Photo 16-1a thru 1e) Photos show my work on right
running board. I removed the stainless steel shell, then cut and squared the
front end of steel running board, and removed front and rear cross members which
will be reinstalled later. All welds are tack welds, and will be welded solid
after all the fitting work is done.
Photo 16-2a thru 2n) Series of photos shows the progress of my work to
square up the right rear fender. The top photo shows the fender at the
beginning of my work. The fender is out of square because the body panel that the
fender bolts to is not located properly. It is angled wrong. It’s improper
location is why the door openings were a half inch too small. I cannot change
the quarter panels position at this late stage so I have to change the shape of
the rear fender. The second and third photos from the top show the first pull I
made on the fender to bring to square with the body. The third photo shows it
square to the body, however, the photo is misleading because when I unbolted
the fender to relieve the pressure at its bolt/mounts, it regressed and was
still considerably out of square. I then began a process of repeated pulling and
relieving the fender, each time bringing it a little closer to square. This process
involved pulling the fender by different means, then removing it, metal working
it with hammer and dolly, then reinstalling it and pulling it again. I did this
at least five times. The last few times I pulled the fender to such extremes, I
was really grimacing but I finally got it square without damaging it. It was a
time consuming process but it is good to have it come out as shown in final
photo.
Photos 16-3a thru 3b) Photos show additional work
I did to the right splash apron to bring it along with the fenders and running
boards as I progressed.
Photo 16-4a thru 4j) Photos show work I did on the frame gussets for right
side running board. I removed the three gussets, rear, middle, and front, and modified
each one to make the running board fit the body and panels correctly. This work
involved a lot of installation and removal and fitting. The photo second from
bottom shows the running boards rear cross member being re-installed and
checked against the gusset both off and on the car. All welds are tack welds
for now but after all panels are fit, they will be welded solid and smoothed
out to look stock.
Photo 16-5a thru 5e) Photos show work I did on the front right fender.
Like the back fender, I tried to pull the fender to get it square with the body,
but when I relieved it at its mounts and then re-bolted it, it would regress
and be out of square. I pulled it six-ways-to-Sunday and made some progress
but, unlike the rear fender, I just could not get it square enough to fit. And
I knew if I pulled any harder, I would cause some serious damage. So I did what
I had hoped to avoid and sectioned it. It is the only way to make it fit the other
panels. It has a heavy inner-structure at the back which I would like to remove
to straighten and then reinstall but that might be difficult because of the way
it is welded in. I will figure it out. It will take some careful metal work but
when it is done, it will be right.
Photo 16-6a thru 6b) Photos show the current fit of panels at front and
rear of right running board. The paint sticks are in there to make up for the
stainless steel cover which currently is off of the running board. The panels
are square and everything goes together like it should without the use of hydraulic
jacks and clamps. Still a fair amount of work to do especially on the back of
the front fender but it’s going well and getting there.
THANK
YOU, JERRY!
