Started working on the car. Here is what I got done over two days after the kids were asleep.

Taking it apart is fun...
See a little quarter rot, how's it looking underneath?

The lower quarters,trunk extensions,floor, and around the back window need some help. (vinyle top) I have all of the panels and plan on installing a complete floor pan next weekend. I will spend the next week prepping for the floor. I need to brace up the rockers and cut all of the floor out.

I put a full floor in the race car. Not to big a job. Noisy and dirty though.

Better move the hood before Bjorn sees it

HAHA!! The hood needs the corners bent back the other way. The hoods real rough and I will need to buy a reproduction one or a good used one. The whole floor looks a little intimidating.

Take measurements and mark reference points for the frame nut boxes. I used a framing square and made marks on the door sills before cutting anything out.
Cut the floor out in sections, tunnel and all, even a 3-4" margin from the rockers is fine. Once the bulk is out of the way it makes it much easier to get the rest out.
Little trick a shop told me was don't worry about the lip at the rear. Way to many spot welds to try and cut unless you're going for some sort of concourse resto. Just cut and grind it flush so the new lip lays on top, you'll never notice the extra layer in between.
Also, unless you're real budget strapped I wouldn't try and save the seat pans. PITA to cut out and save.
Get your new full pan before cutting out the old, that helps to see what you need to leave.
Cutting the rear frame loose from the pan was the hardest. Lot of spot welds that are tough to get loose. Spot weld cutter and an air chisel are the tools of choice, then side grinder and cut off wheel to clean it up.
A cheap hole punch from HF helps for prepping the new pan, not required but saves a bunch of drilling for spot welds.

Article in the Pontiac mag last month on floor pan replacement as well.

Thanks for the tips. I think I have all of the tools. Do I need to brace up the rockers or will they be strong enough to support the car. I like the tip on the back lip that will save a lot of work. Did you take the lip off of the rocker or did you cut it flush and grind down even. I have read where people do it both ways, either drill out all of the spot welds or cut as close as you can along the rocker and grind down flat.

That's fast work my man! Did you thro the new engine in then decide to go whole hog?

I cut the lip off the rockers. Since it's pretty easy to get to.

Sperating the toe from the floor is a simple to solve pain. Cut it along the connecting edge, then seperated the lips, since the lip is facing the wrong way.
On a coupe the rockers and roof hold it together fine. Some brace them, others don't. With the frame and rear out the shell doesn't weigh much.

Good luck.

I main original goal for the car was to just get it moving again. It had no motor,tranny, or brakes when I got it. After losing my other car to a fire at the body shop I decided that I wanted more out of this car right now. I'm working like a mad man trying to get a good runner out of it for the Car Craft car show in July. It won't have paint or upholstery but at least I hope to have a car that I can drive. If anybody is close feel free to come by and help.LOL

too late!

lol...
told my friend here recently too, he said "its ok, its already sitting there"...then the wind got it , blew it and dented it....

but NEBER , EVER put the hood on rear corners! always set it on the side edge!

New hood pic coming. Is that better.

Cool, a vertical garage.

SA!

It's easier to work on them that way.

I'll take more pics tonight. All of the interior is out the dash is bare except for the wiring harness and steering wheel. The heater core is all out and most of the floor has been cut out. I'm stuck at the rear seats for right now. Theres a lot of bracing and the frame rails. Not sure if I'm going to try and seperate it all apart or cut next to the braces and butt weld.

LMAO I wasn't expecting that.

much better , youre getting the "hang" of it.... ....now , how are you holding the car to the floor?

wooden 4x4 blocks, what were you expecting?

ahhh 4x 4 ledger strips nailed down....lol

You get more done in 2 days than I do in 2 months.

Thanks, here is some more progress. I started cutting out the rusty floors. The rockers are very solid.

The whole floor is removed except for over the rear frame rails.


The first trial fit of the passenger side toe board. I will need to make an extension to replace the bottom of the heater core knock out.

Here's a picture of the whole floor out. What a messy long job. I think the worst part about it was all of the sheet metal cuts that I got.

Toe boards welded in.

Prepping the floor for it's last fitting.

In at last.

I had to fabricate the rear snubber mount. It did not fit with the new floor any more. This took close to three hours of cutting grinding and welding.

And welded back in place.

Some one thought it would be a great idea to hack the rear package tray for bigger speakers. I was not very impressed with their quality of work.LOL OOOps I do not have the before picture. But you can imagine what a hammer and tin snips can do.



A little grinding and it will look like it was original.

Nice progress! Good work..

Nice progress. That must be even more difficult doing it in your vertical anti-gravity garage.

LOLOL, Yes it is. I should move that hood so I can work on normal footing again.

I cut the headliner out last night. What a mess two big mouse nests. I had rubber gloves,long sleeve shirt and a mask on while I had the vacuum in hand. With that removed I can start on the rear window channel. I did not want to do a lot of welding and grinding with that still in.

You do good work, grasshoppa!

Thanks, I just had a skid of parts dropped infront of my office door. WOOHOO!!

Pontiac long branch manifolds
QA1 adjustable coil over front shocks
upper and lower speed tech control arms
heavt duty speed tech tie rod sleeves

More parts on the way. It's Xmas but just real early.

Christmas!!! put em on....right now!

Pictures of some new parts.
Upper and lower speed tech control arms.

Front QA1 coil over adjustable front shocks, tie rod sleeves, and global west sub frame bushings.

LB manifolds.

Why aren't they on your car yet?

Sleep is highly overrated!

LOL, I have so much work to do before the new parts can go on. I'm having a difficult time deciding on how I want to build the car. I was going all stock in the begening but now I want a more performance based car. But I also want it to look some what factory. I know some people on here will frown on how I am building the car. But, I need to build it the way that I want it. I'm saving all of the stock parts that I take off of the car. And I will not do any cutting on the car or do anything to where it cannot be brought back to original. It's a fine line on building one of these with new performance goodies and not pimping it out. LOL Now where did that cowl hood go. LOL

We only frown with one eye while winking with the other!

Whatever route you go, it will look great!

Muussst sstopp llookking at the suspension part pics...

If you get time, wiegh one upper & lwr arm/spring/shock asm.
Thanks