Ok, I hacked at the apron and managed to save it. I had to make the entire left side, basically. It turned out nice. The seam where the apron is welded to the trunk channel gets filled with seam sealer and smoothed, so all you see is a crease. Look below the apron and check out the rust mess that's hanging there. I completely removed that lower "pan" brace and am in the process of making a new one to replace it. That should be interesting. It also has braces welded into it for the rear two body mounts. Here's the rear body mount brace...UGLY!! I really got myself into a pickle with this car. This brace was packed with mouse nest fluff, just like the rocker panels. If I didn't already have almost $2k into the interior already, I'd be seriously thinking about unloading this thing. BUT, that won't be the case at this point.
Another thrash session in the garage this morning, and almost completed the rear body mount brace. It's not perfect, but it won't be something everyone sees. The only thing that will show, is the flat part underneath the car. The top flanges are still rough...I'll beat those out when I'm finished making it fit right. It goes into place pretty well now, but I have a couple little spots to trim.
Adam, I am completely impressed with your fabrication abilities. Very nice work. I'm sure when you're done that car will be not only a beauty, but something you can be really proud of too! Nice work, buddy!
58 was one of the best years of design. It doesn´t matter if you look at a 58 cadillac, buick, oldsmobile or chevy. They built beautyful cars that year. But this Buick is going to be a real beauty. Very impressiv how you fabricate all the sheet metal. good job. But wouldn´t it save time and hard work if you would disassamble the car completely (frame off) and get everything sandblasted. That´s the way I did on my 57 Bel Air before we started with the body work. Or don´t you want to disassamble this far? BTW: It´s a funny thing to see the Centurion parking side to side with the riv. The Centurion is such a huge car, but looks small on the pic. unbelieveable.
I'm repairing all I can before the body comes off the frame to eliminate body flex...especially in the rockers. After it comes off the frame, I'll repair what is left.
very nice metalworking! I always liked the '58 styling. as for your rust issues,I know how you feel,as I'm having to make some trunk floor braces,and fix a couple of other holes in the trunk floor of my '68 Imperial, best of luck on your resto!
Lookin good. Been watchin your progress. How much experience do you have workin sheet metal? I look forward to the updates.
Experience? About 6 months:laugh: I should be able to get some stuff done tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll have that rear brace welded back into the body.
Adam, You are one dedicated dude!!! I wish we lived closer, I'd throw my mig in the trunk and come over for a weekend.
Yeah, come on Dan! What's the deal??:laugh: I can't wait until I get this thing onto a set of dollies so I can roll it to the other side of the garage. There's probably an inch of rust and dirt under that car from me pounding and beating on it.
No, I have found some of the things I need locally... I have a feeling he will want some big $$ (which I have absolutely no extra right now). I could use the rear portion of the trunk pan, but I'll make do without it. I would love to drag the whole car home from him. The other bad parts on the car - passenger side rocker, passenger side floors, lower door corners. I have yet to dive into the doors, but I can tell the corners have a little bit of perforation in them. Of course, they're all coated in Bondo, so I can't see the extent of the damage.
Cool pics.. I'll think of that project and that convertible that was mentioned earlier from another forum when things look uphill here.
you really wanna know? about two hours ago I found out that I've been financially wiped out. I don't even want to get into this. Lets continue talking about 58 Buicks that need metalwork. ou:
Fair enough, Dan. I'm tapped out at the moment as well. Ok, back to the 58... I picked up the stainless trim from the door panels at the upholsterer's today so I could polish them before he reinstalls them on the panels. These things were a real mess. I'm probably going to have to find a better one for the drivers' side, since this one is dented and bent up pretty good. It's also missing a bunch of the nails on the back that hold it to the panel. They're polishing up nicely, though!
Nice! Here is the progress on the door panels... http://www.undercoverupholsteryandpaint.com/1958Buick.html
I emailed the guy at the yard with the white Limited parts car, and he wants $500 plus shipping for the trunk lid. I think I'll pass. Moving right along... I started plugging the giant hole in the trunk this evening. I worked on the drivers side today, and will finish the passenger side tomorrow. Lots of bends and manipulating to be done to get the right contours of the trunk pan! It's much better than it looks in the photos. I just have a couple pieces to make on the passenger side...hopefully it won't take me 5 hours like the drivers side did today.
