Bob’s 356A project

[robert moglia]

Guess I should have stripped these before assembling.
Fortunately, they clean up with lacquer thinner.
Prepping for paint!

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[Trond Vidar]

Looking great, I am getting "Deja Vu's" back to mid 1990's when I was welding up my then '59 coupe. Keep up the good work.

[robert moglia]

Thanks Trond!
Chemical stripping done, almost done with the weld grinding, and now the task of under fender surface rust grinding is underway. What a dirty job! With hearing protection, eyewear and a particulate respirator I think I’ve ready for anything.

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[Glenn Eagles]

great progress Bob

[robert moglia]

Thanks Glen, you car is coming along too!
Cleaning the underside is hard going, especially since the PO brushed red oxide paint over everything.
It’s a dirty job, apologies to Mike Rowe.
I feel like I’ve found Dante’s 10th gate of hell.

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But there is progress, it’s getting hard to stay motivated.

[robert moglia]

Taking a break from grinding, so cleaning out/organizing the barn in preparation for paint.
Here’s a cool picture:

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It’s all the templates for the metal repairs.
You might recognize where they fit if you’ve done some diy repairs
Quite a few patches there!

[Vic Skirmants]

You've done all that beautiful work, so how about cutting out a nice plug for the hole in the right side of the front diagonal? That hole only began with the T-6 cars for access to the lower grease fitting; which was toward the rear, as opposed to toward the front, as on the earlier cars. I know you will do an amazing job of it.

[robert moglia]

Thanks for the info Vic!

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Correction complete!

[robert moglia]

Completed the metal prep, I thought it would never end with all the nooks and crannies!
Got my new tyvek suit, Walter White got nuthin on me.

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Now....underside in epoxy primer.

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Woohoo!

[Vic Skirmants]

Perfect! Thanks for taking my advice.

[robert moglia]

Thanks for letting me know Vic!
I have much to learn about these little cars!
Seam sealer applied, really tough to do in 90 degree temps!
Still uncertain as to how to handle that big space at the top of the closing panel/front fender.
Filling it with caulk would be a hassle.
Opinions?

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Hopefully undercoat next up.

[Frank Swanson]

Robert,
I am just finishing my lower front closing panels metal repair and also concerned about the road grime catch area above the front closing panels. I was thinking of extending the lower closing panels vertically straight upwards to the fender with a bent 3/4 inch weld strip bent wheel well forward and spot weld to to top of lower vertical closing panels and then spot weld the 3/4 inch weld strip to the fender and then seal all upper closure panel edges. Not original but it would stop road grime catching up there. My 356C is a going to be a driver not a show car.

Any comments or concerns from anyone on this closure approach?

Frank from Tacoma

[robert moglia]

Hey Frank, thanks for the idea.
I can’t think of a reason why that wouldn’t work well.
As long as it’s reversible.
I’m looking for an easy way out, too much work for me, I’m tired of fabbing and welding!
My plan after reflection, is to use 3M strip caulk along the top seam followed by seam sealer along the entire closing panel outer edge and finally a double layer of undercoating.
With the availability of rattle can undercoat I should be able to keep it waterproof.
I’ll hopefully document it at some point after completed.

[robert moglia]

After a 6 week hiatus, traveling the southwest in the camper, I’m back to work!

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Undercoating mostly completed, gonna start the lead work next while the weather holds.

[Dave Erickson]

What product did you use for undercoating?