COMMENTS - 72 GT Resto Thread

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by newman27 Thanks Ron for the insight based on your experiences. I guess it was just shocking at first because I have no frame of reference. I am really looking forward to seeing those patches go away! Matt

Here is a link to my Gallery which shows the restoration of my GT back to a super standard body. Gives some insight into what is inside the panels and how much has to be cut away to get at all the rust underneath the outer panels. Took 14 months to be completed and painted - plus a bit of money!

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showgal...0/ppuser/13893

The 'copper' colour on some of the inner panels is a spray on copper-plate rust eliminator product that was used to 'rust-proof' the new inner panels and between the spot welded lap joints.

When you see how truly awesome a cherry GT standard body is it is all worth it!

HTH

[newman27]

Originally Posted by blancojp Matt I would not worry about it too much, In the 25 years I've been restoring cars, I have seen worst. Just have a tall drink and think of how many people will envy your car when it is complete

Thanks! I find that Jack Daniels can be very medicinal...

Originally Posted by GTJIM Here is a link to my Gallery which shows the restoration of my GT back to a super standard body. Gives some insight into what is inside the panels and how much has to be cut away to get at all the rust underneath the outer panels.

That is one nice looking paint job . Thanks for the link - gives me an idea of what the process ahead will be like.

Matt

[Miskatonic]

Here is a link to my Gallery which shows the restoration of my GT back to a super standard body.

Gotta love that green.

[newman27]

My wife and I took a road trip this weekend and went to visit the Opel GT at the Mid-Southern Restorations shop in Cookeville, TN. Two words to sum up our visit: "Blown away!". The restored parts are even more impressive in person - pictures don't do them justice.

We had a great day of it and really came away being thoroughly impressed and more confident than ever that this car restoration is going to be worth every penny. I'll post more commentary and pictures in the PROJECT thread this evening after work as well as some hi-res photos into my Member Album. More to follow...

Matt

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by newman27 ...went to visit the Opel GT at the Mid-Southern Restorations shop in Cookeville, TN. Two words to sum up our visit: "Blown away!". The restored parts are even more impressive in person - pictures don't do them justice...Matt

Keith's head is swelling at this point but I'll have to say "Ditto" to what Matt said. Don't go look at the stuff Keith has powder coated or you'll get to thinking how nice it would look on your car. I'm already trying to figure out ways to get some of my stuff powdercoated. It sure looked NICE!

Harold

[tomking]

Well your car is looking SWEET, SWEET, SWEET!
Were the steering rack poly mounts from OGTS?

[2 Fast 4 U]

looking good , very good

[opelspyder]

Yes the mounts are from OGTS
Keith

[newman27]

Originally Posted by tomking Well your car is looking SWEET, SWEET, SWEET!

Originally Posted by 2 Fast 4 U looking good , very good

Thanks!

In case anyone missed it from the PROJECT thread, here is a bump on this request:

Originally Posted by opelspyder Any one have any NOS inner front panels they want to sell or inner fender pieces let me know by posting on the comments thread. We could use some but if not I will hand make this stuff or rebuild the old pieces for the most part.

Matt

[namba209]

Keith, you're doing some fantastic work there!!! If I could make a suggestion based on a few obversations of GTs with major front end damage. When you're done with the exterior sheetmetal repairs, install the headlight mechanisms, buckets and covers to match the surrounding areas to them, after they are adjusted correctly. I've seen a few where no amount of adjusting the buckets would bring them into alignment with the surrounding sheetmetal.

[opelspyder]

You are correct!!! The passenger side I was not too concerned with, but the driver's side was the case. I basically took the headlight bucket and held it into place to make sure my oval shaped hole lined up to where the gap was even on all sides. I didn't cut but a 1/4 of the circle out, but you never know when you have made the cuts too long or short when reinstalling. I also did change the backing mount to the driver's side and I may go ahead and hook everything up just to see if we are okay there as well.
Keith

[GTJIM]

Getting the headlight buckets lined up and with equal gap all around is the mark of a well done body restoration.
It is so noticable on may "restored" GTs that the headlight buckets just are not positioned accurately.
Took three people, three days to get mine near perfect .... just a hint - get everything as close as possible BEFORE painting the car and carefully build up and blend any miss-matches with Urethane body filler to achieve near perfection!
The whole process is another of Opel's "Character Building" Exercises !!

[2 Fast 4 U]

You made "structure reinforcements for rocker removal" what is a/the rocker? [ http://www.opelgt.com/forums/general...ownload-3.html ]

[namba209]

Not wanting to steal anyone's explanation, but the rocker is the channel below the doors and goes from the back of the front wheel well to the front of the rear wheel well. It's what the jackpoints and the leading arms for the rear suspension are mountd to. HTH.

[opelspyder]

Namba is correct, they are basically the outer/inner metal below the doors that create the lower door jam. This is a structural area of the car that helps support the body, I don't know how much will actually be cut out of here on each side, but I will be prepared just in case. The cross joist will act as a temporary rocker so once it is cut out, it (the body) doesn't shift into the wrong location.
Keith

[GTJIM]

Yeah - the panels along under the door are known as "rocker" panels ... for some reason - guess bodymen and mechanics use the same word to mean different things - the English language usage is a bit like that .... sometimes.

The whole boxed length is sometimes refered to as "rocker boxes" and this complete boxed panel construction is the main strength beam between the front and rear 'quarter' panels behind the front wheel arch and ahead of the rear wheel arch. Thus reinforcing the body before cutting into them for repair so the body does not sag and distort the door opening holes.

[2 Fast 4 U]

Thanks for explaining, I had a hunch, but wasn't sure, and yes "rocker" is wat confusing, in Holland we call them "koker balken" translated "case or tube beams"

[newman27]

Post #73 - "Rocker Panel"

What? No curvey bead on the inner panel!?!

Looks great Keith - thanks for the update. I can't wait to see things start going back on the car - getting closer every day!

Matt

[2 Fast 4 U]

Have to agree with Matt: "Looks great Keith", wish I was that far with my car, just haven't been feeling up to it lately

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by soybean Darn it Keith W, you're going to have to make me build something else. Good idea, once again. Jarrell

Jarrell, time to get welding!
Photo editorial at
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...otisserie.html
Thanks for the tips on the rear mounting Keith, it worked great!

[soybean]

Keith, I'm soon going to have more Opel tools than Opels. I'm starting to run out of room.
Another great job. I'll price the steel and hydraulics after planting so maybe I can start when the weather gets warmer. Very nice job and idea.
Jarrell

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by opelspyder ...and we know how much freaking seam sealer they used. I wonder how much all the seam sealer would weight if you stripped it of the entire body and put it on a scale. I bet it would shock some of us.Keith

Once I got my GT on the rotisserie, I got busy peeling off the seam sealer. I had already removed most of the interior sealer, and I hadn't kept track of that volume. But between the seam sealer in the engine compartment and such and the hard plastic undercoating Opel sprayed into the wheel wells, I had the better part of a garbage bag full of stripped-off crap. I bet it weighed 20 pounds! And more than once when I was pulling off the sealer I found corrosion HIDDEN in behind it! Instead of sealing the moisture out, it trapped it IN

[opelspyder]

You are right, it is rare that I pull up the seam sealer (from factory) and do not find corrosion. Can't figure why, must have been the material they used did not really retract water, and was actually porus
Keith

[kwilford]

So, why is seam sealer used? I guess in a spot welded over-lapped panel joint, dust and water might work into and through the joint. But wouldn't a seam weld along the lap be better at both preventing that, and also provide a stronger joint (and hence stiffer body)? After my car comes back from the media blaster, I was thinking seriously about seam welding ALL the joints I can access before I spray the self etching primer, and just avoiding the seam sealer as much as possible. Any thoughts?

[jordan]

It is a very common thing for rally cars to have all fully seam welded panels for added strength.