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myfirstbonnie wrote:
I have made my mind up and it will be back on the road. It gives me an excuse to use the welder and air tools I have laying around. Although, I don't really need another project to add to the list.

I dont have kids but i imagine its hard to say no to a crying girl too right?

Today was a day of metal work and tear down. We got the front end apart and after doing some tug-of-war between gravenge and the truck, I got the corner out where it is 1/2 inch short from where it is supposed to be. We have started some of the drilling on the spot welds to get the header panel off. Curt is right, they spot welded the crap out of this and it will take a while to get it done. I also checked car-part.com and all the body panels are available within 60 miles in the correct color.

The air did not work and since the condenser was crushed, it is getting an AC delete. The only thing I have to do on that part is remove the compressor and re-route the belt.

Assembly is going to happen in a certain order. Header panel and make sure radiator mounts up, next will be getting a fender and making sure it will fit on and then the hood and front bumper. I may have to modify a hole or two to get the last bolt in the fender and to get the headlight mount in, but not too much.

First, glad no one was hurt. People arent replaceable.

Second, looks like things are happening fast! Subscribed

No A/C? As long as you've gotten the car torn down, you should just go ahead and replace the condenser. A used one couldn't cost much - I had to replace mine on my 3.8L Monte Carlo, and got a used condenser from a Cutlass Supreme that worked great - I don't think I paid but $50-100 for it. It would sure make it much more enjoyable to drive in the summer months.

Glad to see things are on the road to being rebuilt again.

No A/C? That's going to wreck a girl's hair.




OHHHH, I see what you're doing

I like you even more...

Cool, I'm glad to see you're putting the car back on the road! I sure do love that 2 tone interior

Matt do you by chance have a porta power?

Nope, that is one thing I do not have.

Wow, you're working quickly! Looks like good progress.

myfirstbonnie wrote:

This corner (top portion that has a squared cross section, not the whole side) should be re-built or re-inforced, it is structural. It's not a very large portion, so it will be simple to fix.. I assume you have a MIG? An easy way is to use some 1/8" steel rods, bend & weld them to remake the 4 longitudunal corners of that support, then use a triangle shape to tie it down to the frame rail under the battery tray. Then, take the bent support, cut it so you can flatten and weld to the rods to make it look like it did before the accident. This way you can also control the radiator support to be correctly positioned.

I can provide a drawing to show what I mean. It sounds complicated but a hammer, band saw, a MIG, and $20 in steel will make short work of it, and it will be stronger than the original stamping was. If this corner doesn't get rebuilt, the car won't feel tight through corners, and you may have issues with maintaining alignment.

PM sent

Thanks for the suggestion. I will look at several ideas for repairing and make sure it is safe for the road.

Nice advice Matt!
I feel her pain, since I'm still driving around with my damage. I'm glad no one got hurt, and it makes us all happy to see Gravenge getting back on the road this quickly.

Thank you for everyone's concern! I am in no way injured and I am glad no one else is either!

I cannot wait for Gravenge to get back on the road!
I love how fast The Return of Gravenge is going, too!

Also, I am totally fine without and A/C. I prefer all the windows down, you just have to carry a brush at all times!

We are glad you are ok too..... and guys love what you just said... Trust me...LMAO...

I love early spring windows open driving here in FL...

No A/C is no big deal. Unless it's 90 degrees and raining.

nos4blood70 wrote:No A/C is no big deal. Unless it's 90 degrees and raining.

Yeah like Florida right now....LMAO

That is ok, she has the window vents and the moon-roof has a vent position. She is young and can handle it. I never knew my parents to ever have AC in the house or car until after I completed high school.

At this point, she should be glad to have a car and that I am fixing it for her.

Can't be that bad... Try a V8 powered hardtop coupe with headers in summer Chicago traffic... That's sweating!

SSEiMan01 wrote:Can't be that bad... Try a V8 powered hardtop coupe with headers in summer Chicago traffic... That's sweating!

Completely agree

PM sent, used my old college CAD program to mock it up.

What I would do: repair/replace core support, it sounds like you're replacing it, weld the 4 rods to the side structure, then make the rods fit the core support. Then use the old structure over the rods (cut and straighten as needed) with a continuous weld to make them rigid. Once that is in place, make the triangle support to the frame, then weld the straightened header panel back over the triangle support. Mass moment of inertia is the name of the game here. The whole point of using the rods is that it's easy to weld the sheet metal to the rods.

Happy welding!