A little bodywork dilemma...

[Doug Smith]

Hello guys, I've been lurking around here on the paint and body forum for a while keeping up with everyone’s projects. I've got a project under way that has reached the point of needing advice. I think this is the place to get it.

I recently bought a beater 930 for a project car. It had a fiberglass front valence and boxed rockers and it has rear brake vents that were added at some time. Here's a picture of it.



As you can see, the roof had no paint as it apparently peeled off for some reason after a former re-paint. And the interior was in poor condition. So, in true project style, I disassembled it and I’m starting over. Here’s a picture as it currently sits.



Now, here’s my problem. I wasn’t crazy about the valence or the rockers, so I bought a stock valence and rockers to go on it. I’m not sure what to do with the rear brake vents. When I get rid of the boxed rockers and valence, the vents just don’t seem to fit in.

I’d like to get rid of them but I’m not sure how to go about it. Sure, I can cut them out – I have no problem doing that, but I’m sure that someone else could use them so I want to be able to take them out so they can be re-used. The problem is finding or fabricating patch panels to replace them. I can do basic bodywork but fabricating compound curved patch panels is a little outside my skill set. I had even wondered if some hard material shark fins could be used to just cover them up, but I don’t think shark fins are big enough.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks, Doug

[3.2 CAB]

Must have been very fast to blow off all that paint. Other than how it "appeared" before, in the first photo, I didn't even notice the roof till I finished reading what you said about it and had to look at it again, the car looked really nice. Hopefully Axiom or Buckterrier will be able to steer you in the direction you want to go. Are all of the flares and vent areas steel, or? Good luck with it!!

[Doug Smith]

Thanks and yea, I had intentionally taken that picture at an angle so the roof didn't show so much. Looking back, I probably would have been better off just trying to re-paint the roof, but it's too late at this point. Besides, I just can't leave anything alone. The paint wasn't too bad but it did have a few spots where it had cracked and would have peeled off eventually. The previous owner said that when he bought it about 5 years ago, the roof looked fine. But soon it developed a crack right down the middle and eventually peeled off in two sheets.

The body is all original. This is a 79 RoW car with no sunroof. The rear vents are steel as well. That's one reason I'd like to save them for later.

[Axiom]

This is not impossible to do, I have done it a couple of times, it is difficult, but you already have a lot of time invested in it, so try it, I cut off a panel similar to the opening, and started welding on the side closest to the door, as I was moving back, I adjusted the curve of the panel, some places were shot, some places wre too long, guess what !! if it is too long, cut, if it is too short, add, cut some wedges into the top portion of the piece it will be a good experience.

[3D914]

I'm curious Doug,

What did you use to get the rest of the paint off? Chemical, Sander, Blasting?

TIA,

Gerard