64 convertible rust repairs

Discussions about general body work and modifications
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cairnscomet
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:02 pm
Location: Cairns QLD Australia

64 convertible rust repairs

Post by cairnscomet »

Its time to tackle the rust

First up spot under battery tray ,start off with the easy one . Modified a mustang battery tray and support
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Battery tray.jpg
Battery tray.jpg (181.29 KiB) Viewed 2690 times


This ones a bit harder , a few areas all linked together, torque box is good ,inner sill is good but the inner wheel well bit has me thinking ,any thoughts ,I'm thinking from underneath
RHR floor.jpg
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible 302 4sp
1966 Ford Ranchero 390FE - daily driver
1923 408W T-Bucket

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Groover
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Location: Indianapolis, IN

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Groover »

you go man. Keep posting photos.
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild

All Comets start out as dreams...

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poboyjo65
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Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by poboyjo65 »

Groover I bet you're getting flashbacks looking at that torque box!! I actually toyed with the idea of putting in a diagonal braces like the verts have in my hardtop, after seeing Groovers pics.
You definitely have some work ahead of you, just pace yourself & try not to get burned out ,it'll be done when it's done & worth every minute! :D

Good job on the battery tray Mr Cairns. so you used donor pieces from a stang? I did mine with a stang aftermarket patch panel.

On my torque box tops instead of 2 layers like the factory had I just used one thicker piece. I think it was 14 ga..
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Johno

Lou's Comet
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Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Lou's Comet »

I would do the inner wheel well from the underneath/inside of wheel well. Then do the attaching area from the inside.

Get some poster paper from a office supply to cut templets for the patches. Poster paper is easy to cut/bend so you can cut some different samples to see how you are going to patch it up. When you decide how you are going to do it you can then use the poster paper to transfer the shape to steel sheet.

Lou

cairnscomet
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:02 pm
Location: Cairns QLD Australia

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by cairnscomet »

Yea that's what I thought

Good idea about poster paper
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible 302 4sp
1966 Ford Ranchero 390FE - daily driver
1923 408W T-Bucket

cairnscomet
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:02 pm
Location: Cairns QLD Australia

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by cairnscomet »

Have got a bit of time now so have started a few more rust repairs
Have been thinking about the under seat pans and came up with this
66 mustang rear floor ,turned it upside down ,cut a bit off here and there and shaped a few bends good as gold
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Under seat pan.jpg
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible 302 4sp
1966 Ford Ranchero 390FE - daily driver
1923 408W T-Bucket

cairnscomet
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:02 pm
Location: Cairns QLD Australia

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by cairnscomet »

Have had a bit of time for some more fabrication work
LHR cut away 1.jpg
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For extra strength in LHR tourqe box just added more layers with thicker
LHR under seat 3 with seat belt mounts.jpg
LHR under seat 3 with seat belt mounts.jpg (175.35 KiB) Viewed 2582 times
For interest sake put a dial indicator in a few different places and lightly jack car form front tourqe box . Saw no movement in inner sill panels, its seems to flex at A and B pillars through front firewall and rear wheel well/seat back bracing.

Anway welded 2 mm angle sections on top oz inner sill box and an angle brace from b pillar to sill . Front will add 2mm plate to front floor where its spotted to fendor aprons and plate A pillar to sill .Got to be better than nothing .
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible 302 4sp
1966 Ford Ranchero 390FE - daily driver
1923 408W T-Bucket

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Groover
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Location: Indianapolis, IN

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Groover »

cairnscomet wrote:Got to be better than nothing .
Wiser words were never spoken. Since ours is not a race car, I went with the theory, when in doubt, add some more steel. We stiffened the front and rear torque boxes with cross braces.

It sure makes you wonder how many cars ARE driving around with "nothing"? I once drove a 68 Ranch Wagon where the frame arch over the rear wheel was completely rusted through. Didn't notice it until one day while working on the brakes, I asked somebody to push the e-brake and I watched it pull the rear wheel forward instead of applying the brakes. :oops:
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild

All Comets start out as dreams...

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Jims65cyclone
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Location: Lexington, SC

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Jims65cyclone »

I once worked with a guy that had an early 60's convertible (I don't even remember the make) that he said he knew had some rust issues. He said he didn't realize how bad it was until he took it to a friend's house who had a lift to change the oil. They raised it a foot or so off the ground when he realized he had left the oil on the rear floor board. He said they could NOT open either door until they let it back down onto the floor. :shock:
Jim
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Groover
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Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Groover »

This was one of the saddest threads on this forum. She eventually sold the car :(

http://www.cometcentral.com/forum/viewt ... aby#p18204
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1964 Comet Caliente Convertible
30,000 miles on our rebuild

All Comets start out as dreams...

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Jims65cyclone
Posts: 2753
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:29 pm
Location: Lexington, SC

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by Jims65cyclone »

Wow! :shock: That one looked like it had been used as an artificial reef at one time.
Jim
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cairnscomet
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:02 pm
Location: Cairns QLD Australia

Re: 64 convertible rust repairs

Post by cairnscomet »

A few people have said of my rust ,gee that's a lot of work, but really I do feel lucky , It could have been a lot lot worse

I can't access the photos on that topic but comments of timber posts in sills sends shivers up the spine
1964 Comet Caliente Convertible 302 4sp
1966 Ford Ranchero 390FE - daily driver
1923 408W T-Bucket

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