Yeah, it really is that bad....

Did some trading and wound up with a large metal working project. It was in a garage that burned to the ground. It's a complete body except for rear fenders. The doors, hood and front fenders are from a different car so they're just rusty. I have a couple 4x8's of 20ga so I should be able to do quite a bit without spending any money.









The Camaro is to the nuts and bolts stage and I really wanted to do some metal/fab work.
I guess I should be careful what I wish for.

What a shame. At least you are going to try to bring her back. Looks like a solid piece before the fire. You are like me though with the tin work. It's better than 100 bucks an hour for a head doctor. LOL
Doesn't look all that bad even for a fire case. Be interesting to see what has stretched and shrank from the fire when you get to bending the tin...

Yeah, I'm going to take this opportunity to learn how to use a shrinking disc.

1/2done wrote:Yeah, I'm going to take this opportunity to learn how to use a shrinking disc.

I've never messed with one either. Should be a cool project. Takes lots of pics. If you need a hand to move the heavy stuff around scream. I can stop up and help if you need anything.

I can stop up and help if you need anything.

Yeah, I think I need bitchslapped back to reality.

Bill it seems you have a doosie on your hands. Good find! Can't wait to see the progress.

1/2done wrote:I can stop up and help if you need anything.

Yeah, I think I need bitchslapped back to reality.

I have faith in ya..

I've spent about 8hrs over the last two nights working on the roof.
I started by knocking it back into something that resembled a roof with a rubber hammer.


Then I started to shrink and planish working from one edge. toward the other.


You can pretty much tell where I left off.


I have a shrinking disc ordered from Wray Schelin that was shipped today so hopefully I'll have it before Christmas and be able to work on final smoothing this weekend.
I also scored a frame, complete front axle, spare beam, 2 sets of bones split and unsplit and rear leaf springs for $200.00.
I think I did alright.

Price was right for sure.
I looked at the pics when you first got it while it was wet and thought the roof wasn't too bad. While wet I tend to see more. That first pic you just now posted blows me away it was worse than I thought. What little bit you have already done kills me. I guess I have to take Fuzzy Faces title away and give you the Master Builder Title...
LOL only thing is I really mean it. Nice work so far Bill...
I'm in between coats of paint for my axle so seeing this gives me a little push. I'm going back to the garage.

That thing is going to look great

I played with Photoshop tonight. I really like the way this turned out.

I've never done a project with this large of scale of metalwork before, but it's only sheetmetal. How bad could I screw it up? Look what I started with.

Those roofs always scared me a bit. It looks like a hard one to get the proportions just right. I'd like to see it done though. I like the photo shop job.

That really looks sweet!

I got my shrinking disc Wednesday. The DVD that came with it really helped explain how to smooth metal back out.
Started with shape roughed back in.


Guide coat.


Sand off high spots.


Plannish and shrink to raise the lows and lower the highs.


I'm about 18hrs into the roof and I'd guess I'll have 50-60 in it before I'm done.

Its looking good man....alot of work for sure.......

I been looking into it more. Are you using a rag with water or a squirt bottle? I'm going to buy a disk here soon.

I'm just using a blow gun. I figure I don't need any extra sources for oxidation. Plus with compressed air you can hit it from both sides and you can actually see the metal shrink as it cools.
The shrinking disc is the best investment I've made in quite a while. Anyone can do this, all it takes is patience.

RebStew wrote:I guess I have to take Fuzzy Faces title away and give you the Master Builder Title...
LOL only thing is I really mean it. Nice work so far Bill..

I haven't posted at Metalmeet in 3yrs. Look who posted right below my second post back.

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13963

What an undertaking but already looking good! Is this the '40 coupe that was in the back garage at B.A.R. Customs up in Maineville, OH? It sure looks like it. Puddin' Head and I checked that one out at their open house last fall.

Same car. Chris found a better one at an auction.

Thought it was the same one. Not to many toasted '40 coupes out there. Having seen the car before you started working on it I will say you are doing a fantastic job! Looking forward to seeing the finished metalwork.

The roof is 90% done. I still have a couple small ripples to shrink.


I started pulling the 1/4 back in place. It still needs some tweaking but it's close.


I'm going to take a day and clean the garage tomorrow.

Bill you have amazed me again. The roof turned out nice. I was worried about the 1/4 it looked pretty bad. It already looks a ton better. Have you figured out if you are going with a chopped top yet or not?



VERY NICE

Thanks Steve.
I mentioned my possible plans to Chris and he looked at me like I told him I had a terminal illness. He's done a lot of metal work and he said he wouldn't want to do a chop/section on it.
Anyway, with as sore as my body is just from doing what I have so far I'm not sure I'd live through a chop. I had to fall out of bed to get up this morning.
I'm just not built to crouch inside a car all day anymore.

Its looking great!...your doing a really good job pulling everything back in shape......