Nothing too extensive this week, just been making steady progress. Floors are done and the quarter panel is mostly welded in place, will have pics once it's finished next weekend. First though, we knew there was a patch panel on the passenger side quarter already. We're sanding it all right out to see how well it was done, if it needs to be replaced I'll cut it all out and do it again.
But first, here's something a lot of people have likely heard about body work. Bondo on bare metal or primer first? Well, here's why I always prime first, then put filler on... Notice the orange scurge making it's way through.



Undercoated the back side of the quarter panel before it went on.





Finally got the frame painted since the weather warmed up. Paint I used is the same as the Flareside, POR 15. It's awesome stuff.

 

Frame looks great. About how much POR 15 did it take to do the chassis? Cant decide what to coat mine with. Leaning toward brushing a heavy coat of primer, then semi gloss black on mine because it was already undercoated in the past.

 

That took me one quart brushed on. Was just about the perfect amount. I'll be scuffing the por 15 up with some 240 just enough to spray a top coat of tremclad gloss black over it. I had it primed with epoxy, it's nice stuff. Shame to paint over but I'm told it's REALLY sensitive to light and another coat of paint couldn't hurt anything. This stuff is nuts to get off of your skin. It went through my gloves so I'm in school all week looking like I just finished an oil change

 

So I've been off school between semesters for two weeks and Dad and I made a lot of progress. I got the last coat of paint on the frame and brought it home. Finished up the brake lines on it too while the body was off.



Then it was time to clean up the back yard finally before the bylaw officer got pi$$y with me. So I cut the 9 inch out of the frame and send the last of the '82 for scrap. The TTB and front framerails were bent, so there wasn't much that the rest was good for.



Then it was time for the rotten tub to go too. We tried dragging it on with a winch and it wouldn't slide up the ramps. So end over end it went. Got it on video, pretty comical






Then it was time to kick the Firebird out in the driveway for a bit because it was time to put the body on. Of course, when I got my new flywheel I didn't remember to order clutch dowels and bolts so I couldn't put the trans and case in at the same time.. Oh well, the harder way it is. Engine is in though.



Then on went the body. That engine lift has been the handiest investment ever.



Now finally I get to see the actual ride height! I can't wait to take it for a drive.

 

Looking good! Getting exciting. Keep up the good work.

 

You've made a lot of progress. Looks great. Looks like you might have to put smaller tires on it to get it out of the garage. lol.Do you have any recommendations for a good spot weld cutter? Im going to need one shortly to change both quarters on mine.

 

Try going to Eastwood and looking for a spot weld cutter. They have almost anything you can think of for sheetmetal work and great quality.
http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=...0weld%20cutter

 

Thanks! Haha yeah I might be able to get away with letting a bit of air out of them, it's about 2 1/2" too tall for the door. If not there's a set of 235s I can toss on that'll do the trick. I never drilled the original spot welds on the quarters on mine, surprisingly the air chisel was pretty tidy. Any of the others we used step drills on them, then used the same holes for the replacements. But I understand that wouldn't work on the quarters too well



+1 on the Eastwood cutter. Heard a lot of great reviews on it, never tried it myself though. If I ever have to do another quarter panel I'll be investing in one. Don't think I'd be so lucky with the air chisel on all of them. They can be hungry things to work with...

 

Dad emailed me some pics from his camera. My camera phone doesn't take the best ones so here's some better pics of it. And some of the under side, nice and clean We used two tubes of seam sealer underneath, pretty fanatical about rustproofing it. It's sealed up better than factory. It's 100% rust free now!










It was looking at this pic that I realized I forgot to put the block plate on before the flywheel. Woops...

 

I know this is the Big Bronco section, but thought you guys would like this regardless. These two EB's belong to the PO of the green '82 that I got. He's putting the 351W and SROD into the black '69. I'm unsure what year the green one is but it's a parts truck. Cool to see these things around! First ones I've ever really seen up close, they're rare around here.

 

Looking good, can't wait to see it finished! Hopefully I can get a job this summer so I can get spending money for my Bronco haha

 

Thanks! I know what you mean about the spending money. For college I have a weekly budget and whatever I don't spend can go into the Bronco. So I've been surviving at school throughout the week as cheaply as possible The second parts Bronco I bought has paid for itself in scrap and extra parts so it was basically free. Not including the engine which I already had, there's less than $1500 in the whole thing. I'll have some more pics up tonight!

 

Got some more pics to update you guys with. It's slow progress, but it's good progress! Hopefully have the brakes all done and bled as well as the clutch hydraulics.
As it turns out the clips on my NEW clutch fork that hold it onto the pivot ball are broken. However, it appears the slave will put pressure on it to hold it in place on the ball. It doesn't appear to be able to move anywhere, I'm told people have done this plenty of times before and never had problems. I guess we'll see what happens!

Here's the 306 in it's new happy home







The Flareside beside its new sibling! My two 85s





Started the front brakes last night. Educated myself on 4x4 brakes on the forum then went at it. Seemed like just a fair enough deal at first but it's pretty slick once I figured it out.

 

Looking good, Brad. Are you completely redoing the brakes?

 

Thanks Gary. I'm redoing the brakes front to back. I put on all new lines everywhere. On the front I got all new bearings and races as well as wheel seals. Usually repacking the bearings works good for me, but without knowing their history I decided it was cheap insurance to replace them. I didn't go as far as spindle bearings and seals, though. Pads, rotors, calipers and flex lines too. I got the extended braided stainless lines from Skyjacker - NICE product for anybody looking into it. Just no sticker, which sucks
For the back I got new cylinders, shoes and a hardware kit as well as new drums.
Just WAIT until you see the driver's side caliper I pulled off, you will all get a laugh I'm sure.