Startin to work on the Clone Runner (it's PAINTED!)

[71bird]

Because the body structure won't be sitting square when it's on the suspension. Any unibody is built in a jig, so that everything is lined up, and square when it's welded. It should be locked down on a body jig like AMD does, and the factory did. I saw a GTX that had all of the rear floor pans, and trunk pans replaced this way, and the body was so warped that it all had to be tore back out and redone , but the second time it was on a jig. Call AMD, and ask them. Just trying to help.

[71Beeper]

Many Thanks for the info 71bird.
I do have frame connectors on the car, so I hope that would make it more sturdier.
In addition I do have rear torque boxes in place too.
The trunk pan is welded in now, but this will be a live and learn lesson for me.
Lots of good things to learn here at the nest!

[rr6pak]

Also, if you're planning on sub frame connectors, they should be installed as well while its on a jig

[71Beeper]

Frame connectors were already there when I bought the car.

[71Beeper]

Soooo - moving on. Did some prepping and put down some primer on the new trunk pan.

So now it's time to tackle the rear panel. Here's the drivers side not touched while the center area where the gas tank neck sticks thru was cleaned up.

Here's the passenger side with a light coat of primer on it.

[71Beeper]

Here's some of the top where the trunk latch goes.

Here's some more of the cleaned up area's.

Even more pics.

Now it's time for some primer......

[rr6pak]

Looking good!!

[71440 gtx]

yesssssssssssssssss

[71Beeper]

So I finally got some primer on the whole back panel.

I made sure I got primer on the underside too.

And I finished up the top panel.

Some more pics.

So the next thing to do is get her on her side to clean up and finish the underside.

[71Beeper]

Happy Columbus day to our US friends - us Canadians are enjoying our Thanksgiving this weekend.
So I finally was able to set-up the rotisserie and mount it to the car.
First, to make sure there is enough room away from the wall.

So, this specific rotisserie mounts to the wheel hubs. Here's the front wheel mount.

and here's the rear mount.

Then there's a tie bar that holds them together.

Then from the other side there is a draw bar attachment that attaches to the 2 mounts that you will see in later pictures. Going to the other side of the car, i hook the draw bar attachment to the engine hoist.

[71Beeper]

So making sure all connections are tight, I now start to lift.

Next is to pull the rims from the drivers side to keep the weight off the lifted side.

Then just keep lifting (you can now start to see the draw bar attachment)

I had to make sure there was enough ceiling clearance - which is why I chose this type of rotisserie over the conventional kind as I only have an 8 ft. ceiling in my garage.

Then i just kept lifting till she was right on her side.

[71Beeper]

The final step is to secure the steady brackets - here's the front one.

and here's the rear one.

Then I removed the draw bar attachment and placed it under the car.

Now the underside work can commence!

[rr6pak]

WOW. I haven't seen a rotisserie that that before

[71Beeper]

That rotisserie was manufactured at a company called MPS international. They were around in the late 80's early 90's. I've attached pictures showing a feature story on it in an old issue of Mustang monthly.

[71Beeper]

So now that the car is on her side, its time to start from the top....er...I mean the drivers side.
I started by digging into the body work that was done on the rocker sill where it meets the rear quarter.
This is what one of the previous owners did when they put another lower panel on.

Here's the lower lip going towards the rear tire.

Then I stripped down the rest of the rocker sill.....well almost all of it.

I do have a question for the guys that have changed the quarters on thier cars...do I just close up this gap and plug weld it?