E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

Technical Shop => Body Shop => Topic started by: FSHTAIL on June 25, 2017, 06:17:24 PM

Title: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 25, 2017, 06:17:24 PM
Way back when the seam seal cracked under the vinyl top and it just did it's thing.   

Is there any small patch panels like this?
I looked from the inside with a boroscope.  It's just the skin. 

Also drip rail sections?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170626/3438f2568407f1a47ea1de7d2be658b7.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170626/a47b0e8cf679fb6444b4392824ca5d5e.jpg)
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Cuda Cody on June 25, 2017, 06:22:34 PM
Looks like there's more filler in there? 

What's the long term plan with the car?  Are you going to do a full restoration?  If so, might be best o to wait until the car is completely striped and blasted before tackling to much of the metal work.  If you do not plan to do a full restoration, then it just becomes what can you do now to temporarily hold you over.  You're going to have to patch in a piece and that area can be tricky to do.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 25, 2017, 06:23:50 PM
It's all metal in the area. 
This is a driver cruiser fun car.   
I just want to address what needs to be done to make it solid. 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Cuda Cody on June 25, 2017, 06:38:44 PM
It can be done, but that will be a tricky weld to patch that in.  But you have the advantage of a vinyl top to install so it might work okay.  It's going to get hot to weld in a patch in that area and hard not ruin the paint so not sure I would even attempt it.

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 25, 2017, 06:45:42 PM
Not worried about the paint.   

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Cuda Cody on June 25, 2017, 06:52:48 PM
Getting the body line in there and still being able to access it to grind down the welds is going to be hard.  If it was my car, I always want to see everything before I start doing any patch work.  That's a large rust hole for there not to be any other rust.  How's the other side look?
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 25, 2017, 06:55:20 PM
Haven't peeled the other side off yet. 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: 1 Wild R/T on June 26, 2017, 01:48:04 AM
AMD makes drip rails but for a small repair I'd probably make my own, do you have access to a sheet metal break?
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Shane Kelley on June 26, 2017, 04:11:06 AM
That's a hard repair to do. Most likely the inner part where the drip rail channel screws has issues as well. Like Cody said. going to be tough to get a grinder in that tight area. Might have to use a hand file to clean some of the welds. Hint: That sucks big time!

Where do you stop? That's going to be the big dilemma. You always chase problems like that.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: truckinman466 on June 26, 2017, 06:17:59 PM
I had to repair this section on both sides. I found a donor car and cut out what I needed. Then got drip rails from and. But I'm putting a new skin on the roof.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 27, 2017, 05:39:44 PM
Quote from: truckinman466 on June 26, 2017, 06:17:59 PM
I had to repair this section on both sides. I found a donor car and cut out what I needed. Then got drip rails from and. But I'm putting a new skin on the roof.
Are the drip rails the stainless outer ones you're talking about?   

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Shane Kelley on June 28, 2017, 03:58:13 AM
Quote from: Chris Pauluk on June 27, 2017, 05:39:44 PM
Quote from: truckinman466 on June 26, 2017, 06:17:59 PM
I had to repair this section on both sides. I found a donor car and cut out what I needed. Then got drip rails from and. But I'm putting a new skin on the roof.
Are the drip rails the stainless outer ones you're talking about?   

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
I'm pretty sure he is referring to the area that the drip rail moldings attach to.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: truckinman466 on June 28, 2017, 07:20:12 PM
There are metal drip rails between your roof skin and the inner frame . AMD sells them.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 28, 2017, 07:23:41 PM
So would these just be a drill out the spot welds, slide the old drip rails out and slide new ones in, tack rack?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: truckinman466 on June 28, 2017, 07:41:25 PM
They are spot welded to the frame but, the roof skin is spot welded to them in the gutter area. You. Wouldn't be able to get to the inner welds without cutting the skin and maybe peeli it back. You would then have to weld the skin back together. Pretty tough to do , I'd think
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 28, 2017, 07:42:58 PM
So the roof skin has to be completely removed to get the drip rails out?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: truckinman466 on June 28, 2017, 07:58:14 PM
 That would be the only way unless you want to cut and patch it.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: truckinman466 on June 28, 2017, 08:06:38 PM
I have the skin off my car right now. I can get some pictures of the drip rails if you want. I haven't taken them off yet. It wouldn't be till Friday, I'm working out of town right now.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on June 28, 2017, 08:11:26 PM
@truckinman466
That would be great.   

I'm thinking since the sections I have are pretty short and the rest solid that I might just cut n patch. 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on July 02, 2017, 01:36:39 PM
Bump

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Cuda Cody on July 02, 2017, 01:42:25 PM
I've done a little bit of metal repair and feel I can do okay at it.  But that would make me really stop and think if I could even do it.... it's not going to be an easy spot to repair with a patch.  Might think about getting someone with a lot of sheet metal experience to give you a hand on it.
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on July 02, 2017, 01:50:15 PM
It's not that hard of an area.   
I'm not worried about the access. 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: Tunis on July 02, 2017, 02:37:23 PM
Then go for it!  :bradsthumb:
Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: FSHTAIL on July 02, 2017, 02:40:02 PM
I need to find the panel is my only issue.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Small patch sections or drip rail pieces?
Post by: tparker on August 08, 2019, 03:58:55 PM
Ahh man, I wanted to see how this ended. No update?