*Crummy* progress pics....

[greaseball]

As some of you MAY remember,
I came up w/a hairbrained way
of customizing my 57 ford fenders-
Using 58 edsel fender-lines

At the time in which I "realized" all of this,
I couldn't weld
(I still can't, hahaha)

So I took it to a "pro" shop
who quoted me $2,000-
Now, it WOULD have been worth every penny,
had I chose to go that route,

But I don't have 2 grand to "blow" on my car all at once
(little by little!)

So I enrolled in a welding class,
and here's what I've come up with...

[greaseball]

And believe it or not,
it looks SHITTIER in real life-

But, things ARE looking up!
The woodshop teacher is a BODYMAN by trade,
and not only did he say he would HELP ME,
But he informed me that
"quote: two hours of work for (him),
equals one hour of work for (me)"

So HOPEFULLY the other side will get done RIGHT
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[greaseball]

No one has any comments?
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[McGrath]

I don't really understand what you are trying to do, but it doesn't look like its beyond repair. I can give you one piece of advice concerning the welding though.

If the gaps are as big as they look, use strips of copper or aluminum sheetmetal as a backer. The weld won't stick to it, and copper and aluminum both transfer heat faster than Steel does.

This will allow you to weld those gaps up without just blowing holes everywhere, plus if you dunk the backer in a bucket of water after each bead, it will help keep some of the Heat out of the Panel.

[roadstar]

It's a learning curve. I don't think anyone here could do much better when they started. YOu will either get better or realize bodywork isn't for you. At least you are doing something you like and getting some experiance.

I like the idea of changing the wheel lip. It's a nice custom touch.

Now get the grinder out and get back to work http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I know what you are trying to do, but the change is something like chopping a top a quarter of an inch, who's gonna notice? Keep trying, it's more welding than I could do.

[Mel]

Your fenders look a lot like my first welds did, and still do.... cheer up, you can only get better at it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

~Melissa

[Phil1934]

As to the aluminum backer, I cut a strip and tapered one end like a file tang, put a wooden file handle on it, and bent the rest so the handle leans out when the plate is flat. Now if I could only find it in all the junk. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[greaseball]

Thanks guys!

JimA-
Yea, I think you're right!
Whenever I explain to someone what I'm doing I always tend to get a real
"confused/why the hell are you doing THAT?"
Look...

bftwcs-
I HAVE been using copper,
but I SURE didn't think of the "water dunking"!
Thank you!

The biggest problem I'm having is
after I GRIND the welds down,
The sheetmetal is SOO thin,
When I go back to weld MORE,
I just seem to burn through!
(Maybe gas weld??)
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Mel-
I have a HELLUVA lotta respect for ya!
(Just thought you should know!)
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif