Help with Backdate of Front Latch Panel
 

Hi Pelicans,

I'm in the process of removing the front latch panel. This is on a 1972 that was front dated with a front clip of a 74-89. I have drilled out I believe all of the spot welds and some welds of the edges of the seams had to be cut out. I'm trying to wrap my head around how to get it out of there as it seems to be locked in as it wraps around the pan back and forth at the bottom. I purchased a spot weld chisel to assist in breaking the welds, which has worked. If you have completed this and can advise please chime in.

This first pic shows the inside where the panels wrap around each other making so you can't simply pull the panel out...

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Thanks for your help,

Rodney

Any ideas? Or help? Thanks...

Are you trying to save the 74/89 latch panel? If not, cut it into pieces and out it comes surely?

I just did this. As mentioned. Cut around the edge . Once large center section is out. You can work your way around removing the edge.

Cutting out is the only way. You will not clear the inner fender panel lip or the lower pan overlap section.

Also, the lower weld seam will have a weld bead right where it ends on the inner fender and meets the front pan. You will have to cut this with a wheel or saw.

Thank you everyone for your advice. Some time the obvious is not obvious! Like cutting it out. Heck no I don't want that front latch panel, I'm mad at it and the PO that put it in, I will be more than happy to cut it out. I will get update my progress later on after this weekend.

Subscribed as I have the same project to do on my 1972 that was converted to short-hood in the 1980’s... why did they do it?!?!?

I don't know... there is a special place after death for these people!

Good news is I got it out and I took some pictures.

So, the first this is yes, you need to cut it apart, the obvious that I overlooked. Here are my steps...

1. Drill out all of the spot welds from the front of the panel and I did drill some on the inside where the latch panel meets the pan on the inside corners.
2. Use a Spot Weld chisel to break free areas. Which I did a lot where the spot weld was not completely removed by the drilling.
3. Cut the latch panel major section all around where the it does not touch the side panels or pan with a sawzall.
4. Cut the lower center of the remaining panel in half once separated by the chisel and loosened from the pan with a dremel tool or something similar so you don't cut the pan behind.
5. Now work the sides out of the latch panel where they meet the corners of the wheel well panels. Start loosening from the top, drilling out areas that you missed and hammering free with the chisel.
6. Good Luck!

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Some more pics...

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All Done...

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Next up, the bumper mounts?

Are you going to replace the battery boxes? Looks like a great project, keep posting your progress.

Yes, I will attempt to get rid of the bumper mounts but that might be one of the last steps as that is where I plan to attach the rotisserie.

I posted a poll a week or so ago regarding the battery boxes. 2 to 1 said to leave them off...

I used my bumper shock mounts for the rotisserie I used. Cut and welded some bolts to the end of the factory shocks and used some beefy nuts to hold it all in place when on the rotisserie.

And yet history keeps repeating itself today with all the short hood conversions to long hood. Twenty yrs from now people will be scratching their heads and wondering why they did that?

Nice work, enjoy following your progress.

I totally agree. I cannot believe that people are backdating SCs and Carreras. I have owned a couple of SCs and they are great cars, that should not be backdated. I'm for customizing but with minimal serious changes to the vehicle. Otherwise in the future these people will be referred to negatively as the "PO".

+1
I cringe every time I see a ....."backdate...." thread.