33 5 window bear claws and hidden hinges

[idrivejunk]

As promised, here we are. It dawned on me that this thread is nearing the end. There will be more door adventures (suicide locks, weatherstrip-friendly mods, dome switches, handles, and power actuators for all plus I bet power windows) but this bear claw and hidden hinge project is about wrapped up.

I'm satisfied and all thats left is to re-install the already trimmed wood below the qtr window. Oh and two small driver's door patches next time its off. The imaginary third base coach is screaming run now so lets take off for home-

Ex-top hinge area-



(the black is spray paint left in pits)



I know an ex civil engineer who would tan my hide for those down-handed welds. But this is no bridge and I'm still right handed.

On down to the upper hidden hinge area (yes the hinges are removable now)-




The tube's outer side acts as the stop. All four of these now have one carefully shaped "flat" where the hinges rest when open. Pads can be stuck there after paint.

Now the lower one-




Do they look the same as the other side? Don't really matter but they should look real similar side-to-side.

No danger of flying open and hitting THIS car, plenty of room here-




These are the bestest centered pics I could manage. The fan kinda messes up the front shot but if you look close... its pretty close, eh?

[kb426]

The owner surely will like that better than the twist sideways to get in version.

[idrivejunk]

I hope so.  

Today I put the right side wood back in, made a temporary bolt handle for that side just like the other, then I cleaned up the sustantial mess.

Happy to report that once I removed the bent plates at the roof jamb that were holding rubber strips and adjusted everything...

Any adult can gently push the doors shut from the safety latch position. Meaning the doors open and shut really easy and theres room for a custom weatherstrip of a proper type. As it turns out, the latches click super-easy once lubed and once the door is properly positioned. When you tap the bolt handle, the door swings out to the detent. Won't require a big heavy actuator, just a small plastic one probably.

I did have to adjust the position of both latch and striker on the right side to get there, and both doors had interference issues at the top half that prevented good gaps. It has those now, at least it to where I can make the needed fixes in the places it isn't even.

Can't show how slick they work in pictures but it made me so happy when I was able to gently push them shut. Left work carrying a grin.

[kb426]

That's great, Matt. I remember when I put up a video of me closing the doors on the 51 with 1 finger that a member commented that I was "showing off". Still felt good.

[UGLY OLDS]

It looks good ....  
And we learned that "connect the dot" welding can be used for MORE than just sheet metal ....  :b-d:

Bob..

[idrivejunk]

My threads like this one are intended to make the job easier for guys doing the same thing. If it is being perceived as anything else I don't know how to respond to that. My welding technique is what works for me. I have never claimed that it's correct and it isn't exactly what experts do. Thanks for your comments. I figured a video might make sense but you can't touch in those either so I just put a pic in that last post so it would be funner to read.

[kb426]

Matt, only speaking for myself but I understand and agree completely.

[idrivejunk]

Matt, only speaking for myself but I understand and agree completely.

Whew.    

[chimp koose]

Matt , your posts are not viewed as showing off , but rather , showing HOW . Many do not posses your skill set in this area and enjoy the descriptions as well as the well laid out picture sequences . I know I do . It is reassuring to some to see another person tackle the jobs you do as we can learn and gain the confidence to try them as well . Sometimes I see things that I would have done differently and usually that means that I would have tackled it in a cumbersome way as compared to yours . There is usually more than one way to do a job but it sure doesn't hurt to see a way you might not have thought of . The Camaro jobs you have been showing are great examples of a job most of us would not want to attempt . You laid out some issues that I quite frankly would have missed and not even had the sense to look for when doing large panel replacement . There is a reason many car projects get abandoned and your posts show us why . If an average guy tried to do either Camaro job that you have shown us he would have ground to a halt long before the car got to primer . Your experience is evident in your posts as you point out things that are not so obvious to the inexperienced such as myself . Thank you for taking the time to show the projects you are involved in , I know I have learned much from them .

[idrivejunk]

CK, that is very comforting stuff. I can be an insecure whine box. What I need is to know is that I'm offering material that can help others advance with confidence and you have reassured me so thoroughly as to wash the doubt from my mind for quite a spell. Thanks for your direct and meaningful approach. I should know better by now than to scan people's comments with my sarcasm monitor cranked up so high. Tone of voice is hard to discern in writing. I'm on two other forums with this stuff and inevitably hecklers arise although not very often. I am always confident about my final solutions but like any artist who receives recognition, I find myself feeling like the whole world might be watching and I'm just some bum with a MIG in his hand doing things that might be snickered at.

I'll get over it. Maybe. What bothers me is of course the praise vs pay thing. The pay will ruin my life soon if I stay, I'm operating in the red. Most of what I earn goes to keep my home and to maintain a vehicle good enough for the commute. Going to work here was the death of my personal pursuit of automotive bliss and now, over five years in, I can hear the waterfall. I get panicky when distractions fail and reality looms. Demanding more pay could be a deal breaker so I continue to downgrade my personal life to compensate rather than that. It's a conundrum that will require considerable force to overcome. Thanks for the kind words and for letting me bend your ear sir.

[UGLY OLDS]

WOW  :!:  :!:  LOTSA WORDY STUFF ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 I can make it SIMPLE..( Just like me.. )

 You done good   :!:  :!:

 We like it    :!:  :!:

Keep up the good work & showing us how  :!:  :!:
 
You make picture ...We learn..      Simple, huh   :?:  :?:

 You get heckled here , just let us know ...TEAM SMART has a Sargent at Arms that you have never seen ....  

 We have ways of dealing with people like that ...    :(U)

Bob....

[idrivejunk]

Words are good, I like words.  Stand down, no cause for alert, its  

I have issues , posting is therapy. Thanks :!:

Sooo... a video could be arranged. Best wait til customization is complete.

Not sure where my hands will want to work in the morning, perhaps just some sanding out of bodywork defects here and there for more visual progress. WooHoo  

[Crosley.In.AZ]

what is a good gauge of sheet metal to use for the patches?   I figure something close to the OE thickness?  20 gauge?  as an eggzample

[idrivejunk]

I've been using 18 but I gather the original is 19. After my copious grinding I figure I might lose a gauge