<VV> Moving forward on the '65 hardtop repair and repainting

[Frank DuVal]

You need the body shop to tell the parts supplier where to cut. You can 
act as intermediary and take the cut information from the shop to the 
parts supplier, but you need the shop to decide how much they want to 
replace, and where they will find it easier to cut and replace. Factory 
seams are the best, but sometimes are not the easiest places to do the work.

To cut the part yourself, most yards do not allow torches anymore. You 
need an abrasive blade in something like a K-12 rescue saw. If 
electricity is available ( or you have a good battery powered version) 
use a metal abrasive blade in a circular saw. The bigger the better to 
cut through frame rail areas. The donor vehicle gas tank should be 
removed first!!!!! Sparks are uncontrollable with these methods. Battery 
powered Saws-All might work, but will take a while. Less sparks this way.

Sounds restorable to me, but I'm on the east coast!

Frank DuVal

Stephen Upham wrote:
>     I've located a '66 Corsa in a junkyard that will be a suitable 
> donor for the repair of my '65 hardtop.  I will need to cut the right 
> side fender and front clip (area behind the bumper) all the way to the 
> seam above the lights on the driver's side.  I may consider taking the 
> left fender, too, if it doesn't add too much to the price so that the 
> body shop can cut exactly where they want.  I have a couple of 
> questions.  First, they will charge $50 to do the cutting and move the 
> parts to the front of the lot.  That sounds reasonable IF they know 
> what they are doing, but that is not a given and my instincts tell me 
> that I should at least be there to direct the cutting.
>     If I were to try to do it myself (never done any heavy body 
> cutting before on ANY car) how hard would this be on a scale of one to 
> ten, and what would I need to accomplish it?  I thought of cutting 
> right below the windshield, along the wheel well inside the trunk, 
> along the floor of the trunk, and back along the wheel well to the 
> windshield.  I know that I would have to be extremely careful not to 
> cut near the gas tank, but I don't know what kinds of other problem 
> areas I would be coming close to.
>     The car also has an intact windshield minus the trim that should 
> be fairly easily removed (tricks to remove would be appreciated).  It 
> also has a 140 that is more than likely frozen up (will take a wrench 
> to check for sure Saturday) although it doesn't look too bad and has 
> all of the carbs and air cleaner cover.  What would be a cheap offer 
> on the engine?   Although I wouldn't be interested, it has a factory 
> condensor and compressor.  It's too bad that it is in the condition 
> that it is (interior dash gutted), rot in the usual places, and is not 
> likely to ever be restored as it was apparently a nice example at one 
> time.
>
> Stephen U
>     
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights 
> are the property
> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs_______________________________________________ 
>
>
>