1958 Limited Four Door Riviera

Discussion in 'Projects' started by Smartin, Jul 13, 2008.

  1. Floydsbuick

    Floydsbuick Well-Known Member

    No way.....your metal work looks good! But.........You can only go so thin with flux cored. You using .035? When you start getting into some real thin stuff, a bottle of Argon/Co2 mix and some .023 will help you out greatly, especially if you get to some overhead.
     
  2. d2_willys

    d2_willys Well-Known Member

  3. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Yes, .035. It seems to want to push through the metal sometimes. I see what you are saying. Maybe I should just try gas/.023 sometime.

    In other news, my front floors came today from Classic Fabrication. They are perfect. He sent me some scrap by request so I could finish the toe boards without having to buy the whole part.
     
  4. buford owner

    buford owner Well-Known Member

    adam,nice job your'e doing on that 58. the floors from classic are nice,got some for my 63 but haven't installed them yet ,buford owner from ct aka don
     
  5. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    I managed to get a few hours in the garage this weekend. It snowed about 2" Sunday morning...yuck!

    The floors from Classic Fabrication are pretty nice. They are a great template, although they're not perfect reproductions. Definitely something that I can't do!

    Measuring to cut:

    [​IMG]


    Easy enough. I had to make a portion of the toe board, since the front floor pan didn't go all the way to the vertical bend. I left the factory seam there.

    [​IMG]


    Here are the right hand floor sections. Both have to be replaced just like the drivers sides. I will also be re-doing one of my patches that didn't work out so well when I first started doing this. :blush:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Are you replacing or refurbishing that heater core underneath the front seat?
     
  7. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    I have one that looks like it's NOS that came with the car. Everything on the cooling system leaks on this thing. You should see the radiator! It's one giant green corroded mess.
     
  8. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    I'm not surprised to hear that a NOS came with the car. :laugh: Are you going to recore the radiator too, I assume it has brass tanks?
     
  9. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Yep...it has to be recored. Unfortunately, I don't think Auto Zone carries one for a 58:laugh:

    It came with NOS front aluminum brake drums, too.
     
  10. EEE

    EEE Straight out of lo-cash!

    I've found some super strong magnets that are quite handy when it comes to welding in patch panels. They look like little shiny discs and cost a couple of $ each, but they can hold a lot of weight. Something to think about when you need to align that stuff.
     
  11. Elf

    Elf Elf

    You're doin' a great job... Especially for using flux core wire! I see the light gray soot in one of your picures and at first glance I thought you might be welding galvinized material in place...
    Anyhow, nice job:TU:

    If your comfortable with flux core, stay with flux core. The most important advice I had received from any good welder is "get comfortable".

    Keep up the excellent work!
     
  12. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Back at it..

    I located a 57 Super parts car, and harvested the trunk channel from it, since mine is pretty much completely gone. I also grabbed a big chunk of the trunk floor. I have a swiss cheese trunk pan. Surprised??

    [​IMG]

    Test fitting the channel... I have just a little bit of adjusting to do. After I get that installed, I have to reinstall the metal "skirt" that was welded to the channel. (see photo above). The 57 did not have this skirt.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    I welded the trunk channel today and patched a few spots just inside and outside of where it connects to either side of the trunk.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I was hoping I could get away with using the apron I pulled off, but it's more swiss cheese than I thought...and I don't think I can effectively repair it. Does anyone know if all the 58's have this apron that tucks under the rear bumper?

    [​IMG]

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    Here I am struggling to hold up the piece while taking a picture - for reference.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. 70lesabre455

    70lesabre455 Don't U wish U had 1?

    My Roadmaster probably has it, but I can't tell :Do No: from the pics I have on my hard drive. :Dou:

    Next time I'm out at my dad's place I'll take a look.

    --C4
     
  15. 69GS400s

    69GS400s ...my own amusement ride!

    Hey !! BUuWaak factory lightweight go-fast parts just like the thunderbolt

    KEWL !!


    Keep up the great work Smarty
     
  16. Nailhead58

    Nailhead58 Well-Known Member

    As far as this apron goes, I'm thinking it may be unique to the Limited. I came to this conclusion after consulting my trusty Master Body Parts Book. It never does show this part specifically in any illustration, but does show the rear end panel, which appears to be the piece behind this apron. The rear end panel is actually the same for all large series Buicks from 1957 and 1958. The panel you need, as near as I can tell, is called the rear end gravel deflector, part number 4726721, and is only used on the '58 Limited. I wish I could offer you better news, and maybe somebody will come on here and tell me I'm all wet, but this is sure how it appears. I've been very interested in the progress you've been making on this project. I'm well into a '58 Special four-door myself, and was feeling pretty sorry for myself with the rust I was dealing with. That is, until I started following your build. If intestinal fortitude were money, you'd be in the Fortune 500.

    Eric
     
  17. Andrew

    Andrew Well-Known Member

    im sure with your skills you could fabricate this part in about an hour. maybe invest in a brake, you definitely would use it tons on your project.
     
  18. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Eric - that's great news:laugh::Dou:

    Andrew - you're probably right. I will need access to a brake...a fairly large one. The only thing I'm worried about is getting it to bend along the slight radius of the trunk edge. Although, if I notch the top flange, it should bend. I'll probably have to cut the lower horizontal portion as well...then reweld it back together. ugh.
     
  19. 72lark350

    72lark350 GOING FAST WITH CLASS

    Im a lil late on this project, but that is a really awesome looking car!! :TU:
     
  20. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Thanks Brian!:beer

    That's the only thing that keeps me going on this project...just keep looking at photos of the car when it was still together:shock: :bglasses:
     

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