1959 356A S/R coupe project chassis # 108625

[JTR70]

Prepping for the new right side upper closing wall.
Went back and forth as to whether to do a partial or complete upper wall replacement. Had it not rusted out in the door well I would have left it alone and just did a partial but it is and so is the metal on the other side of this wall. It has to be repaired in here anyway so the best and cleanest approach is to unpeel this onion a little further and get it all in one shot. This would require the removal of the splash pan.
To get access to the top attachment points of it required cutting back into the cowl a little further. Cowl cut back exposing the top of the splash pan here.
I chose this cut line as it gets me the needed access to the pan for both removal and reinstallation. It is also the lowest point in the body contour and will be a much more stable weld joint. As you can see I'll also have access though limited to the backside of the weld joint for planishing.
Top spot weld run free and just about separated from the remains of the original wall.
I was really dreading the double run of spot welds down its face but as I began drilling and peeling from the top it became clear that the inside run of spots where completely detached at this point. The row of spots along the edge also gave up quite easily. Very uncharacteristic of factory spots even when the panels are rusty but hey I'll take the break when I can get it. Detached from the door stopper base and just about ready to remove at this point.

[JTR70]

Not only is the gap on this side irregular but the hood profile still too proud where it had buckled.
This is the under side directly under that area. Can't decide where to cut this out and restraighten or get it as close as I can in one piece. Either way the hoods profile ahs to be relaxed along this run. With the hood in its best adjusted position with the cowl so far the original alignment holes are now just out. Once I get the hood completely established the old holes in the hood mounts will be welded shut and will be redrilled to Locate the hood where it now needs to be.
Adjusted hood establishes where the latch mechanism needs to be. This a bit later.
I'm going to back up one step and prep the right side to accept the new upper closing wall. That next.

Thanks for looking!

Justin

[JTR70]

Second hood fitment:
Hinge mounts, latch mount and mechanism all set and now ready to dial in the hood a little closer.
The cowl is the ultimate baseline then the hood is spaced evenly and gapped off of it.
Initial gap is pretty close but have some elevation issues as the center of the hood sits a little high.
This entire side started out low but was able to adjust most of it out though it remains a touch low around the hinge area but pretty good for starters.
The lateral gap down this side is a mess and that is just hold over damage from the wreck.

[JTR70]

More peripheral hood mounting prep:
Had to really crank on the hinge to get the bottom of pocket to come back forward but I got a hasty tack weld on it before it could spring back. I'll clean all this up later.
The end result was a near perfect match in resting hinge angles. Onto the next deal.
The other side of the latch had a bent plunger and the wrong rebound spring.
Had a donor on hand this a straight plunger and the right spring. So critical that this is not bent as a lope in it will affect the hoods gaps and resting position with each small turn of it.
A good functioning hood latch off the check list.

[JTR70]

Base and latch ready.
Latch mechanism test fitted. The shield for the mechanism itself was bent downward a touch but that was a quick fix.
Since whole front of this car is being reconstructed free style I'm presetting the mechanism as close to center as I can so if there are any adjustments needed after all the welding is completed (which always happens) I'll have as much movement in any direction as this base allows.
Original latch and base are ready for hood mock ups. Dismantling it for straightening was the only way to go .
I'll add the lateral tabs back in a bit later. Onto the next deal...

Thanks for looking!

Justin