a bit with the right door to get it to fit where it's acceptable...I beat it into submission with a 2x4, dead blow hammer, and a cross peen hammer.  The trunk fit really nice.  The wheel houses also fit well.  The deck lid was bent so I had to unbend it.  I also decided to put whole new cowl shoulders on it.  I'll be welding the quarters up on Saturday then grind grind grind.  Here's a bunch of pics to tell the rest of the story.

Cowl Shoulders...




Picking up the shell to put the floor in...



Trunk cut out...



Trunk, cab floor, and wheel houses in place...




Quarters Cut off.  I did mount the new doors before cutting them off.

[BlueSS454]

Continued...

After a couple weeks of fitting, cutting, fitting, grinding, fitting, welding, and more fitting; this is as of tonight...

[69bronzeT5]

Very impressive!!!!

[BlueSS454]

Continued...












The gaps are all now close enough to where I can weld everything up and still work with them a little.  The one that needs the most is the right door to quarter.  I have to cut and reweld the door in 1 spot, but that's no big deal.  I also have to roll the doors out at the top just a tad so I can move the fenders out and make a better gap around the hood.  70-72 Chevelle hoods are a little pesky.  If there isn't enough gap, they will hit the fender causing a paint chip when you open it as the rear corners dip down below the top of the fender.  I'm hoping I have everything welded this weekend then start the grinding next week and have the shell ready to come off the frame within 3 weeks to get media blasted along with the frame.  Then the fun starts with the plastic filler/primer work.

[TruckDriver]

WOW!  I think that is worse then any Charger restoration I remember seeing done. Looks good 

[tan top]

   had some serious metal working going on there dude !  looks real good ! nice work 

[resq302]

Holy crap Tom.  Totally new exterior metal and floors?  Sheesh.   So when can you do my charger?   

[TruckDriver]

I was looking at this thread again. What are you going to do about all the rust in the places that are not going to be changed out?

[68blue]

That has to be the most extensive resto I've seen  . The before and after pictures will be stunning.