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  #671  
Old 05-25-2017, 08:15 PM
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Jack 1957 Jack 1957 is offline
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I wanted to radius the left tail light opening today but I took a second look at the shape of the right side and still wasn't satisfied with it. The slope at the rear edge still didn't match the left side. It was about 4 degrees off and the edge along the outboard side of the opening needed to be built up about 1/8". I got all that straightened out. It took most of the day with not a lot to show for it but it's done. It's starting to look a little like Frankenstein back here but it's dimensionally correct. Nothing a little duraglass can't handle. I'll finish the left tail light opening next then get started on the skirt.


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  #672  
Old 05-26-2017, 10:09 AM
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I have been a long time fan of the LeSabre Concept car but never knew the skirts on that car were hinged till I came across this video. I don't think I can do this, though. If you notice, the quarter and skirt on the LeSabre are very flat, low crown panels. I have much more curve in mine. This would make access MUCH easier though. Back to the drawing board! Check out the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkC3Vj0isE
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Last edited by Jack 1957; 03-01-2019 at 01:58 AM.
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  #673  
Old 05-26-2017, 01:54 PM
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Steve Hamilton Steve Hamilton is offline
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Hi Jack
That is a great old video, thanks for sharing!

Neat idea for your car, hinges will be tricky. Keep the pivot point as tight to the skin as possible. Should help.

Would a hinge that has a slide to extend it's length help with higher crown to the fender. Just thinking, keep the bear claws, when they release the lower qtr. drops extending the hinge. This would create more clearance and get it below the trim. That would unhook the pins or tabs at the bottom of the qtr also.
Would need to include a latch of some sort to keep them extended while it is open. Like the old station wagon upper slides.
When lowered match the pins at the bottom then lift to latch the bear claws, works in my head may not be very easy though!

Good luck
Steve
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  #674  
Old 05-26-2017, 10:31 PM
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I got both tail light openings finished and shaped the same on both sides so I got some epoxy primer on the fender right away. It's been very rainy and humid here lately so I needed to get covered up as soon as possible.

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  #675  
Old 06-09-2017, 08:51 PM
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I got the lower skirt supports in using the same process as the left side. No surprises. I need these in place in order to build the skirt frame.

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Next, I made the upper rail of the skirt frame and installed the latches and guide pins, It's a good fit so I can make the rest of the frame now using the lower supports as a guide. I can use the body as a guide to make the skirt frame and the buck as a guide to make the skirt skin. If my measurements are correct, they should fit together. We'll see.

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  #676  
Old 06-18-2017, 09:26 PM
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I've been getting an hour or two here and there on the Cad over the last few weeks but don't seem to get much done like that. Other obligations keep me away too often. Anyway, I managed to finish the skirt frame and did some tweaking and adjusting to get it to go on and off easily.
I've been considering a parallel arm hinge that I think would work but I don't think the extra baggage is worth the effort since they would almost never be used once the car is finished. If I change my mind later, I can always add them.


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I started the front half of the skirt skin next. I used the shrinker rather than tuck shrinking. It's not as fast, but easier for me to control. This is after the first of three rounds of shrinking. It's not often that I need a deep shrinker, but when I do, it's nice to have it.

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I wheeled in the general shape until it was pretty close on the buck. After that, I tipped the upper flange so I could start checking closer fit on the buck and against the skirt frame. It's crazy hot and getting late so this is as far as I got tonight.

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  #677  
Old 07-03-2017, 08:40 PM
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I've been doing the final work on the front half of the skirt. It only needed some tightening and a final trim to get it finished.

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Next I did the rear half and got everything fitted up to the skirt frame. Everything fit well so I welded it up. I had to do a little adjusting on the lower Dzus brackets to get a snug fit and that was about it. Next I need to get some epoxy primer and seam sealer on the inside.
I have a few details around the back half of this car that I want to take care of before moving on to the doors. There were a couple support brackets that go from the trunk gutters down to the rear wheel tubs. I didn't replace them because I wasn't sure if I would need to tub the car. I don't think that will be needed so I want to get them done. The edges of the deck lid have a couple spots where the gaps are too large so I need to build those up with some 1/8" rod. Last, but not least, I have a boatload of hammer and dolly work to do around this whole back half. Not very glamorous work but it has to be done.

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  #678  
Old 07-08-2017, 09:09 PM
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I got the skirt welded up and primed. When the primer dried I used seam sealer to close off any potential water traps.

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I want to get the rear body side moldings made while I'm working back here. I didn't think the originals I cut were wide enough once I saw them against the fender and skirt so I cut new ones that are 1/2 inch wider than the originals. I can use the originals for the front.

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I used the shrinker and torch to pull the bend in along the forward end.

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Next, i used a simple template to mark the cut at the front tip. This shape will allow me to bend the ends together to form a tapered point at the front end.

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I switched the welder over to stainless wire. This isn't an ideal setup for welding stainless but it will do. I've MIG'ed stainless motorcycle exhaust, handlebars, etc. like this before with good results.

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I reshaped the front and welded that up and closed off the opening at the rear end.

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After cleaning up the welds, I fit it to the buck to make sure nothing moved. OK there. It looks pretty good so next I need to make some mounting tabs and start on the left side

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Last edited by Jack 1957; 07-08-2017 at 09:13 PM.
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  #679  
Old 07-09-2017, 05:41 AM
Gert-Jan Gert-Jan is offline
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nicely done. Thanks for posting. I always appreciate step by step pictures
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  #680  
Old 07-15-2017, 01:16 AM
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Next, I cut some tabs from the Stainless Steel and drilled them out to accept some stainless bolts. I welded them in from the back side, then welded the tabs to the trim.

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I checked the fit on the buck one more time. Doesn't look like it moved any from welding on it.

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I drilled the mounting holes and later noticed that when I drilled through, I blasted the release cable for the forward skirt latch. (Nice job dumbass) I'll have to order another one. The trim looks good, though.

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