Time To Turn Thy Attention

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
08/16/2019 at 12:30 • Filed to: trans amess, trans am, bandit bait, rust bucket, rust repair, bondo, how not to do bodywork

To The Trashy Trans Am.

Its been two months (!) since I made the 3/4 rotisserie to be able to easily access the rust issues in the rear quarters and left rear frame rail. So since my parts car is... parting, and it runs, I can start working on sheetmetal repairs.

Step one: Order parts

Step two: Start hacking.

This is getting replaced, along with the other side that has Bondo in it:

And this quarter, which has some pinholes.

Those I could easily see. I separated the seams and drilled out the spot welds. Once the repair panels are here I’ll know whereabouts I’ll make my cuts. But first, lets take a look at the “nice” quarter panel:

I can see a coat of filler there, so I wasn’t too surprised when it started cracking off as I separated the lower seam:

But then I saw what was lurking underneath:

OH LAWD NOOOOO

That’s a big ass hole

Someone had literally shoved mesh and scrap metal behind the hole and FILLED it with Bondo up to an inch and a half thick.

Oh well, it was getting replaced anyways, THE RIGHT WAY.

Hopefully once I dig into the trunk/frame rail I can j ust patch what’s there and not have to buy a trunk pan (the only way to get the sections that are rusty on mine) or a frame rail.

And no, none of the sheetmetal or frame section I need can be sourced from the Esprit parts car. Its got rust in all the same places.

DISCUSSION (20)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 12:34

That is some scary looking stuff there.

Always terrible when you start prepping and the hole just keeps getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER.

Good luck, you definitely have your work cut out for you.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 12:35

Why do you hate yourself? That’s the only reasonable reason for this sort of maso chism

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 12:36

This is of great interest to me.

lone_liberal > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 12:38

My Camaro had almost identical rust spots. In front of the rear wheel on the right s ide and behind on the left. The one on the left was, like yours, pretty damn big but at least I understand why they rust there since debris gets kicked up at them . I can’t really understand why they rust in front of the rear wheel like that .

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 12:55

Damn, that was an ugly patch!

and 100 more > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 13:14

Did you buy this from Borsuq?

diplodicus forgot his password > lone_liberal
08/16/2019 at 13:53

paint chips from rocks getting kicked up is my guess. That’s what happens to my e30's at least.

lone_liberal > diplodicus forgot his password
08/16/2019 at 14:10

Sure, in the rear quarters behind the rear wheels, but the area in front of the wheels shouldn’t have rocks kicked up on it, should it? Unless you’re spinning the tires in reverse, which given the previous owners of these cars is certainly possible.

diplodicus forgot his password > lone_liberal
08/16/2019 at 14:59

That area is behind the front tires right? If they stick out at all rocks will still get thrown up from the tread.

lone_liberal > diplodicus forgot his password
08/16/2019 at 15:06

No, the area between the rear tires and the door.

diplodicus forgot his password > lone_liberal
08/16/2019 at 15:15

Oh, that is weird.

Urambo Tauro > Takuro Spirit
08/16/2019 at 21:35

Plas terrific !

Takuro Spirit > lone_liberal
08/20/2019 at 10:06

I think the TA’s and Z’s get rust in there due to the holes drilled for spoilers. Or water/moisture gets in there through the exhauster vents in the door jamb, and it collects at the bottom.

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word
08/20/2019 at 10:07

It’ll be my first time doing ACTUAL body work.

YouTube don’t fail me now....

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit
08/20/2019 at 13:46

You're a braver man than I.

lone_liberal > Takuro Spirit
08/20/2019 at 14:29

The weird part is that in an early second gen, like my ‘71, there weren’t any spoilers there even on the Z, but I do like your other theory . One thing I know for sure, they rust there so often that patch panels are available for just that spot.

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word
08/21/2019 at 13:35

I just REALLY want to have this car done the way I want, and am willing to learn how to do it.

My bird IS the word > Takuro Spirit
08/21/2019 at 14:11

I just hate fabrication

Takuro Spirit > lone_liberal
08/21/2019 at 14:13

Speak of the devil, FedEx just dropped off my replacement panels from Summit Racing.

Takuro Spirit > My bird IS the word
08/21/2019 at 14:25

I love making something out of nothing. Especially if the thing you need either doesn’t exist, or is too expensive.

I blame my childhood LEGO habit.