Spider project update

[mdrburchette]

Here's my update on my 72 racecar project if any of you are interested. I finally have everything off of the car. I dropped the axle assembly out earlier this week and pulled all the hard lines out from under the car. I have been working on grinding off all the wire holders and studs that won't be needed and scraping out all the tar from the floorboards and tranny tunnel. What a nasty, boring, hot and labor intensive job that is! Do I need to mention that I DON'T like this part? The floorboards are pretty much shot and have been patched numerous times...I'm still trying to justify WHY I have to do this nasty, boring, hot and labor intensive job, but that's what the boss wants. Who am I to argue? Once all of this is done it's going to the sandblaster. After that, we'll start cutting out the rust and welding body panels back together.
One thing this has done for me is give me a whole new respect for anyone that has completely taken one of these cars apart and completely restored it. My only saving grace is I don't have to put it all back together!

[pope]

And I thought I was the only one doing this. I took a propane torch and slowly heated the tar to remove it, much easier, but still gooey. I have sandblasted most areas underneath already and am replacing some panels. Also making some design changes along the way. Good luck D on your progress. It should be getting pretty sticky down in NC these days. Stay Cool.

[miragesmack]

Pope, what kinda design changes you got in mind, if you don't mind saying?

I live for "design changes".

[pope]

Well, I think I'll keep those a secret till I'm done, cause I dont want them showing up on other cars before I am done. Though most are very labor intensive and cant be done quickly. I am probably more than a year away from this resto w/changes.

[baltobernie]

Removing undercoating sounds like real work! Its a shame you just can't dip the entire car, but you'll have the chance to work at your own pace. Show us some pictures when you can.

[adrians]

To All,

For removing the black 'tar' from inside the car without setting the entire car on fire, I've heard you use 'pellets' of dry ice. You spread them out over the tar and it freezes and cracks the tar, then you can simply scrape it off.

I haven't tried this myself yet ! !

[mdrburchette]

I've heard the same thing with the dry ice and you can also wait until winter to get the same effect, but I just used a heat gun and softened it up enough to get a scraper under it and it came right off. It only took a few hours and I can see the extent of the rust damage. I did find there are six bolt holes in the back seat area to attach seat belts. 4 holes were covered with little plastic inserts and tarred over.

[Spiddy]

Denise, that indeed is a filthy job. But I think I have the best solution so far Give it to someone else to do

[mbouse]

yeah, i think she has discovered that one Spiddy.... the project has been deligated to her!!

Good luck Denise. Just know that others have been where you are .. as if that makes it easier.

[mdrburchette]

I tried to give it to someone else but nobody took the bait. I did, however, talk Ron into helping me cut all the unneeded brackets out of the car in exchange for me helping him replace the valve springs in his racecar.

[mbouse]

ahhh....the family that wrenches together, stays together.

[miragesmack]

Well, I think I'll keep those a secret till I'm done, cause I dont want them showing up on other cars before I am done. Though most are very labor intensive and cant be done quickly. I am probably more than a year away from this resto w/changes.

Good idea Pope. I would do the same. My ideas probably won't make sense when the time comes, since I don't actually own a Fiat yet.