68 Torino

416Ford · November 05, 2014, 07:56:57 AM

I figured I would post up some pictures of the Vickie's car to keep track of and keep me and her motivated to get it done.

The starting point.

idrivejunk · November 06, 2014, 08:42:48 PM

Fastback Torinos are cool. That body might actually be in better shape than it looks. Enjoy the project.

416Ford · November 11, 2014, 08:03:01 PM

Body is really solid compared to a Michigan car. I have seen people do quick patches on the stuff I am cutting out and replacing but I am not one of them.

Here is Vickie helping out on her car. She stripped most of the paint off the sheet metal. I am blasting the front end and the rest will get cleaned up as needed.

And having way to much fun with the paint stripper.

416Ford · January 25, 2015, 07:08:09 PM

Installed the left rear floor today.
I never worked in a body shop only a restoration shop so the way I do them may be different then others.
Once I had the new floor I could see how much it would cover. I have seen people cut out part then order the new one and find that it does not cover the hole they have.

I only want to replace what needs to be replace and easily welded up.

I cut out the old floor then trimmed the new floor to sit down in as close to the original as possible.
I marked the frame rail locations, and the floor that are still there.
I cut the old floor out in the center of the frame rails or at least tried to. This way I can weld them in without welding on the bottom side.
Trimmed some more and set them in. Pan are either butt welded together on the frame rails or overlapped about 1/2 to 1" .
Drilled hole over the frame rails to plug weld, ground all the burs off.
I also sprayed some paint inside the rails to help them last longer.
Put the floor back in, clamped it down as best possible and welded from the center out. In the areas I could not clamp I use my long pry bar to put between my shoulder and the pan and push it tight. Tacking these spots and then hammering the seams works well.
After the top is all welded in I go under the car and weld up the bottom side. When I had a plasma cutter I would trim the lower floor to within a 1/4" of the inner weld (make a nice finish that way).
After everything is welded up I grind down my welds and weld up any pin holes that I missed.
If this was a show car I would skim the bottom with a coat of duraglass and hide the weld completely.
I will cover all the inside welds with seam sealer when the car is ready for paint.

enjenjo · January 25, 2015, 09:51:17 PM

That looks pretty good from here.

jaybee · January 26, 2015, 09:58:59 PM

Nice work. It's going to be a great car.

416Ford · July 01, 2015, 07:59:46 AM

I have been picking away at the car a little bit at time. Finished up the battery apron last night.
They discontinued the reproduction aprons for the 68-69 Torinos so this is a 69 Mustang apron. Not a good match to start with but it worked out after some pounding and welding.

Left over parts and the Bus tray that was in there before.

enjenjo · July 01, 2015, 10:26:06 AM

QuoteNot a good match to start with but it worked out after some pounding and welding.

So about the same way as they fit on Mustangs.

416Ford · July 01, 2015, 12:16:51 PM

With the Mustang, you only have to trim an inch off the shock tower side. I had to trim six to eight inches off all sides. Live and learn.

UGLY OLDS · July 01, 2015, 06:38:00 PM

Quote from: "416Ford"With the Mustang, you only have to trim an inch off the shock tower side.
QuoteI had to trim six to eight inches off all sides.
Live and learn.

You trimmed it twice & it was STILL too small :?: :?:

Bob..

416Ford · October 06, 2015, 08:03:08 AM

Yep, it's a 60's Ford. Fixing the cowl rust so I can move on to replacing the upper floor on the drivers side. Thanks Don.

UGLY OLDS · October 06, 2015, 11:01:47 AM

I went through the same thing on a '66 Fairlane ..( My son's first car ) .. Neat place to store water & leaves & junk on those cars ,huh :?:

AND an easy, convenient place to properly repair too...

Planed obsolescence :?: :?:

Bob ...

jaybee · October 11, 2015, 01:36:38 PM

Give them this...Ford duplicated both strengths and weaknesses throughout their compact and midsize models.

UGLY OLDS · October 12, 2015, 10:04:27 AM

Quote from: "jaybee"Give them this...Ford duplicated both strengths and weaknesses throughout their compact and midsize models.

And they ALWAYS learned from their mistakes ... Remember the recall on the Taurus to install the water "dam" in the same area so water in the cowl would not drain down through the heater air inlet :?:

Bob....

416Ford · April 04, 2016, 07:49:35 AM

I have been working on Vance's Chevy II and my interior so the Torino was just sitting.
Back at it yesterday and I spent 8 hours fabricating up a new cowl patch. I cut most of the rust out and started with a plate to hold the air vent. Need to cut the center of that out now and install the inside ring. Then I weld the patch back into the dash.