Elegant decay aka the "Ratty Caddy."

[Torchie]

Hey Torchie. Here is a front clip for your barn find coupe.

Crazy man......
Torchie.

 

[Torchie]

I did a little bit of shop time today.
I need to build a "Step" for lack of a better term.
Pics. 1-2 The area that need filled in.
Pics 3-7. The materials at hand.
Pics 8 -9. The step as it is in the front door opening.
MY plan is this. I will use some home builder terms to try to keep things straight.[cl
The 1x1 square tubing will go up under the sill. Right at the outside edge of the remaining sill.
This will reinforce the sill as well as giving me the "Toe kick" that I need. (There is those home builder terms.)
To the outside of the 1x1 stock i will attach the smaller square stock.
That will give me the tread that I need for the rocker skin.
I will weld in the 1x1 and tie it to the new dog leg.
Then at the B pillar, I will do the same.
This will make the sill good. and strong. I can also bolt down through the sill and the 1x1 Once the sill plate trim is back on nothing would be seen.
That's the plan for now. I hope to get started back on it tomorrow.
Things are going good here. My right hand now looks like my left one ,again.
Keep on keeping on......
Torchie.

 

[Old Iron]

[[[

 

[soltz]

Glad to see your doing better[cl
Have both hands does make life a little easier
Little steps will get er done[

 

[earthman]

..................

 

[Torchie]

Holiday Happenings.....
Hot here for this time of year.
I got some shop time in early on before the heat really sets in.
I am out of metal so for the Cadillac I went scrounging to see what I can come up with.
Pulled some decent sized pieces from my pile. Also looking at what I can cut off the Donor Dodge before it heads off to the final scrap pile.
Bear in mind i will be using this for floor repairs on the Cadillac. Not that I doesn't deserve new metal. One of the things about this build is to use up what I have and once I take a disc to that roof of the donor that will be a big piece of really nice sheet metal.
I'm using the donor as kind of a storage area for now. I put the back seat out of the Caddy in there to get it out of the way in the shop. And sort of keep it out of the weather.
I need to call for a price on more 18 gauge for the Dodge. [
That's it for now. Trying to get all my follow up Drs appointments lined up.
Keep on keeping on....
Torchie

 

[soltz]

Making headway [
Using cutoffs is a $ saver. Bought new for the floor, everything else is from the roof in this case the paint matches [cl
Luck with the Doc [P

 

[Torchie]

Thanks soltz.
Regret hearing about your Missus.
Healing strength to you both.
I have no problems using metal of the donor.
Even with the surface rust its still better( and cheaper ) the new.
The day got away from me snd i never called my supplier for a price on a full sheet of 18 gauge.
Im sure it will still be $$$$ tomorrow.
Torchie

 

[Old Iron]

Doesn't hurt a thing to use donor materials in fact, I use recycled materials quite a bit.

 

[Torchie]

Doesn't hurt a thing to use donor materials in fact, I use recycled materials quite a bit.

Its going yo have to for the Cadillac. OI
Just called my supplier. $190 for 4x8 sheet of 18 gauge.
Hmmm
Torchie

 

[soltz]

Its going yo have to for the Cadillac. OI
Just called my supplier. $190 for 4x8 sheet of 18 gauge.
Hmmm
Torchie

Could buy a few donors for the much

 

[Torchie]

Todays effort...
Off with the rocker skin.
Strengthened the sill with square tubing.
Added the smaller stock to make the step.
Rocker skin back on.
Rocker extension lightly tacked in place.
Close but not quite there yet.
The extension is sticking out a bit too far from the door edge
More fitting and refining tomorrow than on to the [ [ [
When I got the Caddy that left rear quarter would wobble when I closed the door.
Very solid now and it will get even more so as I keep repairing parts.
Keep on keeping on.....
Torchie.

 

[soltz]

<<[cl>>

??[P??

 

[BillM]

Looking good Torchie!

 

[bob w]

It's the work that nobody sees and appreciates that makes for a good foundation. Nice work Torchie.

 

[Torchie]

Thanks Bill and bob.
Moving forward......
Welded in the the new dog leg piece as well as the door jamb piece.
Ugly but strong.
When my brother looked at the car he was like' Did you see that rear DS dog leg."
No problem says I..... Solid as a rock now.
As can be seen I am not going to be cutting out too much and butt welding.
All I want is for it to be strong. Safe and sealed. By the time I am done it will be all of that plus more.
I went through my cutoff bin and started to dig up some metal.
Remember that once this is all repaired and the carpet goes in nobody will see any of this.
See the pic with the cheesy carpet and the sill plate on.
Those sill plates are the first thing I bought as I have the PS but not the DS.
I figured I would need them as a guide.
That's it for today.
Hopefully more tomorrow.
Disclaimer.........
I know this is not one of our typical builds. Not exactly a rat but perhaps something else.........
All I know or care about is that for the first time in a while I am having some fun out in the shop again.....And that's enough for me.
Keep on keeping on....
Torchie

 

[Old Iron]

Having fun is what it's all about

 

[soltz]

Nice work [cl
Glad to hear your having FUN

 

[Torchie]

Thanks OI and soltz.
Amazing what we consider to be fun. Isn't it. [cl
Mrs.T found me out in the shop just sitting and staring at both projects yesterday. I think she understands.........
I started to harvest some metal from the donor, today.
Breezy here today so Sparks are an issue.
This old Hamtramck steel is really Hard.
I used all of a 6" cutting disc just to get this piece.
A little more cleanup and some trimming and shaping will be needed before [ [ [
Keep on keeping on....
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

Some help stopped by so we pulled out the rear seat backrest.
Torchie