You guys are scaring me. I am hoping this fall to start dismantling and fixing things.

I know there is filler in places that is about 1/2" thick. I can't see where the PO pounded anything out or welded anything though.

I know he put in some patch panels (cab corners and one fender).

I am getting afraid to tear into it. OK...not really, but I am not looking forward to what I will find hidden under it all.

 

Cheer up Brian, for sure you'll also find a bunch of stuff the PO didn't fix at all!

 

Actually, he did a pretty good job mechanically. I have been pleasantly surprised so far. I am not having to re-do anything. Just make continuing repairs.

It is a lot of fun to drive, so shutting it down to work on will be something hard to do.

If I were a body and paint expert and had all the correct tools and equipment it wouldn't worry me so much. LOL

 

I've heard the phrase, "If you can't weld good, weld a lot", but sounds like you found a prototype.

Is this your panel? I have a bench seat I'm parting out but I don't have a clue if the tracks are the same. If you can use the ones I have, they're yours. If you know or need pictures just email or pm me.

 

Tim
My Panel has a Pickup style bench seat, should be the same.

I'm going to go wrestle with an Ol'Cuss this week about a 52/3 Panel. He thinks the trees growing thru the floor and out the windows adds value somehow. (The Chassis is good, or so I've been told.)

 

That must make it a 'woody' - I 've heard they're expensive

I'll drag the seat base out and check to see if the track is in good operating condition.

 

Well, then.. offer to let him keep the trees. Win/Win

 

I had a fellow once that gave me a ****** Jeep, but I couldn't cut the 8" dia. pecan tree that was growing between the frame and transmission. A torch made quick work of the frame and outer body panel and I even left him the piece of frame seeing as the tree had grown around it.

 

Now THAT'S funny!

I like the way you think

Bobby

 

My 2 cents...It's better to fix the small problems now the correct way and enjoy it for years to come than to wait for the thing rust apart under the bondo/filler and have to do a big repair job.

It's kinda like a leaky roof......it's just a small leak......right?

 

Body work is really not that difficult or does it require a lot of facy tools or equipment, just patience and some understanding of what the metal does when worked. We've talked about Covel's video, he explains things thru demonstrations that shows most of the basics, on dolly and off dolly hammering, stretching/shrinking/shaping. The rest is having patience and having a good eye.

 

One word: expand-a-foam. On my '73 IH the PO sprayed it into the cab corners for rust-hole-filler. The PO of my '48 was just simply "torch-happy"

 

Expand-a-foam has it's uses, the excess foam that escapes from a box frame, about 18" off the ground thru a 1/4 in hole makes some interesting objects on the ground. Especially when this is painted various shades of Brown and mounted on a wood plaque.

BREAKING NEWS
I bought a 51/2 Panel Truck today, it's a sliding scale deal, $125 for the chassis, and up to $250 total for the rest depending on the condition of the parts and if I really want them.

A number of you have offered to help me with everything from a Pony to things I actually need, and requests for leftovers.
I will get with you as the progress unfolds.
Thanks Dick.

 

Sounds like you're making some real progress there, Dick. Good news!

 

A friend asked me to help him replace the Corvair IFS that had been installed by a PO in his Model A. We got it in the air and all we could see holding it in was four 5/16 bolts about one inch long. I said lets start with them, as I whacked the heads off with the hot wrench. To my dismay the whole thing fell out on the floor as it ripped the rag joint in half. You gotta love those PO's. Rod...