More progress

[manoa matt]

BWilson, is it blown between #1 and #2,or just the picture? Any body know what brand of head gasket that is? That silicone bead looks like it would stop the typical seepage. Any close up pictures of the bottom surface at the thin area between the cylinders?

[bwilson27]

I don't wanna highjack Brady's thread, so I posted this:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11006

[azygoustoyou]

I guess my mistakes can be your gain. I always post any issues to help everyone not do the same.
This time I figured I would fill the seams on the front. I checked the center bottom panel and it seemed nice and tight. So I figured it would be just fine to bondo over. Just as I was almost done sanding. I noticed the crack starting to form at the bottom. So I got the welder out and spot welded the whole seam on both sides. Of course the panel got hot enough I had to scrape some of the bondo off and start over. At least I caught it. Hopefully this holds. Back to bondoing. I'm going to put some cat hair over the seam first.

[azygoustoyou]

One side done. The other is almost done.

[azygoustoyou]

Car is off the rotisserie and on the painting cart.

[SLOSpider]

Great job...you sure you dont want to practice on mine first?

[azygoustoyou]

I was outside all day media blasting things I never done. I hope I got it all. I've been working everyday to try to get this stuff done. I thought I would have to buy a new wiper cowl. It had rust in too many spots. I decided to media blast it anyway. I'm glad I did. There was only one small hole near the washer fluid nozzle. The rest is minimal. I'll just put some copper on the back of the hole and fill it in by welding. The welding wire won't stick to the copper. My rocker panels are pretty bad. I was able to clean them up enough to make a mold so I can make some carbon fiber ones.

[bwilson27]

Funny, that looks like the exact same pile of parts that I need to sandblast!

How are you going to do the corner pieces? Paint first, then install, or the other way around?
-Same question for the rocker panels.

[azygoustoyou]

I painted all the pieces that were media blasted yesterday. I have to customize the socket for the reverse lights. I coated the back of the corner pieces with Dupli-color truck bed lining. Tomorrow I'm going to weld the corner pieces onto the car. Then weld the socket for the light. I had to cut some of the area around the bumper hole to make it fit. Then I'll close the seams and they'll be painted with the car.

[bwilson27]

I just sandblasted my corners today... I wish I was a better welder, then I'd probably try doing the same. All I have is a cheap HF 120 v wire feed buzz box.
What did you paint those control arms with?

[azygoustoyou]

When I did the bottom of the car. I used satin black chasis paint.Using a spray gun of course. When I do small items. I used the same paint but in an aerosol can. It works and looks great.
http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=sat ... &ts=custom
I'm not sure what a buzz box is. All you would have to do is spot weld it. It wouldn't be necessary to weld the hole corner. Just enough to hold it still so the seam wouldn't crack. I wouldn't think there would be that much flex in that area.

[bwilson27]

I refer to this as a Buzz Box- http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mi ... 98871.html

Is there any store that sells Eastwood products?

[azygoustoyou]

Yeah,
You have to order at the link I gave you. Unless Eastwood is near you. I'm not sure where they're located. I'm sure if you do a search, there might be other places that sell the same stuff. I don't see any reason you can't do what you want with that welder.
I wasn't sure how the rear lights were going to look until now. I guess they're going to be frenched in. Here are a couple pic's of how it's going to look.

[azygoustoyou]

I got the two sockets done for the lights. I epoxy glued them to the back of the steel sockets. I'll let them dry to a day or two then weld the socket onto the car. I put some holes for the epoxy to push through for more strength. These lights are nice. I'll be able to paint them with the car and all you'll see is the round bubble light. They are actually work lights. They are much brighter and will light up the whole area. They also match the fog lights I'm putting on the front of the car.

[bwilson27]

Sweet!