Now the outer panels were in place I needed to make up new closure panels for the inside.
I started by making up a new panel behind the rear wheel. An old friend came round to film me working for a project he is working on so this week the quality of pics will be much better than usual. Don’t get used to it..
The sheet steel was offered up and marked up. This was then cut and shaped.
And again checked for size.
This panel needed a flange down the curved side so this was started using a pair of pliers…
Which gives a rough puckered flange (sounds painful !)…
A hammer and dolly are then used to persuade the metal into shape. This takes a bit of persistence…
The finished panel looks like this.
But you have to shine it up for the camera.
The panel was then offered up and welded in place.
Now I know that the original panel had the flange the other way for ease of assembly in the factory but I prefer this way as you do not end up with a ledge for the mud to sit on. This panel is directly behind the rear wheel so has loads of stuff thrown at it.
I’m a Realist not a Purist…
The panel is then seam sealed using polyurethane sealant.
Remember this?
Now looks like this.
Whilst all this has been going on all the suspension bushes have been replaced, the brakes rebuilt and the car lowered to chrome bumper spec.
Still plenty of bodywork to go but the restoration is progressing nicely.
Red House Classics 