1958 Pontiac Pathfinder Wagon Build

Tempest · Veteran Member

RE: 1958 Pontiac Pathfinder Wagon Build

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Tempest wrote:

I am planning on using a 'Vintage Air' type heater so I made this Blower Motor/ Heater Core delete plate to clean up the fire wall.

Nice! It looks like a factory part.

Tempest · Veteran Member

Thanks 4speed427, that was what I was hoping for, with the edge I put on with the bead roller

Tempest · Veteran Member

Hi Guys, (update, but not too exciting)

Progress is slow, with a reno project and the heat, but I recently purchased some brackets and pulleys so I decided to clean them up and paint them.

The formula that I have found that produces a very durable finish is, 3-4 parts paint, 1 part acetone, and about 0.25 (splash) of hardener. (I am still experimenting with the amount of hardener, as I hear that the more you use, the 'flatter' it will be)

What I like about this is I can also add flat black, or gloss black to change the sheen of the finished product, as I think seeing different sheens of black under the hood looks good. (these pulleys and brackets are straight semi-gloss)

Hope you are all enjoying your Pontiacs during the summer.

Tempest · Veteran Member

Hi Guys,

It has been a while, but a hot summer, a home reno project, and an injured shoulder has kept me from the garage, but I am back.

After completing the floor patches at the front, I decided to tackle the spare tire pan.

after cutting out the old metal, I didn't cut enough so had to add another patch,but it is now fully welded in.

Here are some before and after pics

It is certainly not perfect, but it is solid, and better that it was. and with a little fiberglass short strand bondo, it will look fine.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Perfect cars are no fun, we worry about them all the time. Leave perfection for the rich folks that buy/build perfect cars.

OURWAGON · Guru

4SPEED427 wrote:
Perfect cars are no fun, we worry about them all the time. Leave perfection for the rich folks that buy/build perfect cars.

RIGHT ON CARL smile smile

Glenn Musgrave · Addicted!

Nice to see you moving this along. Looking good!

Tempest · Veteran Member

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Well, the metal work continues on the rear floor (Passenger Side) and as I 'peel this onion', it is uncovering more rust. (kind of expected).......... Oh, and look what I found down in the quarter panel

From the pics you see the "Before' pic of that rusted metal piece. I made a new one and then proceeded to remove it.

I now need to replace those floor pieces below before I can weld on my new piece, but it is made and ready to go

work continues.............

1961ragtop · Veteran Member

Nice work!

I wonder how much time and effort previous owners spent trying (unsuccessfully) to identify the intermittent rattle that bottle would have caused.

Tempest · Veteran Member

1961ragtop wrote:
Nice work!
I wonder how much time and effort previous owners spent trying (unsuccessfully) to identify the intermittent rattle that bottle would have caused.

Ha, Thanks John, hope all is well

Tempest · Veteran Member

work continues on the rear floor

I added a patch to the outside edge behind the wheel well. I lap welded it thinking it will never be seen, as it is behind the side panels, but I may go back and fix that. as the lap weld from underneath doesn't look good. (OCD maybe?)

Next, the rear floor section, and I decided to replace the piece beside the wheel well. I was thinking of making 1 patch, but decided on 2, and the seam from side to side will be on top of the cross member. (there will be 2 seams from front to back)

when I removed the old piece to expose the brace, it was full of gravel and sand. This car is from Edmonton and I cannot believe how much gravel/sand is everywhere, the cross members, the frame, every nook and cranny is full. (the frame is full up to the factory holes)

Once I removed the metal to expose the brace, I saw the top of the body mount. (at top of wheel well) .... the bolt broke, of course, so I had to make a new cage nut and inserted a new bolt. and painted before I closed it up.

The next piece to replace was near the rear, as it was under the front sheet metal. (make sense? replace the lower piece first)

You can see from the last pic that my next piece will be the middle/pass side of the rear floor behind the spare tire door. (with the indented area that I hope to make)

-- Edited by Tempest on Monday 11th of November 2024 05:03:09 PM

Tempest · Veteran Member

Hi Guys

I have been working on the rear wheel wells, and noticed that the drivers side has a 'splash shield' and the passenger side does not.

My question is, Did a splash shield exist on the Passenger side? and it is missing because it rotted out and was removed? OR, is there only a splash shield on the drivers side? (the only reason I can think of is to protect the gas filler neck?)

The pic shows the splash shield behind the Drivers side rear wheel, and the Pass side with so shield

Thanks

-- Edited by Tempest on Tuesday 26th of November 2024 11:14:57 AM

1961ragtop · Veteran Member

My 1958 Yeoman has the splash panel on just the driver's side. I assumed it was there to shield the fuel filler pipe.

Tempest · Veteran Member

OK, Thanks John

Hope all is well