Could have killed me - or it would be funny

[doozer]

DISCLAIMER: When I first got this car it was in need of a new front gas tank pan because of some rust where the batterey sits, so I ordered a new pan set and had a local shop weld it in for me - this was all done before I started working on the car.

"Well upon jacking the front center of the car to do a little grinding I heard a loud pop, then a cracking noise..."

This is where the fun begins. Ok so I repositioned the jack to behind the front suspension and started to do a some exploratory to find the source of these bad noises. What I discovered was the Master #$@%@#$#@$ Fabricator who installed the NEW Restoration Design front pan did so with big strips of double sided tape and JB Weld, o- and a few poor spot welds just for safety. He did this in trade because at the time I was too busy to do it myself and I had not decided that I wanted to do a full build on this chassi.The pop noise was the JB Weld and spot welds letting go.

MORE PHOTOS:
http://hypertec.ws/todd_porsche/photos/front_clip/front_clip.html

Anyone need a almost new front gas tank surround?

this is where I removed part of the front clip to tube frame and firewall the front, this is not where it failed.

[Dantilla]

Double sided tape and JB Weld? I believe that's the recommended repair in the factory service manual.

Or did that section call for duct tape?

[doozer]

It looks like he painted both sides with JB except a small area where he used double sided tape to hold the pans together until the JB set up.

I will give JBWeld new respect because unknowingly I had driven this car like this

[MotoSook]

Oh my! He just didn't use enough of the hardner in the JB mix...crap man! *shaking head*

Glad it was discovered. The fabrication looks great!

[doozer]

Thanks, that was the only part of the car I had not done myself and now I can sleep at night. besides my Model3 tube bender will arrive tomorrow and this looks like the perfect project to break it in

[dtw]

I see some Texas-style justice in the "master craftsman's" future.

Glad nothing more drastic happened.

[s4floorin]

sup doozer. i ran into a problem on the front also. the mount where the control arm bolts to the body is bent slightly on the passenger side. where the front part of the control arm swings in the "semi-circle" is slightly angled to the side . the car was never in an accident, and the drivers side is flat. could this be normal, or is it tweaked a little?

oh, also what engine are you running? iron or aluminum block v8?

thanks and good luck with that frontend.

[s4floorin]

oh, speaking of model 3 bender, mine should be coming in a week or so also, after the "3 week waiting time". lemme know how that bender works out. it got pretty expensive from that base price once all the goodies were added. lol

[doozer]

Mine with the bender, degree wheel, pedestal, 1.75 5.5" Tube DIE, shipped was $755

Very Excited!!!!

[doozer]

Tweeked - accidents can come in the form of tow hook (front a-arm mount) collission with the ground too.. Does it pass alignment??

Motown ( World Products ) 415ci low compression iorn race block.

Thanks
Todd

Originally posted by s4floorin
sup doozer. i ran into a problem on the front also. the mount where the control arm bolts to the body is bent slightly on the passenger side. where the front part of the control arm swings in the "semi-circle" is slightly angled to the side . the car was never in an accident, and the drivers side is flat. could this be normal, or is it tweaked a little?

oh, also what engine are you running? iron or aluminum block v8?

thanks and good luck with that frontend.

[crashmy911]

If there is ever some one who deserves a punch in the mouth with no explaination this would be the guy! Really that should be criminal!

[masraum]

The only problem was that he didn't use enough JB Weld!

Yeah, that sucks.

Glad you found it the easy way instead of the hard way.

My dad said that once when he was younger he had the gas tank fall out of the back of a Nova as he drove it because of rust.

[doozer]

I though if I could tape it back long enough to run him over, it would be his fault --- Your Honor it just lost control!!

[scottb]

Todd: I assume you paid the guy good money for the work. What are you going to do about his incompetence?

[LakeCleElum]

The scary thing is.........Guys like him do this to rustbuckets and then sell them on E-bay!!!!!!!!

[Jim Garfield]

Didn't anyone warn you about having structural work done at Motor Meister??????

[john70t]

You could blame the "mechanic"....
-who could blame the "shop"...
-who could blame JBWELD...
-who could blame the structural-stength info on "user-error", which would be the "shop"....
-which would lead to double-jepardy which is illegal under US law...-

-so just orginize a circle jerk instead.........

[doozer]

I blame myself for not doing it myeslf in the first place!!!

[ckissick]

I think the guy took the name JB 'Weld' too literally.

[randywebb]

In California you might be able to get the state to go after him.

In Texas, I doubt they'll do anything. But you should still try...