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The DPO blues

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MGBGT_noob

MGBGT_noob

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
I've run into my first DPO roadblock, in the process of disassembling my car.

Apparently, during a previous accident, the two bolts inside the grille opening, that connect to the fender, riped out of the engine bay side panel.

If I wanted to fix such damage, I imagine I'd weld a patch onto the engine bay panel, drill new holes, and bolt a new fender on normally. Mr. DPO decided to WELD THE NEW FENDER DIRECTLY TO THE PANEL!!!!

I tried running a reciprocating saw through the joint, to separate the welds (one at the former site of each bolt hole) but they proved tougher than I expected.

Anyone got any suggestions for eradicating welds in tight spaces?
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]
Anyone got any suggestions for eradicating welds in tight spaces? [/QUOTE]

Any chance of getting to them with a 90deg drill and a hole-saw, /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
what-ever-your-name-is???? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
Ed
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif hmm, hole saw, that's just crazy enough to work!!!

I just hope the pilot drill doesn't ruin the threads in the fender.


Ed Kaler said:
Any chance of getting to them with a 90deg drill and a hole-saw, /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
what-ever-your-name-is???? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
Ed
Click to expand...
 
Hi Noob
Turn the drill around so the cutting edge is facing in. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
prometalshop said:
Hi Noob
Turn the drill around so the cutting edge is facing in. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...
Woulden't that put a hole in your drill?
(ducks and runs) Sorry coulden't help it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
I SO deserved that one Banjo /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
 
If you have a compressor you might want to pick up and cheap air hammer. They normally come with four or five attachments; the straight chisel and the spot weld breaker (straight chisel with a V groove in the center) are the two I use most often.

P1010003.jpg


About $20 at your local builder's mart or on sale for the ridiculously low price of $4.99 at Harbor Freight:

https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32940

Ray
 
And boy do they work.
 
mccalebr said:
If you have a compressor you might want to pick up and cheap air hammer. They normally come with four or five attachments; the straight chisel and the spot weld breaker (straight chisel with a V groove in the center) are the two I use most often.

About $20 at your local builder's mart or on sale for the ridiculously low price of $4.99 at Harbor Freight:

Ray
Click to expand...

I'll see if they have them in stock at my local H-F, tomorrow.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif I get to buy more tools /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

The Harbor Freight air hammer worked like a champ. I got the fender off, with only slight damage. Hopefully, I can patch up the tears, and reuse this fender.



 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

Does that GT have a hole in its roof?
 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

tony barnhill said:
Does that GT have a hole in its roof?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess you could say that. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:



Don't forget "the Beast of the East"

 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

Great.

Tears do happen but can be minimized. Watch carefully to see if the weld is being cut or pulled by the chisel. If it's being cut a couple minutes with the hammer and dolly is usually all that's needed to straighten out the area. If it's pulled, a soon as a tear begins, back out the chisel and, if possible, reinsert at 90 degrees to the first effort; repeat two more times. Normally, a small pencil eraser hole is all that will result; this is no more than drilling for a plug weld and is is usually easily filled.

Glad you had success!

Ray
 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

Are you taking this one down to a shell? Im going to have to replace both rockers, the wheel horns and probably the front fender attachments next to the wheel horn. They are not totally gone but there is some definite repair needed.
 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

I plan to strip it down to the point where I can get it blasted, before I try to get the new roof welded on.

For a car that has obviously spent so much time outdoors, unprotected, and didn't receive the kindest of treatment before it went out to pasture, I've found surprisingly little "serious" rust. But, the media blaster may reveal more than I can see in it's current state.

Jarhead said:
Are you taking this one down to a shell? Im going to have to replace both rockers, the wheel horns and probably the front fender attachments next to the wheel horn. They are not totally gone but there is some definite repair needed.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

What did you wind up doing about the roof?
 
Re: Success!!! [was: The DPO blues]

A local club member has parted out a number of GTs. He saved the roof off of one, and I just need to wait for last year's bonus to come in, before I buy it off of him.

Thanks for offering before.

vping said:
What did you wind up doing about the roof?
Click to expand...
 
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