1970 - Time for New Sheet Metal and an RS Conversion Kit

[80WA7113]

Some of you may have read my threads in the "Interior" section where I restored the dash, center console, and some other interior components. That was a lot of fun, but now it's onto some REAL fun, the exterior.

I made the decision to replace the front sheet metal with all new parts. After stripping the original fenders and removing what seemed like a gallon of plastic filler to cover an inordinate amount of old damage, the decision to use new metal was an easy one.

Now, I've always wanted an RS, but I was never in the right place at the right time to nab one, so I'll be making my own. Last July I ordered the OER kit, and soon it will be time to install it and make it fit.

When shopping for fenders, I considered AMD, but their "to the door" price with freight took the total to about $900. I didn't like that number, so I bought a pair of fenders from carparts.com for $522.16 to my door. I liked that number much better. The fenders are "Replacement" brand. Other than AMD and their new tooling, I don't think it matters what "brand name" they slap on the box because the all look the same to me, with the same things that need to be addressed for fitment.

So let's get started.

I have already done the preliminary "tweaking" and initial installation fitment of the front fenders. I think they came out pretty well. I was even able to get the top corners dialed in so that my trim lines up with the door trim.

This morning I will be installing and tweaking the RS sheet metal.

Here are before-to-current pictures of where I'm at.

Now on to the RS sheet metal installation.

 

[krabben1]

Put your hood on.......

 

[80WA7113]

After the header panel is installed.

 

[DLY]

Anxious to see how your install goes. I did the same thing a couple of years ago, and had lots more issues with the nose than the fenders. However, you appear to have an excellent start to it! I had to have support brackets modified, and some metal added to the header panel and lower valance. There just didn't seem to be enough adjustment when I tried to assemble it, so I got a professional to finish. Came out very nice though, as I'm sure yours will as well! Don't do like I do and get too frustrated!!

 

[75Maro]

Some of you may have read my threads in the "Interior" section where I restored the dash, center console, and some other interior components. That was a lot of fun, but now it's onto some REAL fun, the exterior.

I made the decision to replace the front sheet metal with all new parts. After stripping the original fenders and removing what seemed like a gallon of plastic filler to cover an inordinate amount of old damage, the decision to use new metal was an easy one.

Now, I've always wanted an RS, but I was never in the right place at the right time to nab one, so I'll be making my own. Last July I ordered the OER kit, and soon it will be time to install it and make it fit.

When shopping for fenders, I considered AMD, but their "to the door" price with freight took the total to about $900. I didn't like that number, so I bought a pair of fenders from carparts.com for $522.16 to my door. I liked that number much better. The fenders are "Replacement" brand. Other than AMD and their new tooling, I don't think it matters what "brand name" they slap on the box because the all look the same to me, with the same things that need to be addressed for fitment.

So let's get started.

I have already done the preliminary "tweaking" and initial installation fitment of the front fenders. I think they came out pretty well. I was even able to get the top corners dialed in so that my trim lines up with the door trim.

This morning I will be installing and tweaking the RS sheet metal.

Here are before-to-current pictures of where I'm at.

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Now on to the RS sheet metal installation.

Fit looks good

 

[80WA7113]

I installed the valance and header panels (in that order) ans was absolutely NOT happy with hoe things were lining up. I had loosened all of the front end fasteners, but still didn't have the freedom of movement to adjust the parts I wanted.

I came to the conclusion the the inner fender wells were getting in my way, so off they came, with the rest of the RS parts.

Last night a thought occurred to me. Is the subframe aligned with the body? I had not checked that prior to installing the fenders. I remembered that the PO had replaced the subframe bushings, but I never double checked that adjustment. Sure enough they were off. The subframe on the driver side was too far forward. So out came my 5/8" alignment dowel, and I went to work completing the alignment.

Now I felt better about getting a more desirable dog house alignment. I removed the radiator and completely loosened the core support and began the front end install again. This time I would begin with the header panel.

I loosely installed the header panel and hood release, then checked the front end for square. I measured as shown below, and shifted the nose side to side until the measurements were identical.

I then snugged the fenders at the rears as well as the core support. After the subframe adjustment, I was able to remove a 1/8" shim at the firewall mount. Once that was complete, I rechecked my measurements.

I noticed that the hood release fit much better than during the initial install. It took a bit of force to get it installed between the core support and header. Not now though, it installed the same as the old standard one I removed. I took that as a good sign that I'm headed in the right direction.

Now it was on to check the alignment between the header and fenders. I was off at the bottom on both sides, especially on the passenger side as seen below.

I removed the header panel and widened the bolt holes that attach the bottom to the fenders, as well as did a little "forming" of the metal to obtain a better fit.

Mission accomplished. Both side fit much better now.

Please bear in mind, all of this is PRELIMINARY fitting. Tomorrow I will mount the valance as well as the hood, to get an idea of what my clearances look like. I still have a long way to go.

More to come...

 

[80WA7113]

Today I got the lower valance and hood installed. The hood fits pretty nice, but I will continue with my fine tuning adjustments once my new hinges and new rubber bumpers come in. The old hinges are absolutely S-H-O-T, and there are no rubber caps on the adjusters.

Tomorrow I start tackling the urethane nose.

 

[oldman14ss]

what did you use to knock the paint off your hood? i found on of those discs that looks like a sponge that goes on my angle grinder. is that what you used?

 

[Green hornet]

Sheet metal is looking good. Keep up the good work.

 

[80WA7113]

what did you use to knock the paint off your hood? i found on of those discs that looks like a sponge that goes on my angle grinder. is that what you used?

That's what I used. That hood had about 8 coats of paint on it. I chewed through 4 of those discs getting it clean. Normally, I could do an entire hood with one disc. That paint was tough.