62 bt6

[neilb]

well it's been busy! i made a new outer 'a' pillar section where the hinge brackets go, after checking and checking it turned out it was 6mm out, so it was re-made and replaced. hinge brackets re-made and tacked on, door back on and aligned. longitudinal checked






painted inside and welded on checked with the outer sill...






no idea how this happened.....











thanks for following along and for all the kind words


neil

[roy mawbey]

Neil,

Some super work there. Oh how I remember the door repair on the outer skin on one door 40 years ago using gas welding. I did it after forming the replacement panel but have never forgotten the trauma

These days you guys would have laughed your socks off at my efforts. How times have changed. How the repair process has changed with so many changes in welding equipment. No books, or internet, that really helps those attempting something actually so difficult for the first time. I had no idea even 20 years ago that so many 356 cars survived as they were rare to see on our roads then. Nearly all rusted away!

But was has not changed is the true skill that some people have especially those doing this work on ABCGT. Its the tips and hints and photo's as these repairs take place. It also the clamps, all those great clamps you can now buy to help you support when welding.

Great thread!

Roy

[neilb]

i just thought i would share with you guy's a picture i took while turning the car around to weld up the other longitudinal. it struck me as almost having a shape of a car lol






thanks for watching

[JTR70]

Shaping up nice Neil!

[neilb]

it has a floor welded in now

going in...













feels nice to have this welded in now


thanks for watching the show lol

[JTR70]

Love how clean and racy the foot well area looks with the speaker bosses deleted and the new lightened tunnel walls. Beautiful!
Justin

[Jack Staggs]

I keep looking at your pictures, and I can't help but wonder if you're going for a top side exterior "spine" and split rear window, ala Bugatti Atlantic. That could look pretty bitchin on the right car.

[neilb]

I keep looking at your pictures, and I can't help but wonder if you're going for a top side exterior "spine" and split rear window, ala Bugatti Atlantic. That could look pretty bitchin on the right car.

i can see what you mean jack lol, my profile gauge on the roof gives it a look similar to the bugatti.

i won't be doing that though, well not on my car. maybe the next one if i get chance to do another

[neilb]

i have been getting the rear seat floor section ready to be welded in, along with the panel below that, the panel above the trans.




i put some ties in to replicate the impressions that are in the rear chassis rails. these are 57mm exhaust tube. blanked on one end with 1.6mm sheet. and another 1.6mm sheet sat below the inner level, so to appear to have a depression

plug welded to the outer skin and welded to the inner skin. i have another 2 to weld in, 1 on each side



just checking the hieght





once the edge is tapped down it will be within tolerance


thanks for watching

[JTR70]

Like all the rest of your closing panel work...Looks bitchen!

[kiwi john]

Hi Neil
You seem to be getting the hang of this shaping thing. Good on ya

Cheers John

[neilb]

Hi Neil
You seem to be getting the hang of this shaping thing. Good on ya

Cheers John

thanks john, to be honest between you and me i've just worked out how to take pictures and photoshop them lol

[kiwi john]

Much easier to touch up than the old 35mm eh ? Youre doing a great job young fella. Might pop in on Saturday if you are there Cheers John

[neilb]

thanks john you are welcome to drop in whenever you feel like


so on to the really cool stuff! i called in to see peter and we had some dies made for his pullmax machine so we could make the hood frame...

these are the dies



and after setting them up for clearance the fun began...
the steel to be shaped












all trimmed and ready for the hinge pockets to be blocked in




more to follow soon enough


thanks neil

[Phil Planck]

Simply amazing. What luck to be near a master, along with your great skills.
Phil