Is This Bad? Should My B-Pillar Not Look Like This?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 06/20/2016 at 12:09 • Filed to: None

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Yesterday being Father’s Day, I didn’t spend a ton of time with the Barracuda. But I did remove a piece of trim so I could get a good look at the worst of the rust, pictured here.

It’s bad. My initial reaction was that it was “maybe I should strip this thing and wait for a solid a-body to show up on CL” bad. But then I thought about what exactly my project is here, and I realized a few things.

The only reason this is a tough repair is because of the shape I’d need to make to attach the trim and weather stripping, bending it up like you can see at the top of the pillar. But really...I’m taking the back seat out, why do I need the windows to go up and down? I don’t, and I don’t need that trim piece either. So what I can do is cut the rust out, make the part simpler by finishing flat, and then just seal the window up permanently.

That makes my job a ton easier, allows me to make a good strong repair that looks like shit (which is what I want) and also seal the car more effectively against the weather, because good luck finding that weatherstripping. Ill likely remove the trim on the other side and seal the window in the same way, since the weatherstripping is junk on that side too.

As long as I can make a strong repair I’m happy. I’ll pick up a nice sheet of good aluminum tomorrow and get to cutting.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:14

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Just don’t roll it over ....

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:15

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I have a hole like that right behind the B-pillar on the Ranchero. I can’t hide it *completely* with the edge trim, so I sense body solder in my future.

Cé hé sin > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:19

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To answer your question, no.

crowmolly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:19

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Yes, that is very bad. This car will need full quarters. Rebuilding that channel is not the end of the world. If realseabass or somebody is willing to help you make a cardboard template of a “good” B pillar you can work off of that.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:24

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Weatherstripping is not that hard to find for the A bodies. I bought some at a car show from a vendor. It was really good stuff. I will see if I can find a card for the guy. I’ll leave a picture of mine so you can have something to aspire to. Sorry for the crappy picture. It needs to be detailed really bad.

facw > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:29

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Won’t attaching aluminium to the steel just cause more rust?

LOREM IPSUM > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:32

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Couple gallons of Bondo should sort that right out. ;)

nerd_racing > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:36

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yikes! that is pretty bad. My 64 just had minor bubbling. I should have kept that car...

PartyPooper2012 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:37

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make it a convertible?

leicester > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:49

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Nothing a little bondo can’t cure...

InfinityAero > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 12:50

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Those curves don’t look bad, you should be able to bend some 1/16" or 22Ga sheet metal into that shape... I had to bend the same thickness to make a shock tower repair recently:

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 13:12

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I generally prefer my vehicles be made of metal and not Swiss cheese, but who am I to tell you what to do?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > crowmolly 06/20/2016 at 13:24

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The good news is that my passenger side pillar is totally rust free. So I can make a template of that side and and just lay the template upside down to make my driver’s side patch.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan 06/20/2016 at 13:24

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I was thinking about a roll bar before. Now it's more of a necessity, haha.

crowmolly > facw 06/20/2016 at 13:25

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It will be harder to weld in, for starters. Dissimilar metals are not as slam-dunk easy as steel to steel.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > facw 06/20/2016 at 13:26

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Actually, for this part I misspoke anyway, because this is going to be welded so I’ll have to use steel. On the non structural bits I'll use aluminum and rivets.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > PartyPooper2012 06/20/2016 at 13:27

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I considered that, but then I've just got a Valiant convertible, and there's plenty of those.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > InfinityAero 06/20/2016 at 13:27

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It shouldn't be too bad, especially because I don't care at all how it ends up looking as long as it's strong.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 06/20/2016 at 13:28

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Nice looking fish. Weatherstripping would help, I could always just use generic stuff...I’m not exactly building a ‘nice’ car here, haha.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 13:29

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I know anything car be repaired, but wow.

When it’s done, will it look essentially stock?

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition 06/20/2016 at 13:29

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If you need pictures of anything let me know. I will use a better camera lol.

PartyPooper2012 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 13:30

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Ute then?

InfinityAero > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 13:44

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Yeah, looks to me like a 1/2" wide strip of 1/16" steel would work along the window- just a little bending to get the curve right, then a 1" wide strip for the other area. Should be easy, even if you decide to preserve the existing lines! Good luck.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan 06/20/2016 at 13:52

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Lord no. It’s getting rounded rear wheel wells, big ol flares, fat tires, side exit exhaust, holes patched with sheet metal and rivets. It’s also not getting painted. So it’ll look like something from Mad Max, but under the car and under the hood it’ll need to be mint.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > PartyPooper2012 06/20/2016 at 13:53

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Whoa. Now that's an idea.

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/20/2016 at 14:04

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Just keep us apprised.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > InfinityAero 06/20/2016 at 14:12

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I agree, I think it looks worse than it actually is. And because the repair doesn't need to be perfect, just strong, it's even easier.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 07/22/2016 at 15:15

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It’s character! The more the better!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 07/22/2016 at 21:10

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Unfortunately the Barelycuda had juuuuust a bit too much ‘character’, and got parted out, haha.