What gauge of sheet metal?

[20 years later]

Hello all
I found myself a 72 GT, it is quite complete BUT heavy rust issues.
Question is what gauge of sheet metal should I use for floors & rocker panels?

22 gauge for fenders is my guess.
Any info would be great

[ungermm]

Congrats on your new GT. The topic of sheet metal thickness can be found in a couple of threads.

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...uge-steel.html

and

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...icknesses.html

Good luck on your restoration.
Jerry

[Anonymous D]

Visible rust in critical areas like the rocker panels, are indications of even more rust elsewhere. Rather than invest significant time and labor on a car (that will likely bubble out rust under a new paint job), instead consider starting with an inexpensive rust-free body shell (you can find them for less than $1000, more often in the Southwest US but sometimes also in Oregon and Washington state), then use your present GT as a "parts donor" for the restoration project.

[20 years later]

Originally Posted by Anonymous D Visible rust in critical areas like the rocker panels, are indications of even more rust elsewhere. Rather than invest significant time and labor on a car (that will likely bubble out rust under a new paint job), instead consider starting with an inexpensive rust-free body shell (you can find them for less than $1000, more often in the Southwest US but sometimes also in Oregon and Washington state), then use your present GT as a "parts donor" for the restoration project.

I am 1300 miles from the US west coast!

OH yeah thers's rust in a 1 foot band on both sides ;p hood is good and doors

I live in the place where CNN calls the only place that is NOT feeling the worlds financial mess (YET)

[ungermm]

If you mean that the band runs under and along the rockers, that doesn't sound very good. If you could post some pictures, it would help when commenting on the cars condition and the feasibility and/or practicality of the repairs needed.

[20 years later]

I'll take some pics tomorrow, on the other hand I have lots of spare time. I saw a GT 2 yrs ago at a local Foreign car repair shop. I'll give them a call but these rare type cars around here are considered like gold. At least in their minds anyways!

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by 20 years later I am 1300 miles from the US west coast! OH yeah there's rust in a 1 foot band on both sides ;p hood is good and doors I live in the place where CNN calls the only place that is NOT feeling the worlds financial mess (YET)

Um, would that be Saskatchewan?
Or maybe Manitoba? Let's see, 1300 miles is 2100 km. Seattle to Calgary is about 1400 km, you're 700 km east of me. Yep, that might be Regina or Saskatoon, or somewhere nearby. Estevan? Still rigs working there, but soon to be a lot fewer according to my colleagues.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. There are lots of good threads here on body rust repair. Some of my favourites (and some are my own) are in this Forum, such as
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...r-arch-gt.html
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...at-photos.html
and a photo journal I created starting at
Body work 1988 - Opel Photo Gallery

HTH and good luck

[20 years later]

Yes cyqr

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by 20 years later Yes cyqr

cyqr?

[20 years later]

calgary is cyyc
ICAO airport codes

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by 20 years later calgary is cyyc ICAO airport codes

OK, and I see that cyqr is Regina. There have been a couple of folks on this site from Regina, but neither have posted in the past year or two. One was doing an engine swap with a Mitsubishi DOHC, but his absence probably indicates he hasn't made much progress.
If you SHOULD ever want a truly rust free GT, one is sitting in John Warga's back yard here in Calgary (i mean cyyc) that is a really excellent car. His main GT is taking all of his time (and then some) and the "Rescued" GT (there's a thread on the adventure in the Opel Stories Forum) needs a good home. Let me know if you're interested.

[20 years later]

What does he want for it?

I used to fly for pleasure.

I made an album showing car. Don't know yet how to include them in post.
Here is apic on the trailer more in my album

[gtblast]

I use to work with a guy from Regina. He use to say that Summer was two weeks of poor sleding!!

[kwilford]

I just had a look at your photo album:
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/members...praire-gt.html
Frankly, that GT is done. The rust has gotten into places that will simply take too much to properly repair, even if you were to go to the extremes that I did in repairing my GT's body. When I got started on it, I knew it had a fair bit of rust, and initially the repairs didn't seem too serious. It looked MUCH better than yours, and I had owned the car most of its life, so I knew the problem areas. I had done some (what I thought then were) "proper" repairs about fifteen years ago, grinding down and cutting out the obvious rust and MIG welding in repair patches. But when I GOT serious by sandblasting down to bare metal, there was a sobering amount of missing steel, and virtually every repair patch that I had initially installed had to be cut out and done over.
My GT "lived" most of its life in Winnipeg where I grew up and went to University. The prairie winters in Winnipeg (and Regina) with the salt and road mud causes corrosion in many hidden places. When I see the amount of rust in visible places that your GT has, it is simply not worth repairing.
Have another look at my photo album to get a feel of what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by 20 years later What does he want for it?

The "Rescue GT" story was chronicled at
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/opel-st...t-rescued.html
IIRC, John only paid $1800 or so for it, more as a favour to the car than himself as he already has a nice GT, as this low mileage, "Garage Find" GT was in danger of going to parts unknown if it wasn't rescued. He is off on a vacation to Belize for the next few weeks, but I suspect that he would sell it to a "good home" for pretty much what he paid for it. He was contemplating taking some of the better parts off and swapping same with his GT, but it is more related to having components available to rebuild (such as the front suspension clip) at his leisure and then doing the swap, rather than having his GT disassembled while he rebuilds the components.
But I am pretty sure he would let it go to the right person. So long as you didn't mind a trip to Calgary to come collect it.

Let me know by PM or e-mail if you want John's contact information.

[ungermm]

It doesn't look to be worth fixing.

[Sparky73]

Everyone has posted great info and great links, but from reading a couple of threads, here are the numbers I got. I cannot find EXACT numbers, so use the information and use your best judgment as well. I also agree that car is pretty rotted, but if anything.. practice on it! If you feel like attempting the job, go for it! You'll never learn unless you try.

Floorboards: 22g (20g is used often, but it measures 22g from the factory)
Rocker Panels: 20g (18g can be used. No real noticeable difference in thickness and provides a little more structural support. Will be a little harder to shape though.)
Fenders/Body: 22g

20g is a good 'multi-purpose' size and could probably be used all over if you don't want to purchase a bunch of different thickness's. I also read that the earlier models may have used a thicker steel, but I have no proof.

HTH, Jon

[Johnvan]

Nice to see another Canadian Opeler! You would be better off if you can manage to find a good shell rather than fix the one you have. It is expensive to ship a car especially in Canada where it is usually a long way to find a good one. I brought one up from Tennessee and it cost $3000 to have it shipped but it was worth it as it was a exceptional rust free car and I don't have a lot of time for my own car so it suited my situation. But..... then I saw one in Montreal and it was cheap and the typical Canadian rust of one foot along the bottom and I brought it home So now I still have one to fix and I'll pay for it in love and labour. My daughter wants one and maybe she can help Good luck which ever way you go and let me know if I can help in any way. John

[20 years later]

A 4x8 sheet of 22 ga is $45, I have most of the tools and lots of time. I have another type of car I have to finish(start?) anyways. If a nice GT passes my path I will jump.
Thanks for all the info

[Johnvan]

Maybe you should buy two sheets of metal! OK......Now you've got me goin'. What's the other type of car?

[20 years later]

American made late 60's 2 seater, they only made around 3500 that year.
Most north americans should get this one!

[raycemon]

I bought a GT with about half the rust over 2 years ago. I'm still working on the body. I wish I had just used it for parts and bought a good body. I live in Pennsylvania so I know how you feel about getting cars from the dry side of the country. Trust me after 100's of hours, buying new and used panels and floors and doors, I should of spent a few more $$ and bought a good staight body. Just passing along my experience. Don't do it you'll be sorrrrrrry. Bill

[Johnvan]

Originally Posted by 20 years later American made late 60's 2 seater, they only made around 3500 that year. Most north americans should get this one!

I'm thinking a 1969 Amx 390 4 gear or a specific optioned vette?

[20 years later]

Yes not the GM

[Johnvan]

Which Amx and what color etc.?