[Pyroneus Dawnlight]

I'm in the beginning stages of this build. I have to replace both rockers, floor, trunk, roof, roof bracing, cowl, the two outer cowl panels, firewall, rear wheelhouses, and both quarters. The deck panel and taillight panel are getting replaced simply because they have to come off anyways. There's very little floor in the driver's seat area, I can see the subframe, and the passenger side is marginally better. The upper windshield area is basically all bondo, but the A-pillars actually look really good. I can't see inside them but they're painted and have no evidence of rust top to bottom. The rockers I think are structurally okay but for me I wanna start fresh instead of making a ton of patches and trying to rinse them clean to get rid of the rust. Plus, a Youtube channel called Paradise Bay Customs showed in one of his videos that you can extend the brace inside the rocker all the way to the front, which sounds really worthwhile to me to add some rigidity in that area. So, I'm at the point of chopping the car up to replace panels. My main question is, where do I put the braces for what jobs, and where should I start first? What's the major areas that need fixing first?

 

[dhutton]

For that amount of metal you should build a body jig. Plans are on this site.

Don

 

[dhutton]

Here’s my jig. If you are in North Texas you can borrow it.
Don

 

[dhutton]

I would not replace solid rockers fwiw, especially a novice….

Don

 

[Pyroneus Dawnlight]

Sadly not in Texas, I'm in Virginia Beach. I'm planning on setting the car up on stands and getting that level, and taking as many measurements as I can before I cut it. Just to have a reference where it was originally. I'm thinking if I run a bar front to back on both door frames, then from the rear door flange side to side, one tie on the trans tunnel to that bar, and maybe a bar under the dash side to side, I think I should be good to at least do the rockers. they are pretty crummy on the inside, the outside is just smeared with bondo. I have a borescope and while it looks like only a few small holes, it is severely pitted along the front and back of the rockers. If I'm going to open them up, I'm just going to start fresh and treat them with rust prevention/cavity wax.

 

[dhutton]

Sadly not in Texas, I'm in Virginia Beach. I'm planning on setting the car up on stands and getting that level, and taking as many measurements as I can before I cut it. Just to have a reference where it was originally. I'm thinking if I run a bar front to back on both door frames, then from the rear door flange side to side, one tie on the trans tunnel to that bar, and maybe a bar under the dash side to side, I think I should be good to at least do the rockers. they are pretty crummy on the inside, the outside is just smeared with bondo. I have a borescope and while it looks like only a few small holes, it is severely pitted along the front and back of the rockers. If I'm going to open them up, I'm just going to start fresh and treat them with rust prevention/cavity wax.

Build a body jig. You will want diagonal bracing to hold everything square and plumb.

Don

 

[yevgenievich]

Here’s my jig. If you are in North Texas you can borrow it.
Don
View attachment 295555

Any chance that offer extendable? I have a 67 that had to cut off a lot of panels that body shop done really poorly. Been thinking might have to get a jig put together as now replacing both floor sides, roof panels, quarters, trunk floor, rear tail piece, panel between trunk and rear window, and part of the dash.

 

[dhutton]

Any chance that offer extendable? I have a 67 that had to cut off a lot of panels that body shop done really poorly. Been thinking might have to get a jig put together as now replacing both floor sides, roof panels, quarters, trunk floor, rear tail piece, panel between trunk and rear window, and part of the dash.

Sure. You are welcome to borrow it.

Don

 

[tp_smith]

Don't cut the car until it is on a jig. The jig will be your reference points. Reproduction parts are not always perfectly made. If you just take measurements and support your car with jack stands, you will not know if the car has moved, the car was wrecked, or the new part is not shaped properly.

Read post #10 of my old build thread.
1969 firebird convertible without photos

 

[HenryH59]

Sadly not in Texas, I'm in Virginia Beach. I'm planning on setting the car up on stands and getting that level, and taking as many measurements as I can before I cut it. Just to have a reference where it was originally. I'm thinking if I run a bar front to back on both door frames, then from the rear door flange side to side, one tie on the trans tunnel to that bar, and maybe a bar under the dash side to side, I think I should be good to at least do the rockers. they are pretty crummy on the inside, the outside is just smeared with bondo. I have a borescope and while it looks like only a few small holes, it is severely pitted along the front and back of the rockers. If I'm going to open them up, I'm just going to start fresh and treat them with rust prevention/cavity wax.

Doing the rocker panels you will NEED to support the front and rear portion of the body, a structure between the door jambs and the same running from driver side door front and rear. I have replaced all body panel that you have on my 67 and only had the car on wooden stands that supported the car under the rockers. As you are going to do, take copious measurements and in fact I highly recommend taking pictures of the car with the measurements in the pic, believe me it really helps, especially when you build takes a long time. Not downplaying the JIG, there nothing wrong with it, just a lot of things that you are going to replace don't really need the jig. I could write a book on this, but as I said, you don't need to, just stablize the car and take measurements as you were thinking.

 

[Pyroneus Dawnlight]

Cold weather has held me up for the past few months, but I have the inner and outer panel mostly tacked in place on the driver side, and my measurements did not change at all so I am very proud of myself. Unfortunately, I'm sidetracked on this until I get my truck back up and running, as that's my daily driver. Hope to get some progress on it soon, if the weather will cooperate.

 

[DavidN]

Here’s my jig. If you are in North Texas you can borrow it.
Don
View attachment 295555

Do you have the dimensions for your cart? I like your cart better than others I have seen. Thanks

 

[dhutton]

Do you have the dimensions for your cart? I like your cart better than others I have seen. Thanks

I made it from plans by firstgenjigs but I think he passed away and they are no longer available.

Don