Thanks Carl. I'm kind of embarrassed to represent this as any kind of real work when I see what some guys here are up to.
woodytwoshoes said
Mar 14, 2021
wow, good job! that is as good as Fitzee does it!
cdnpont said
Mar 14, 2021
In scoping it out before cutting, I see the trunk latch mount extends up, around and in front of the channel. And is spot welded lengthwise in 5 places.
My plan is to cut out the spotwelds then along the red line, keeping this important bracing section. The new channel should slide in behind the brace, and I'll plug weld to it through those old spotweld voids, and maybe add another fake horizontal section up top again to make it look stock.
One neat thing I had no knowledge of, is how the trunk lock tumbler is retained. It slips into a slotted stamping that comes around and is held in place by a single screw (arrow). Probably became a clip by time this body run ended.
Pretty cool piece they made just to hold a lock cylinder in!
woodytwoshoes said
Mar 14, 2021
that's awesome fabrication!
oshawacliff said
Mar 15, 2021
Mark
Does the replacement trunk seal have little pins that stick into that channel. I noticed in the photos that there were small holes in the base that might locate the clips rubber section in the channel. Did you pull out the 'good' pieces for a look?
Were there any clips?
cdnpont said
Mar 15, 2021
No clips or pins to speak of Cliff. Just a plastic molded in rib in the seal itself.
Pontiacanada wrote:I forgot to check mine, I'll check today.
It's the same profile as yours, but in better shape in the flat middle section, rusty towards the corners. The rust seems to correspond to the places where the trunk seal is deteriorated. It was actually wet in those places.
cdnpont said
Mar 15, 2021
So like mine, your 64 should be fairly easy as well Darryl.
Got to cutting out today. Removed the old channel in a few sections, ground out the spotwelds on the center support with a ball die grinder carbide in the air tool. Worked well, probably faster than a cheap spotweld drill could do. Separated the center section from the brace with a chisel,
Zip cut 5 slots center in the channel to get the curve in. Then welded up those slots when it looked close.
Cut the channel to length and began to tweak it to sit right. The pictures are it just sitting in. Needs a fair bit of adjustment to get it right, but it does sit nice in the latch brace. The right corner will also have to be cut out and a section made.
The remains. Of course I cut right through one of the harness tabs I wanted to save, but the other survived,
So like mine, your 64 should be fairly easy as well Darryl.
I'm worried about fixing it ... it's on my rusty ole parts car.
Pontiacanada said
Mar 16, 2021
Great resto start!!!
cdnpont said
Mar 23, 2021
Got the channel in today. Another small but satisfying step.
I added a strip of metal all the way across that tailpanel edge where I cut the channel away. The body metal is pretty thin in that panel, so kind of a backer to be better able to buttweld without blow through. It worked.
Where the ends joined onto the old, I also welded little tabs on the underside of the new section, same idea to back the weld. To weld inside the channel at the join, I made two cuts in the 90 lip about .5" off the ends, and bent them up to get the gun in. Folded them back and welded then up when done. Got in to smooth the weld a bit with a zip wheel edge.
Next step. Repair (not replace) the passenger side turn in the channel. Pull all the old seal out, clean, seam seal and paint the channel. Add a little body filler along that rear exposed edge of the new channel to smooth it up a bit.
Got the channel in today. Another small but satisfying step.
I added a strip of metal all the way across that tailpanel edge where I cut the channel away. The body metal is pretty thin in that panel, so kind of a backer to be better able to buttweld without blow through. It worked.
Where the ends joined onto the old, I also welded little tabs on the underside of the new section, same idea to back the weld. To weld inside the channel at the join, I made two cuts in the 90 lip about .5" off the ends, and bent them up to get the gun in. Folded them back and welded then up when done. Got in to smooth the weld a bit with a zip wheel edge.
Next step. Repair (not replace) the passenger side turn in the channel. Pull all the old seal out, clean, seam seal and paint the channel. Add a little body filler along that rear exposed edge of the new channel to smooth it up a bit.
When life is "normal" I'm coming to see this car.....
beaumontguru said
Mar 23, 2021
That is looking really nice. not an easy repair to do!
cdnpont said
Mar 24, 2021
Pulled out all the remaining weatherstrip. Scraped the channel clean of any remaining seal, glue and flake. Wire wheel in a drill to dress it up. A few taps around to knock out any stray flake.
Blew it out with compressed air, flushed it all out with acetone, then painted inside all the original channel liberally with POR 15. Left the new section later for primer.
Poured the remaining paint into two small Dollarama mini mason jars, to the absolute hilt. We'll see how they last.
Just don't mix up those jars with some in the kitchen and accidentally spread any of that stuff on your toast.
woodytwoshoes said
Mar 24, 2021
i just had the local sheet metal guy bend some pieces for me and they came out great. ill post some pics when i get to it
Woody
cdnpont said
Mar 25, 2021
Masked off, primed and painted the channel blue. Could have done way more fine finishing before paint, but I've run out of steam. Maybe one day if the car gets paint more time could be spent.
I'll put the seal in on the next nice day.
cdnpont said
Mar 27, 2021
Fitted the weatherstrip. I'll apply some Ultra black to the outer edge at some point. Trunk needs a mild slam to close, and pops open nice when the key is turned...just like new.
I'm calling this one as done. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Carl. I'm kind of embarrassed to represent this as any kind of real work when I see what some guys here are up to.
In scoping it out before cutting, I see the trunk latch mount extends up, around and in front of the channel. And is spot welded lengthwise in 5 places.
My plan is to cut out the spotwelds then along the red line, keeping this important bracing section. The new channel should slide in behind the brace, and I'll plug weld to it through those old spotweld voids, and maybe add another fake horizontal section up top again to make it look stock.
One neat thing I had no knowledge of, is how the trunk lock tumbler is retained. It slips into a slotted stamping that comes around and is held in place by a single screw (arrow). Probably became a clip by time this body run ended.
that's awesome fabrication!
Mark
Does the replacement trunk seal have little pins that stick into that channel. I noticed in the photos that there were small holes in the base that might locate the clips rubber section in the channel. Did you pull out the 'good' pieces for a look?
Were there any clips?
No clips or pins to speak of Cliff. Just a plastic molded in rib in the seal itself.
It's the same profile as yours, but in better shape in the flat middle section, rusty towards the corners. The rust seems to correspond to the places where the trunk seal is deteriorated. It was actually wet in those places.
So like mine, your 64 should be fairly easy as well Darryl.
Got to cutting out today. Removed the old channel in a few sections, ground out the spotwelds on the center support with a ball die grinder carbide in the air tool. Worked well, probably faster than a cheap spotweld drill could do. Separated the center section from the brace with a chisel,
Zip cut 5 slots center in the channel to get the curve in. Then welded up those slots when it looked close.
Cut the channel to length and began to tweak it to sit right. The pictures are it just sitting in. Needs a fair bit of adjustment to get it right, but it does sit nice in the latch brace. The right corner will also have to be cut out and a section made.
The remains. Of course I cut right through one of the harness tabs I wanted to save, but the other survived,
I'm worried about fixing it ... it's on my rusty ole parts car.
Great resto start!!!
Got the channel in today. Another small but satisfying step.
I added a strip of metal all the way across that tailpanel edge where I cut the channel away. The body metal is pretty thin in that panel, so kind of a backer to be better able to buttweld without blow through. It worked.
Where the ends joined onto the old, I also welded little tabs on the underside of the new section, same idea to back the weld. To weld inside the channel at the join, I made two cuts in the 90 lip about .5" off the ends, and bent them up to get the gun in. Folded them back and welded then up when done. Got in to smooth the weld a bit with a zip wheel edge.
Next step. Repair (not replace) the passenger side turn in the channel. Pull all the old seal out, clean, seam seal and paint the channel. Add a little body filler along that rear exposed edge of the new channel to smooth it up a bit.
When life is "normal" I'm coming to see this car.....
That is looking really nice. not an easy repair to do!
Pulled out all the remaining weatherstrip. Scraped the channel clean of any remaining seal, glue and flake. Wire wheel in a drill to dress it up. A few taps around to knock out any stray flake.
Blew it out with compressed air, flushed it all out with acetone, then painted inside all the original channel liberally with POR 15. Left the new section later for primer.
Poured the remaining paint into two small Dollarama mini mason jars, to the absolute hilt. We'll see how they last.
Woody
Masked off, primed and painted the channel blue. Could have done way more fine finishing before paint, but I've run out of steam. Maybe one day if the car gets paint more time could be spent.
I'll put the seal in on the next nice day.
Fitted the weatherstrip. I'll apply some Ultra black to the outer edge at some point. Trunk needs a mild slam to close, and pops open nice when the key is turned...just like new.
I'm calling this one as done. Thanks for watching.
I found that last year with my car.
Settled down after a few months.
I can see a lot of pride in this work.
Definitely something to be proud of !