Finally putting things back together ... step 1
03-18-2003, 04:20 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Finally putting things back together ... step 1
Well, the title says it all. I've spent the last year or two tearing things apart,
cleaning things up, patching steel and fiberglass parts, and POR/painting.
This weekend was a turning point. I started by attaching and sealing the
firewall/cowl to the refurbished birdcage.
To start the weekend off, I got my family duties out of the way. The whole
family went on an overnight Cub Scouts "camp-in" at the Museum of Science - Boston.
I love science and my kids - so a whole night locked up inside the science
museum was WAY fun.
We arrived at 5PM - rushed onto the subway and ate dinner at Durgin Park,
a renowned restaurant in the Quincy Market area of Boston.
We rushed back and checked in around 6:30. Free time for an hour,
then they started group demonstrations for each pack attending. An ice cream
sundae was then enjoyed by all attendees, followed by more free time to
explore all the museum had to offer. At 10PM, we all moved to the 'lightning'
room, where we were treated to a demonstration of the world's largest free
air Van-deGraff (sp?) generator. 11PM was time to setup camp, and lights out
was at midnight. Funny, they set our pack up near the human body exhibit.
My wife and I slept under the Heroin display :rolleyes: . The next day, a light
breakfast was served, and all attendees were treated again to a private
showing in the planetarium, followed by a showing in the Mugar Omni theater
of Coral Reef Adventure. Now, the museum was getting full with regular
visitors, and we hung out for a few more hours - revisiting our favorites and
discovering new things.
Here are a few pics from our camp-in:
My Sam gives two-thumbs-up for the dinosaur display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS0.jpg
A giant Tesla coil throws a huge arc to the cage in front of us in the lightning display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS1.jpg
Here is where the wife and I slept - under the Heroin display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS2.jpg
Here is a nice shot of the Boston skyline across the Charles river (from the museum):
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS3.jpg
A great time was had by all. Boy was I tired.
BUT - not too tired to get up on Saturday and start prepping the vette for
attaching the firewall. First, I needed to install the new poly body mounts.
It took me a while, but I finally found the right size grade 8 bolts at a local
HW store ($0.77 ea). After double-checking the fit of the firewall and placing
a few locator screws - I was ready to attach it (tomorrow).
I started on Sunday by cleaning the painted birdcage with lacquer thinner.
This will give a nice surface for the adhesives and sealer to grab onto.
I used these materials along the way:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/butyl.jpg
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/PLadhesive.jpg
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/SSpop_rivets.jpg
The existing holes in the birdcage from previous rivets were filled over with
the flexible black polyurethane sealer.
Next, the butyl sealer strip was laid in place - just 'inside' all the old rivet holes.
Notice how I placed the butyl strip around the entire #1 body mount hole.
This will keep the other adhesives from running into the body mounts.
On the inside of the butyl strip, I used a good amount of polyurethane adhesive.
Last of the glue, I used a flexible black polyurethane sealer around the entire
outside edge.
The firewall was carefully lowered into place, and clamps were used to try and draw it in toward the birdcage before riveting. Here is one of my best
buys this year: Harbor Freight - got it 50% off for $13 (good quality tool).
This angle drill attachment made it all possible.
So, I drilled new rivet holes for the 3/16 stainless pop rivets. The new holes
were place between all the old holes in the fiberglass. Here is a shot of my first two rivets:
I worked my way from the center outwards on both sides - then placed the
final rivets in the top and front of the door pillar.
So far, everything looks good. In the next few days I plan to get the floor
bonded back onto the firewall bottom, then it's 'on' with the front clip.
PS - I love that PL roof/flashing sealer - BUT it takes about a week to cure.
You gotta be careful where you lean !! :crazy: It works and handles great -
smells OK - and smooths out nice with a finger dipped in thinner.
That's all for now ..... DAMN - 65 yesterday - getting the fever - don't want to rush it. :seeya
[Modified by NHvette, 4:27 PM 3/18/2003]
[Modified by NHvette, 4:29 PM 3/18/2003]
cleaning things up, patching steel and fiberglass parts, and POR/painting.
This weekend was a turning point. I started by attaching and sealing the
firewall/cowl to the refurbished birdcage.
To start the weekend off, I got my family duties out of the way. The whole
family went on an overnight Cub Scouts "camp-in" at the Museum of Science - Boston.
I love science and my kids - so a whole night locked up inside the science
museum was WAY fun.
We arrived at 5PM - rushed onto the subway and ate dinner at Durgin Park,
a renowned restaurant in the Quincy Market area of Boston.
We rushed back and checked in around 6:30. Free time for an hour,
then they started group demonstrations for each pack attending. An ice cream
sundae was then enjoyed by all attendees, followed by more free time to
explore all the museum had to offer. At 10PM, we all moved to the 'lightning'
room, where we were treated to a demonstration of the world's largest free
air Van-deGraff (sp?) generator. 11PM was time to setup camp, and lights out
was at midnight. Funny, they set our pack up near the human body exhibit.
My wife and I slept under the Heroin display :rolleyes: . The next day, a light
breakfast was served, and all attendees were treated again to a private
showing in the planetarium, followed by a showing in the Mugar Omni theater
of Coral Reef Adventure. Now, the museum was getting full with regular
visitors, and we hung out for a few more hours - revisiting our favorites and
discovering new things.
Here are a few pics from our camp-in:
My Sam gives two-thumbs-up for the dinosaur display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS0.jpg
A giant Tesla coil throws a huge arc to the cage in front of us in the lightning display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS1.jpg
Here is where the wife and I slept - under the Heroin display:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS2.jpg
Here is a nice shot of the Boston skyline across the Charles river (from the museum):
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/MOS3.jpg
A great time was had by all. Boy was I tired.
BUT - not too tired to get up on Saturday and start prepping the vette for
attaching the firewall. First, I needed to install the new poly body mounts.
It took me a while, but I finally found the right size grade 8 bolts at a local
HW store ($0.77 ea). After double-checking the fit of the firewall and placing
a few locator screws - I was ready to attach it (tomorrow).
I started on Sunday by cleaning the painted birdcage with lacquer thinner.
This will give a nice surface for the adhesives and sealer to grab onto.
I used these materials along the way:
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/butyl.jpg
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/PLadhesive.jpg
http://www.nhvette.com/ftp/in/SSpop_rivets.jpg
The existing holes in the birdcage from previous rivets were filled over with
the flexible black polyurethane sealer.
Next, the butyl sealer strip was laid in place - just 'inside' all the old rivet holes.
Notice how I placed the butyl strip around the entire #1 body mount hole.
This will keep the other adhesives from running into the body mounts.
On the inside of the butyl strip, I used a good amount of polyurethane adhesive.
Last of the glue, I used a flexible black polyurethane sealer around the entire
outside edge.
The firewall was carefully lowered into place, and clamps were used to try and draw it in toward the birdcage before riveting. Here is one of my best
buys this year: Harbor Freight - got it 50% off for $13 (good quality tool).
This angle drill attachment made it all possible.
So, I drilled new rivet holes for the 3/16 stainless pop rivets. The new holes
were place between all the old holes in the fiberglass. Here is a shot of my first two rivets:
I worked my way from the center outwards on both sides - then placed the
final rivets in the top and front of the door pillar.
So far, everything looks good. In the next few days I plan to get the floor
bonded back onto the firewall bottom, then it's 'on' with the front clip.
PS - I love that PL roof/flashing sealer - BUT it takes about a week to cure.
You gotta be careful where you lean !! :crazy: It works and handles great -
smells OK - and smooths out nice with a finger dipped in thinner.
That's all for now ..... DAMN - 65 yesterday - getting the fever - don't want to rush it. :seeya
[Modified by NHvette, 4:27 PM 3/18/2003]
[Modified by NHvette, 4:29 PM 3/18/2003]
03-18-2003, 11:53 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Re: Finally putting things back together ... step 1 (REDSHARKONBOYDS)
Great work. Big nut to chew off and I give you credit for doing it and a great looking job.
If you don't already have one of these, you may want to check it out. That's if you have a compressor. In building my 34 Ford this thing was a life (and hand) saver. SS 3/16" rivets can be a pain sometimes. With this little pully, it's a simple trigger pull and done. :smash:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...itemnumber=167
If you don't already have one of these, you may want to check it out. That's if you have a compressor. In building my 34 Ford this thing was a life (and hand) saver. SS 3/16" rivets can be a pain sometimes. With this little pully, it's a simple trigger pull and done. :smash:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...itemnumber=167
03-19-2003, 12:08 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2002
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,508
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Re: Finally putting things back together ... step 1 (NHvette)
Just finish in two years so you can show me the car when I fly to Boston for my sister's graduation from BU.
03-19-2003, 12:11 AM
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Re: Finally putting things back together ... step 1 (78Vette-SA)
Joe - So right about the rivets. After about ten - you've had enough.
I've seen that riveter on sale before at HF - but thought I would never need
it for the few rivets I pull. The 3/16 stainless ones are very hard - more than
the aluminum ones I did this summer on my Buick moonroof. If I see the riveter
on sale again - I'm getting it.
Thanks :seeya
I've seen that riveter on sale before at HF - but thought I would never need
it for the few rivets I pull. The 3/16 stainless ones are very hard - more than
the aluminum ones I did this summer on my Buick moonroof. If I see the riveter
on sale again - I'm getting it.
Thanks :seeya
03-19-2003, 12:12 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Re: Finally putting things back together ... step 1 (Schmucker)
I'll pick you up at the airport. Fly into Manchester NH - that way the ride will be longer. :yesnod:
Just finish in two years so you can show me the car when I fly to Boston for my sister's graduation from BU.
03-19-2003, 12:41 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Re: Finally putting things back together ... step 1 (Metal_Wulf)
My next tech post, after bonding the bottom of tis thing on -
should be repair of the headlight assemblies (many issues)
and repair/replacement of the headlight support bar.
Thanks for the good words, guys. She's gonna be a keeper.
goodnight :seeya
should be repair of the headlight assemblies (many issues)
and repair/replacement of the headlight support bar.
Thanks for the good words, guys. She's gonna be a keeper.
goodnight :seeya