The Official 356Talk Forum

Great work! I love the progress you've made on your car!

Time for an update. Focus has been on the rear outer frame rail. Lots of pieces that are compound shapes. First was to fit in a piece for where the bump stop goes. Second was to form part of the curved underside of the rail. This was a tricky piece. I cut out a oak board to the shape of the curve – bolted the metal in and with a lot of heat and hammer was able to shape the piece. Third area was the shock absorber area. This is a curved piece (10” radius) that nests inside the rail. It was curved and put in position. Still a small part to shape and fit for the upper curved section of this piece.

Good morning

i just want to tell you i admire what you are doing with the car.

I took my 1961 356 for painting and fixing a "couple" of rusty areas 3 YEARS ago and little by little we found rust everywhere. Now , the body is done and i see myself driving the car soon , i hope it is ready for the summer.

good luck!

Alberto, thank you for your encouragement. Just takes patience and time. I am fortunate I have a good space to work in at a friend’s shop and how has some experience. This is the first major restoration I have done and has been an interesting learning curve. So, with the right tools, help from the registry members and the project threads over on ABCGT (and some good metal parts panel replacement parts) anyone with someone comfort with tools can tackle the project.

I have started to tackle the rear cross-member frame that supports the transmission. This is a tricky area were a number of panels come together. I am starting on the right rear side. The challenge is that the car rests on a restoration frame supported by the transmission bolts so it needs to be repaired in sections at a time to keep the supporting strength for the chassis.

I first made an accurate drawing of the section and dimples. I then cut out the old ratty section. A lot of metal had to be ground away to preserve the support piece for the transmission bolt hidden underneath. A new piece was cut to shape. For the dimples I used a variety of cut off metal pipe sections and large wrench sockets. I used a press to press in the shapes. Tried heating the metal first but this created a lot of waves in the piece – it was easier to press the metal cold.

Nice work man! Looking great!

Recent attention has been focused on the rear transmission cross-section frame. It comes together in a complicated intersection with the side rail frame. I cut out the rusted metal and then reformed a piece to fit including the “dimples” . Inside was primed and then the new piece burned in. To close it in further a section piece along the side rail (partially supporting the parcel shelf) was cut fitted in place as well.

Made some progress on sewing up the inner passenger side rail. This required a lot of curves and bends. Just could not get it to work in one piece and had to resort to a lot of smaller pieces.

Over to the other side to the outer drivers side frame rail. This is a mess. Colder climate - lots of snow and salt plays hard on the drivers side from on-coming traffic. A lot of rust here and older patches from previous owner. This will take some loving.

Been a while since an update. Lots of progress but slow.
got most of the chassis all buttoned up. Transmission cross-brace is done as well. Working on inner rear panel and B-pillar. Also at the same time trying to add in the parcel shelf. Parcel shelf is fitting nicely so now need to figure out where the transmission cover panel will land. This piece is not matching up well with the parcel shelf. Any suggestions – have I got the piece – or is this a case of a lot of heat and hammering?
Question – the sides of the transmission panel cover they lap upwards for the rear transmission cross-brace do they also get bent up along the sides for welding or turned downwards?

You can follow more detailed progress on the restoration effort at ABCGT

http://www.abcgt.com/forum/14-356-Resto ... Resto.html

Long overdue upadate. All paint stripped all interior framing cut and welded in - including b pillar cusset. All metal media blasted yesterday. A little bronzing needed in a few thin places Hoping to epoxy prime tomorrow. Good feeling to get to this stage and start adding clean metal.

8)

some photos of the progress. yes we are in Canada - no that is not snow (not yet) its the fine sand from blasting, creating a beach in the back by the shed.

Been too long since an update. Will post pics this week in the meantime hoping members can supply a rough measurement. I have started to fit in the inner body panels that support the front body. I have the hood adjusted in position and in the latch but need to know the gap between the rim under the hood and the top of the inner panel ledge. Need to understand how much space to leave for the thickness of the body panel and rubber that gets seated and compressed when the hood is closed.

Some updates and progress

Hello Scott
Pleased to see I am reading about a fellow Ontarioite. I live in Petawawa.

I have a 59 cp that I have owned for 52 years. It drives grest but needs a bit of rust repair, new interior, etc. Also a C cp, needs some body work and wiring work, otherwise runs well.

I am in the process of rebuilding the disk brakesfrom the C. Today's job is to torque the calipers nuts and bolts.

You are a brave man to do what you are doing. I admire your skills.

David