I replaced the a/c line from the condenser to the evaporator, the radiator and the upper and lower coolant hoses. I finished trimming the sheet metal from the trunk area and the driver's side Rocker panel Josh
I started tearing into the wagon. Someone caulked all around the windshield and then stuck the stainless trim back on. The whole windshield frame is rotted out. Luckily, since it's the same parts on a chevelle, they make replacement pieces to repair it. I pulled the grille and front bumper with no issues. Josh
I went back to the junk yard and found some different cadillac tail lights that fit the profile of the quarter panel of the wagon better. These are dts lights. I pulled the front clip and set if on the g8 to see what is in the way and what works Josh
I pulled the heater core box off the fire wall and removed both bench seats. The floor is totally trashed. When I was kneeling on the floor to remove the back lower bench seat, both my knees punched through what was left of the sheet metal and I was kneeling on the shop floor! I cut the studs off that held the rear seat back, because the nuts were so corroded, I couldn't get a wrench or socket to fit. Once I get it over to the lift, I'll make the braces to pick the car up by the rocket panels and I'll cut the floor out Josh
This one is almost as good as the Estate Sport Wagon thread. Hopefully yours doesn't get destroyed by hail stones like that did.
I pulled the pontiac away from the lift and put the wagon up to remove the rear bumper and rear body mount bolts. Then I made a rail bracket out of one inch square tubing to lift the body off once I cut the floor out Josh
I cleaned up the rocker panels on the wagon and painted the inside black (no picture). I bought some 11gauge steel to box in the rockers on the pontiac. The outer rocker panels of the wagon will attach to the same panel Josh
I measured and trimmed the new rocker panel and drilled what feels like a thousand holes. I painted the inside with epoxy paint and plug welded it to the car. Josh
I'm surprised that the floors were as rusted as they were but the outer rockers look great, this is an interesting project.
Well, after getting the proclaimers stuck in my head, singing " I would drill 500 holes, and I would drill 500 more......" I got the driver's side all set up and I started plug welding and I ran out of mig wire.....To be continued Josh
I was also surprised to see all the rust inside, because the outside is so solid. When I first looked at the car, I walked around knocking on ask the body panels, listening for filler and rust. Aside from just behind the rear wheel wells, everything was very straight and I knew I couldn't pass it up Josh
Probably leaks into the passenger compartment. Water pools on the floors, and Voila! Rust bucket. Very cool project! Looking forward to more progress.
Yesterday, I removed the dash pad while I was waiting on the welding wire. Today I finished plug welding the driver's side rocker panel Josh
I rolled the pontiac under the wagon body and started the process of lowering the body until something hits, cut away obstructions, repeat. I know there's a lot more work to do before I mate the body to the floor pan (windshield channel repair, wiper motor placement, etc.), but I'm really excited seeing where and how things are lining up. The outer rocker panel looks like it'll end up centered in the rocker panel I just welded on, and the rear section of the wagon floor is pretty damn close to where the pontiac trunk floor is. Josh
