78 TA butt lift
 

Hi y'all. I'm not in need of help(yet) but I thought I'd share some pics of the work being done on my TA. This used to be my race car but it's been sitting outside for about 3 years now so needless to say it's in need of some attention. I knew when I bought it that the rear end was a bit rusty but what does an 18 year old kid care about that when it chirps 2nd & 3rd gear :D I asked my boyfriend(dealership mechanic) about getting back out last year and he said "we need to talk" :( So he's working on getting it road worthy for me again. I'll update the pics as he works on it. I may be asking for help as this is his first major project too.

Here's another pic of him working on it. And then my project, the back window channel :)

hmm and i thought you were looking for volunteers to lift your butt!

glad to see you're getting something done with the bird.

mike

Hey Mike,
Yea, I was wondering if I should have Steve change the title. I was thinking about Bjorn's(I think he started it) thread on what you got your car for christmas when I did my title. At least it should get some attention :)
After all this feasting over the hollidays I might need the butt lift though, lol.

I've heard there's a company that sells patch panels for those cars. Should be a big help to 'ya! ;)
That rear glass channel looks very good.

Hi Greg,
Heehee, the more we dig the more I think I'm just working for parts :oogle:
Thanks on the channel, I did have some practice with Punkey's windshield last year. It is a pretty easy job though which is why I'm doing it :) The toughest part is climbing thru the window opening to clean the parts I can't reach since I'm so short :rolleyes:

Sorry for the delay in progress pics. I was down with a cold/sinus infection last week. My boyfriend, great guy that he is, worked Sunday without me though. So I only have the after pics of him getting the old trunk floor out.

Then he worked on it again this past Saturday. As you can see from the last pics most of the mounting brackets on the end of the frame rails are shot. He made new brackets and welded them on.

Next he's working on the pieces on the top outer section of the trunk floor. They are not made so he's made his own patches.

While I'm on here I do have a question. Aside of sandblasting do ya'll have any tricks on cleaning between the frame rails :(

That's nice work the BF is doing. It's coming along nicely.
I wouldn't call it a trick...because it will require some work but I've gotten good results with the phosphoric acid treatments.
Let it soak on the surface and clean it with a wire brush similar to one of those things sold for cleaning an outdoor grill.
It may take multiple applications and several days to dissolve it all.
You can pick it up in some Home Depots...Usually in the paint section if they have it.

If you have trouble finding the phosphoric acid (as I did) they also sell a product called "Must for Rust" that has pretty much the same active ingredient. It's what I used and it worked really well. Just follow the directions.

The other alternative is to go with one of the rust convertor products and be done with it.

Thanks Greg. I'll have to check that out. My dad has a big wire brush that I was using but it's too big to fit with the brushes facing the side of the rails so I was using a tiny brush & I just don't have that kind of patience :( I'm going to paint them with POR but I'd like to get them as clean as possible first.

Stacey, check out this thread on rust removal using the phospo. It just happened to be a couple of posts down from this one. http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=1#post3161671

Thanks Greg. I did see that yesterday while I was surfing :) Unfortunately my bf says I'm not going to have that kind of time :( He wants to start putting everything back together already & he does work quick. I guess I'll just shop for a better size wire brush & do the best I can with that. Then POR over everything & hope for the best. I'll get some more pics tomorrow & post them next week.

As you can see, I didn't have time for the acid treatment(s). I got them as clean as I could then POR'd the inside & outside of the rails. He used weldable primer for the tops.

In the last pictures with those pieces he made they were just tacked in to check fit. So he welded them in then used weldable primer on those also.

Then he tack welded the left trunk frop off in according to specs. My Mom has a 79 right next to mine in the barn so we have hers to take measurements off of :)
Next was to fitment on the trunk floor. He got it fit and used cleco's to hold in place for marking/welding it in. Then he welded the trunk floor in.

its looking good stacy! your " butt" will look better in no time!

mike

Yeah, he's moving along pretty quickly with it.
What's he planning to do about that inner wheelhouse on the driver's side?
You guys be very careful about fire hazards too. No old rags, cans of gasoline or anything like that around and make sure you're around for at least a couple of hours after every welding session.

Thanks Mike ;)

Greg, he's going to make a patch for that as well as some other places that I don't have new sheet metal for. I'll take pics when he does them. Thanks for the warnings. We do our best to be careful. Ecspecially since most of my Dad's toys are in that garage also :)

Hey Stacey, the car is coming along really good! I know you can't wait until it's all done! Hey, remember when you offered to ask your BF questions for me since I have the same issues with my '70 TA? Since no one makes an aftermarket "butt" for 70-73's, I was kind of thinking about chopping the entire tail section off about 6" up on the 1/4 panels on both the TA and my parts car and just sectioning/butt welding in the entire section, rather than having to drill out all of the spot welds, etc. Can you ask him what he thinks? Thanks Stacey, I appreciate it! - Randy

that's going to be a LOT of filler across the tail panel.

personally i'd rather deal with the spot welds.


mike