IMR-Merlin

Got the complete interior stripped today and found this.



Would have been nice to find this before I bought a reset key last month....

Anyway, got the complete interior out and both doors stripped and removed.



Trying to figure out how to get the dash off, looks like there is some bolts that hold it on. Any suggestions?

IMR-Merlin

Took delivery of my roll cage tubing, plasma cutter and tubing notcher 2 weeks ago. Took the time to make some room in the shop for the winter build.

Wanted to get some stuff off of the floor to make space for the drill press and other fab tools that I am going to need before the snow falls again.

IMR-Merlin

Spent most of the day with a gasket scraper taking off all the factory sound deadening material.

IMR-Merlin

Put in a few more hours and got the tail lights out, rear reflector, then moved to the front and got the gas tank.

I have to say that I haven't seen a car phone antenna for decades, but I found all the wiring for a car phone in the car. LOL

IMR-Merlin

today's project.













Tomorrow I'll make the mounts for the car....

IMR-Merlin

Finished it up today. Needs a little more bracing, but man is it easy to work on the car now.

IMR-Merlin

Today's progress



Sunroof panel is removed




Time to clean up some wiring and get some plates fabricated for the cage tonight.

IMR-Merlin

Got a little gift from the weather gods. High 50's in late November so I rolled her outside for one last cleaning before the winter sets in. Hopefully the next time the car sees sunlight it will be painted.

IMR-Merlin

Got the fenders off, the rust isn't too bad considering the car sat for 16 years. Looks like it's just some surface scaling and I should be able to lightly blast it away.





Fenders are about the same.

IMR-Merlin

Finally got to go forward a bit on the car today. I fabricated up some brackets for the front strut bars and got some of the cage plates cut and welded in.





I have an appointment with a tubing bender next weekend if I can get the time....

IMR-Merlin

Got the first part of the front brace done tonight, should have some time to finish the rest up tomorrow.

IMR-Merlin

Had a missed delivery today so I got into the shop early and cleaned up the welds on the cross brace.

IMR-Merlin

Had the day off, so got a bit done on the car today. I need to brush up on my welding, it's been a few years.

IMR-Merlin

IMR-Merlin

Got the die set for my bender late Friday and had other obligations to do on Saturday, but I got some work done this morning on the cage.

It's been awhile since I have worked with a bender and need to do some practice bends so I made a practice hoop with a piece of exhaust tubing...... much cheaper than FUBAR'ing a piece of DOM.

After the practice was over, I got to work on the main hoop and the top hoop. As you can see, there are clear advantages to having the roof off. I wanted to have a nice clean and tight fit and this is what I got so far.







I'm going to try and get the front down tubes fabricated tonight then I need to get it off the rotisserie before I do the cross bracing to make sure the car is square.