The Bluesmobile

[monaco75]

LOVE the license plate patch. Now that's really Old Skool
Stop signs are excellent for floor patches.

My late freind Brian showed me that little trick. He was a true to the bone old school hot rodder. A great man! He was the one who loaned me his entire shop, and mentor me when we first did the car up. Was a great family man, but also was a party animal.. On the way home from a late night at a bar, he passed out behind the wheel, and went into a tree. Way too young to pass on. I think of him often while working on the car. He taught me A LOT. Funny how people can leave such a big impact on you, but you never knew it at the time.

Where did you get the package tray from? Looks like it might be from the same place I got the hood insulation pad from.

My CRS is kicking in........can't remember the vendor. LOL!

REM is the comapany Bob. They do have hood insulation pads on their site. I expected something a little better for the price I paid though. How nice was your pad?

http://www.remautoinc.com/

 

[monaco75]

Figured I'd post a little update... Not much happening lately. Just grinding away. Finished the wheel lip up, and its looking nice. Now welding up, and grinding the wheel well. I havn't been going crazy on these welds, grinding them down flush with the metal . Just been grinding them down evenly, and making sure all pin holes are filled. Their out of sight, and I don't feel like spending another year grinding these down perfect lol. I'll let the undercoating hide em.

 

[aretee]

Gaining ground..... must make ya nuts not being able to drive it?!
I've called a couple of times, no call back......

 

[monaco75]

Some more progress....







I swear, everytime I finish one patch up, another couple holes show up in the terrible little bit of original metal thats left. gonna have to get creative with the seam between the two joining wheel wells. Some small holes up there...

 

[commando1]

 

[MrMoparCHP]

...I swear, everytime I finish one patch up, another couple holes show up in the terrible little bit of original metal thats left...

That was when I pulled the plug and called in for help, I was afraid I was going to overlook something. The other problem I had was when I went to weld in the patch I had problems as the metal was still no good.


Alan

 

[monaco75]

That was when I pulled the plug and called in for help, I was afraid I was going to overlook something. The other problem I had was when I went to weld in the patch I had problems as the metal was still no good.


Alan

I hear ya! I wish I could call in for help around here.. But don't have that option. I really wish I had the means to cut the whole quarter, and wheel wells off, and start from scratch! But being theres no formal Monaco repair panels at AMD, and such, gotta work with what I have.

Its just killing me though! As soon as I get a little excited a panel is about done, theres more work that appears.

Heres the cut line from months ago. Other then a couple pin holes here and there it was solid.



Now after welding it up, a bunch of holes appear. You can see one of he extra patches here, a well as a couple more holes..



I'm just going to form a strip of metal, and weld it in along the seam line, with seam sealer on the backside.

 

[1976_Dodge_Monaco]

that looks amazing! im sure it will be very strong.

 

[monaco75]

The wheel well is done!!! Hell yea! This thing was rusty as hell. Time to sit back and have a drink. Trunk pocket floor next.




The needle scaler made very quick work of the undercoating, and rust. Stan, I think you would be alright to use this on the trunk floor of your newport if still interested. Didn't hurt the original metal at all.

 

[commando1]

You da man, Zac.
I'm always happy to see an update.

 

[tallhair]

You da man, Zac.
I'm always happy to see an update.

Me too Zac ... really enjoy your updates. Keep on keeping on brother

 

[monaco75]

Thank you guys! Glad you like the progress. I am ecstatic to get the wheel well done! All the rust is gone on this side now :yaayy:

 

[monaco75]

After 10 long months of work, the passenger side metal work is finally out of the way! I'd say theres %80 new metal below the beltline, and %20 original. Far from perfect, and a little crude in spots, but don't think its that bad for never doing it before.

Trunk pocket floor being made..



I couldn't get the edge of the floor to line up perfectly with the bottom edge of the quarter like orginal. But a little seam sealer will take care of that. I was afraid, cause I had to weld on the edge up the panel, instead of doing a plug weld, but overall I think it came out alright.





A little excited to be finishing this up...



Started out with a 5ft x 6ft piece of metal. This is all thats left.

 

[monaco75]

I goofed up on the drain hole though..... Spent $40 on hole saws, and still couldn't get it. Patched the drill hole up, and think U'm just gonna leave it with the indent... All the primer will be coming off after the rest of the work, and getting a coating of rust bullet.

 

[commando1]

Those left and right "briefcase" wells are the biggest pain in the ***.
You have the fender, the wheel opening, the inner fender, the well bottom and sides all in one piece after it's been stamped and welded at the factory. I don't think the best body men could make it as original.

Posted via Topify on Android

 

[monaco75]

Not much to report lately. Been to hot out, and I've been lazy. Did get a little work done on the floor passenger floor pan.

Before-



After the needle scaler. Love all the unseen holes that appeared-



Patched one small hole towards the rear of the floor pan, and another small one towards the center. Also cut out the big peice, and currently welding, and grinding the new piece in. Out of welding gas for the moment. Went through that bottle pretty quick!





Gotta give Firm Feel a big shout out! I goofed up on the center pins for my leaf springs. They were 3/8, instead of the 5/16 that I ordered. They also sent me 1 1/4 inch hockey pucks, instead of the 1 1/2 that I ordered. After a phone call, they had the new parts out to me quicker than I could put the old ones in the mailbox back to them. Great guys over there! A couple pics with the old pieces to show whats going on there...

 

[cm23uoc]

You've come a Long way starting with your neighbor's first torch weld.

 

[monaco75]

Passenger floor finished up...



Stripped the rocker panel, and too my surprise, actually still in very good shape!!





But ofcoarse the car couldn't let me slide by that easy... A couple small holes to tend to. Uhg

 

[monaco75]

finished cleaning up the rocker, patched the small holes, then layed down a coat of primer. Passenger side done!







Now on to the driver side. Can tell already, I won't be so lucky with this rocker panel! Also this driver floor pan is wasted!!! Bad part is, the big hole is where my foot sat while driver her all these years. lol







Out it comes





But wait whats this?? Sonofabitchhh! Sliced right through the speedo cable! Damnit! thought there was room, but noooppe. Another thing to add to the list.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

That sucks easier to fix than the brake lines, looking good