Grasshopper 69 RR Full Restoration

[Grashopr]

We are restoring a 69 RR here at the shop, got started a few weeks ago, just been waiting on CI to get us the first sheet metal components, which just showed up. The back story of the car is it has a ton of sentimental value to the owner who had it at another shop who sand blasted it, cut the quarters in half, got into the rockers and the gave up (took 3 years from the story I got to get that far). Tons of rust from siting in a field for decades. 383 4sp, special order color (S. P. Orange #3 is written on the rear speaker tray, looks like from the factory). Plumb-Bob'd the whole car, and it's straight, doesn't appear to be tweaked other than rot. Going to need to replace everything but the Torque cross-member, dash, roof, and possibly rear frame subs. Here is how we got it..

 

[Grashopr]

Pulled both front floor pans to expose the torque box, dirty but solid.

 

[Grashopr]

Inner and outer fender wells showed, pulled the rest of the drivers quarter off, started patching in the rotten areas of the inner and outer fender wells..

 

[Basketcase]

looks like a big project, keep us updated!

 

[1967 'cuda]

Good luck with the restoration. But, I think my own sentimental attachment would have gone away after seeing how crusty it became. On the bright side, it will be pretty much a new car when it's done.

 

[Basketcase]

there's been a few cars over on FBBO that were a lot worse and have been brought back.

 

[Grashopr]

Its not un-restorable, just a lot of work. Just a lot of steel

 

[cj69RR]

Good to hear your saving it. Keep us posted.

 

[Grashopr]

Starting with Drivers inner and outer wheel well rust replacement. Wanted to stay away from the roof support reinforcement boxes, mostly because they are solid, and don't have it on a rack yet. So pulled the rusty sections and put in forward and rearward 1/3 on the inner, and almost all of the outer. Can't fully weld the outer til the Quarter skin gets here, but it's mocked up very close right now. There is rust on the structure inside of the rocker panel that has to be addressed before the rear inner rocker is replaced or the quarter skin is put on, so this week; full trunk pans plus passenger pan, speaker tray, and rear inner rocker on the drivers side. Hopefully the Quarter Skins get off back order in the next few weeks... hopefully.

 

[1967 'cuda]

:cartman::nachos::cartman::nachos: - just watchin' :nachos::nachos::cartman:

 

[Grashopr]

Started pulling the trunk pan today. Took tons of measurements then started cutting spot welds. Each weld takes between 45 sec and 3 mins. Some are just harder than others. Tried using multiple types of spot weld cutters, but the solid ones from Snap-On seem to last the longest and are re-sharpen-able, so that's what we're using mostly. Going to cross-Brace the rear package tray/roof tomorrow.

 

[Grashopr]

Got the trunk floor out, found out that a mouse or something had been living in the frame pocket (might still be in there dead of a heart attack). Frame rails look like pounded hamburger from the undercoating that's still on them, but we'll take care of that tomorrow. Prepping for the new floor. Sheet metal will be in Monday.

 

[69hemibeep]

that kind of car got cut up before AMD was around

 

[Grashopr]

I wish AMD would hurry up and stamp some more Quarter Panels and Rockers. Kind of holding us up.

 

[bobbyb]

I had to wait over 6 weeks for a right front fender, then when I got it, it was damaged. Only had to wait 1 week for the second cause they now have them in stock.

 

[69hemibeep]

I wish AMD would hurry up and stamp some more Quarter Panels and Rockers. Kind of holding us up.

Call Stevens up and see if they have them in stock. They are a big dealer in AMD stuff.

 

[Basketcase]

check with jeff at 521 restorations

 

[Grashopr]

Needed to get the car on a rack to align new parts, so built a quick frame rack.. Got the K member out, found out how bad the rust was on the front drivers frame sub... now to jig up the K member and the drivers rocker so we can cut both out and install new steel. Thank goodness for a warm week.

 

[Grashopr]

Working on getting this out in the next couple days. Steel should be here in the AM for trunk floor, extensions, and the inner rear rocker for drivers side.

 

[Grashopr]

Got the trunk floor in, outer wheelhouse started to get buttoned up, and found a pair of quarter skins locally (AMD is out til mid-May and no one else has any that I can find), so got it mocked up. Got the inner rear rocker in and started finish work on it. Next is passenger floor, trunk extensions and tail light mounts. Then if I can get the rockers here we can skin the quarters and start back half bodywork. Happy Guy!