Rotter Resto (82 GT T-Tops)

[Porkchop]

What did you do to the bottoms of those floor pans where you welded them into the car? And what did you do along the welds on the inside? I see you spotted them in but what else did you do to finish them out?

[Capriman86]

Questions:


I see you cut the excess off, how did you accomplish this for a good fit?
Did you lay the new pan in and trace from under the car where to cut?
What did you use to cut with? Saw, Cutting wheel, air snippers?

Also,
I see you laid a solid bead along the cut area, do you do the same along the rocker or just hit the spot weld holes then seam seal after?

Then fit the pan and trim excess metal. Also need to drill holes along rocker panel and to the subframe for roset welds:


Then go to town with the welder....

[COS90GT]

<---- taking notes too.

having to do some of the same floor work on my 83 t-top.

Nice Work!!

[JTurbo]

What did you do to the bottoms of those floor pans where you welded them into the car? And what did you do along the welds on the inside? I see you spotted them in but what else did you do to finish them out?

Not sure I totally understand the question but here goes. Once final fit was done, I welded the pans to the front subframe first. Then tacked the section adjacent to the tunnel. The side on the rockers was plug welded (similar to the original spot welds in appearance and spacing). Then I went back and finished the weld along the tunnel. After all the welding, grind down (rough). I still need to apply seam sealer to both pans. I plan on using primer and then paint the top side of the pans with some secret sauce The bottom will be primered at the seams and then painted with black paint (likely just brushed on).

Questions:

I see you cut the excess off, how did you accomplish this for a good fit?
Did you lay the new pan in and trace from under the car where to cut?
What did you use to cut with? Saw, Cutting wheel, air snippers?

Also,
I see you laid a solid bead along the cut area, do you do the same along the rocker or just hit the spot weld holes then seam seal after?

Jeff, for trimming the pan I use a combination of recip saw (with a good bimetal blade) plus snips/cutters. The recip saw makes quick work of trimming the pan. Once I had the front/back fit properly, the floor pan was laid in the car and marked from underneath with a permanent marker. Then added ~3/4" for over lap. I still need to get under the car and tack weld the over lap every 2 or so inches. Prob not necessary, but it couldn't hurt esp with the T-tops. I have a set of SFC's lying in the garage that I will probably install in this car as well.

BTW - I only use a cutting wheel on places that I need relatively straight cuts or on places that I can not fit the recip saw. I have also used a jig saw for thin metal such as removal of smaller sections of rusty metal on floor pans of my '86 vert (you'd be suprised how well that works)

For the rockers, I pre-drilled the holes about ~1 inch apart and plug welded. Same for the area at the cowl and rear of the pan (where the metal was good). Of course, I ended up with some patch panels since some of these areas had some rust damage....

<---- taking notes too.

having to do some of the same floor work on my 83 t-top.

Nice Work!!

Thanks. Good luck and be sure to post up pictures

[jkoogler]

wow you have your work cut out for you. I love 82 gt's

[JTurbo]

wow you have your work cut out for you. I love 82 gt's

Yes, but it's a labor of love and I'm not in a hurry or have a specific time table to meet on this car. I love 82 GT's as well. There was a silver 82 that I wanted to buy many many moons ago (not enough $$) and I've always wanted one ever since.

[homer302]

Yes, but it's a labor of love and I'm not in a hurry or have a specific time table to meet on this car. I love 82 GT's as well. There was a silver 82 that I wanted to buy many many moons ago (not enough $$) and I've always wanted one ever since.

I have the same experience only it was a black '82 GT with the bright red interior. Man, I wanted that car. I can still hear it and see it coming down the street when I first saw it in my mind. I will never forget that car.

[JTurbo]

Engine bay cleaned / sanded:





Spent some time this weekend finishing the prep then threw a coat of primer on the engine bay. Now I need a warm(er) day to throw a quick coat of paint. Temps this weekend were in the 20's....




JT

[eeprete]

Wow, JT, you are flying with this. Lookin good!

[HawkeyeGT]

Nice progress, keep it coming!

[86asccoupe20]

Its not a rotbox anymore. Looking real good, Joe. Love 82s.

[etc1006]

Once again, you suck... Having a garage to work in during the winter...

[homer302]

Thanks for posting those up. I know it takes time because I update mine all the time. The car looks great and obviously is in good hands. I have a strange request. The next time you have a camera out, Can you take a picture of the metal working tools you use the most? I would like to see what you consider vital to doing basic patch panels etc. Thankfully, i have no rust damage at all but I am getting more brave now, LOL. Would like to try my hand at it. Maybe on the next car.

Thanks!

[mustangjoe413]

Chock full O Nuts? damn!!

[85GT-79FJ40]

Looking good Joe. You're way ahead of me on the engine bay.

[JTurbo]

I've got a window with the weather/temps tonight....

[85GT-79FJ40]

I've got a window with the weather/temps tonight....

Then we expect pics of a shiny engine compartment tomorrow.

[JTurbo]

Then we expect pics of a shiny engine compartment tomorrow.

How about tonight

First pic with flash:


The rest with natural light in the garage:




Now I can start cleaning up all the stuff that goes in the engine bay.

[JTurbo]

Wow, JT, you are flying with this. Lookin good!

Keep pecking away at it. I want to make it a driving car by spring. I hate push-mobiles....

Nice progress, keep it coming!

Thanks - more posted!

Its not a rotbox anymore. Looking real good, Joe. Love 82s.

Don't worry, there is still a bunch of rust work to be completed on the quarter panels.

Once again, you suck... Having a garage to work in during the winter...

Thanks Eric, but it's a garage with heat -

Thanks for posting those up. I know it takes time because I update mine all the time. The car looks great and obviously is in good hands. I have a strange request. The next time you have a camera out, Can you take a picture of the metal working tools you use the most? I would like to see what you consider vital to doing basic patch panels etc. Thankfully, i have no rust damage at all but I am getting more brave now, LOL. Would like to try my hand at it. Maybe on the next car.

Thanks!

Thanks - I'll get some photos this weekend for ya

Chock full O Nuts? damn!!

Man's gotta drink something....

Looking good Joe. You're way ahead of me on the engine bay.

I may be ahead on the engine bay, but I still have a loooooong way to go on the rest of the car.

[SVO4PWR2]

Your screen name should be change to

J I Dont F Around Turbo

JIDFAT
Very Nice!

-RICH-

[86 50CPRI]

Awesome! As always...

[dznj]

Looks great Joe! Keep up the great work, and let me know if you need a hand.

Sincerely,
your humble student

[mustangjoe413]

In all seriousness Joe...looking good!! I thought I was the only one left that still had one of those cans!

[eeprete]

Your screen name should be change to

J I Dont F Around Turbo

JIDFAT
Very Nice!

-RICH-

LOL... Joe does awesome work, and works fairly quickly for a guy with a wife and daughter also.

Looking really good Joe!

[85GT-79FJ40]

Looks great Joe. I'm hoping to have mine back into "yard drives" condition by spring too.