RIBS 71 convertible build JUNE 21 till??

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What a mess, it’s going to be worse another layer down…several layers of added metal already there and rusted…

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So lots of moving parts, cowl cut open today and inner cowl cleaned up.  The good news is it was repaired previously, the bad news Is it was a poor repair. It was repaired from underneath, and the metal patch did not reach the firewall or drivers footwell framing. Basically there was a half inch gap all around, stuffed with filler.  My body guy is going to weld in a continuous patch that goes over the firewall and outer structure. Then I will lather it up with seam sealer and it will get a bunch of rustproofing…I thing success is near.

also prepped trunk for some minor repairs, a minor wheel well patch was welded in.

dropped gas tank and plugged lines so welding around trunk floor and tail can be done safely.. all in all a great day…

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And got some springs for front end rebuild…

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New bumper supports mounted on metal plates to cover some minor rust perforation…

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20 holes filled, doing trim delete, also filled the 73 under the bumper holes..l.

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Getting ready for cowl repair completion, and prepping frame for chassis paint.

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Cowl mostly back together after repair, the blue is Eastwood self leveling seal sealer, and some painters tape to stop the flow. Monday  the end cap goes on the cowl, followed by the frame member. I have more sealing to do after final welding, then the car is driveable again!

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Also found the serial number on the engine, it matches the VIN.

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I have the inside new metal sprayed with black rustoleum.

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It’s back together, needs some seam sealer, paint and rubberized coating….I am excited!  It passed the initial leak test, more to come after final sealing….

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Finished self leveling seam sealer in the cowl and other areas. Sprayed part of trunk with primer after rust repair, then tested spatter spray around gas tank and filler, and reinstalled gas tank! The car is alive again! Also final adjustment and hangers on exhaust…

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Painted cowl with rustoleum satin black, it’s still wet. Changed points, did timing, AF idle mixture, and idle speed….put on the nice wheels and tires, and hooked power to top back up….

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Are those the forged American Racing one piece wheels?  Very nice!

 
Are those the forged American Racing one piece wheels?  Very nice!
Not forged as far as I know, way to cheap!  About $140 per rim?  Special ordered them with the tires from Tire Rack, they beat every other price. American Racing VN 501 I think.

 
So give me some input, what’s the best way to fix this without replacing the quarter? My budgets not going to tolerate more metal work on the car. My thoughts are to wire wheel it to death, and then do one of the following. Coat it with master coat rust encapsulator, or use master coat metal prep phosphoric Acid on it but I don’t want that to soak into the surrounding Bondo, seam seal and fiberglass it. A lot of the metal thats Swiss cheese style has good metal underneath it so I will probably cut that out and remove that layer.

Do any of these seem like reasonable repairs or what better solutions are out there?

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