Ross's 72 Dart

[terryr]

Nice

[rossk]

slow progress, but wings & bonnet primed and back on

[Mossy68]

Onwards and upwards

[Dave81]

Lookin good!

[rossk]

So I’ve decided to go for it and it’s going into the shop next month for bare metal re-spray. To keep the cost down I’m going to do some of the nasty jobs myself. 1st task that vinyl roof, and I’ve got to say it wasn’t too bad to remove. Didn’t even put any heat on it, just a flat wide plastic trim tool did the job!

Not too bad under there, may have had a previous roof skin? Not sure, maybe someone can tell, certainly looks like I can see some joins & there was filler over the top, but I’m not sure if that was the finish from factory, don’t know how great the quality was from new?

[rossk]

Sorry about the pictures they don’t seem to upload from my phone the way they look on the phone??

[Steve]

What a great build thread and a fantastic car!!! How is the roof looking after the flaky rust is off? Looks like it may have gone a bit beyond surface only, hope its all good. The factory used to spend more time on the roof to pillar joins if the car was going to have a painted roof. If it was a vinyl optioned car, they usually put seam sealer over the join and the vinyl covered that. The join can be seen on quite a few vinyl optioned cars (including mine). Looking forward to some more updates...

Cheers Steve

[rossk]

Hi Steve, I’ve had a dig at a few areas with a small screwdriver and it appears to be holding up ok when the flaky stuff is off.

The worst bit is the o/s/r where there are a few holes.

Thanks for the info on the roof, interesting the work differed depending on whether vinyl was being fitted or not.

[Steve]

If you like little snippets like that, you must read a book called 'Muscle Car Confidential'. Eye opening accounts from test drivers etc in the 60s and 70s.

How are you planning on dealing with that tricky little area? Ive never had the bottle to weld that close to glass so would have to take it out. Ive seen people do it with soaking wet towels on the glass to keep it cool but, knowing my luck, I would completely ruin it! Those channels can be pretty hard to replicate, especially if your metal fab kit is like mine and comprises a workmate, wooden blocks, a vice and some hammers!!

[rossk]

I’m stripping it all out then it’s being sand blasted. After that I’ll be able to see what I have to work with and the fabrication/welding begins!

[Steve]

Proper job!! Excellent....I had to wait for really still days to weld my Fury on the driveway at my old house. Sounds like you have all the skills and facilities to make it fun rather than a pain (and you thought I was joking about the workmate....ha ha)

[rossk]

That's nice work Steve!

[Steve]

Certainly not up to the standards of the experts on here but I wanted to learn to weld so bought an old 66 Fury and spent months making and welding in a new trunk floor, inner and outer lower rear quarters, front sections of the lower rear quarters (all both sides) and a couple of foot well panels. Don't think I would do it outside again (though I did do a bit on my old 72 New Yorker having said I wouldn't again) but would love to eventually do a full resto on something one day (inside!).

Big learning curve but great sense of achievement.

Anyway, back to your car....will be absolutely fantastic when done and a good candidate for our stand at the NEC next year???????

Cheers Steve

[rossk]

Looking at some of the cars that are at the NEC, I think I’ve got some work to do to get to that standard! Nice idea though

[autofetish]

Car looks great and keep pumping hard do a little every day !!!!

Keep the posts coming !!!