Could really use some bodywork help.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: concord nc
Could really use some bodywork help.
does anyone know if anybody makes a replacement panel for just this section of my 51 F-1 fender? it doesnt look bad but is rusted all the way through.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 581
Likes: 2
From: Byron Bay Australia
cut the rusted area out all the way to good clean metal, then clean up the edges of the hole. Hold some new sheetmetal behind the hole and mark with a scriber, then cut it to get the best fit you can. Try to aim for around no more than 1/16 gaps.
Hold it in place and start with some small tacks and then carefully weld it in place using short welds and letting it cool between welds. Dont try to weld it all in one go. instead let it cool between welds.
Then carefully grind the welds (i presume you are using a mig) again being careful to not overheat the area.
Enjoy and i hope that helps. John
Hold it in place and start with some small tacks and then carefully weld it in place using short welds and letting it cool between welds. Dont try to weld it all in one go. instead let it cool between welds.
Then carefully grind the welds (i presume you are using a mig) again being careful to not overheat the area.
Enjoy and i hope that helps. John
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas NV
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,288
Likes: 1,053
From: NM
You think yours is bad?? Get it before it turns into this! (or maybe yours has 5 lbs of bondo slathered on it like mine did?) I was going to do a metal repair, it was just too much. I could probably do it in 3 or 4 months now, but fiberglass was a lot less trouble...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas NV
you have inspired me to try it...what welding method did you use.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 652
From: Brentwood, TN
Ron Covell has a line of videos that cover metalshaping and welding...I would recommend that you buy/borrow/rent as many of these as you can, your efforts will be well-rewarded. I never realized how simple it was to fabricate a fairly complex repair panel until I learned hammerforming.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 652
From: Brentwood, TN
Actually he is from a place called Freedom, CA up around the bay area. I took a workshop from him this past year and ran into him again at the Grand National Roadster Show. He does the "Professor Hammer" articles in the back of some of the truck mags. Helluva nice guy and a great teacher.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,662
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas NV
i was watching this video last night
YouTube - METAL SHAPING WITH HAND TOOLS (English craftsman)
so i thought it was the same guy..
YouTube - METAL SHAPING WITH HAND TOOLS (English craftsman)
so i thought it was the same guy..
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,962
Likes: 261
From: East KY
To answer the original question, that patch panel used to be manufactured by EMS as a stamped piece (which greatly limits who can reproduce it) and was actually sold by a few other vendors. And it still hangs around in a few catalogs which have not been updated. BUT, it is no longer available from EMS (I called them. They said they "lost the dies"??) or anybody else that I know of right now. And that sucks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,288
Likes: 1,053
From: NM
To answer the original question, that patch panel used to be manufactured by EMS as a stamped piece (which greatly limits who can reproduce it) and was actually sold by a few other vendors. And it still hangs around in a few catalogs which have not been updated. BUT, it is no longer available from EMS (I called them. They said they "lost the dies"??) or anybody else that I know of right now. And that sucks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 652
From: Brentwood, TN
I don't know why you say that "which greatly limits who can reproduce it"...just because EMS stamped the part doesn't mean that you or anyone else could not make the part using another technique...say hammerforming.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,962
Likes: 261
From: East KY
Let me rephrase that. It would limit who was willing and able to reproduce it on a commercial scale. Sure, we can sit down and make them in time, but I was talking about reproducing them on a big scale to sell as a patch panel.