doctahouse

Passenger side "before" with the flange.






Drivers side all shaved, no flange. It's not done yet, some more welding is needed.

Stormed_Norm

iTrader: (10)

Looking pretty good. Any idea as to when it might be ready for the body shop? Also what color you going? Weld up your gas peddle holes also ;-)

E.rodz

iTrader: (4)

I have been following your post for a long time now and I must say keep up the good work being persistent will pay off in the long run. I noticed in your post that you were wondering what a hidden hitch would look like and it is a simple thing you could do now. here is a link to my build thread and if you need any more info just let me know.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...charged-3.html

doctahouse

I'll be doing all the prep work before it goes in for paint. As far as paint goes, it will be a factory GM water based blue. Simple yet clean. If I need a touch up, it can be done. I've been down the kustom candy and patterns path once before and I won't be headed back.

doctahouse

Thank you. It's about time I got cracking and put this car on the road.

As for your link, I've also checked your thread in the past. Your hitch looks awesome. Great idea with the chain loops.

Only thing I'm worried about on mine is how my gas neck is going to run since I'm using the 91-96 Caprice/Impala tank. I don't know if I should place it outside behind the license plate or have a hidden fill somewhere??

doctahouse

Both rockers at rear had rust through issues. Quick fix.....

doctahouse

Don't mind me, I bounce around here and there working all different parts.

An easy way to mark out templates for the floor pan drain holes.




The rear wheel houses were coated asphault based under coating. I needed to get all that junk off. I used my propane tiger torch to heat the coating up, next took a scrapper blade, the quick scrub with the hand wire brush. Turned out real clean.

doctahouse

Finished welding the tunnel area up for now. Up next is grind time.






I'll be swapping the rear seat out with a pair of third row seats from a Yukon 03' to match the front seats. It's perfect width too, 48" same as the factory seat. So the factory hold downs were removed.

doctahouse

Connecting the wheel houses to the upper deck. I used clear plastic again for the template. Butt weld the seam and plug weld the rest.

doctahouse

doctahouse

I used to compete in ISACA (sound quality) back in the late 90's early 2000's. I want to step it up with stereo and not follow the 6-4-tweet norm. I won't let the cat out of the bag just yet and what's in store. The factory gauges suck. Replacement gauges from Dakota Digital are 25 yr old styling and boring. No new VHX on the horizon either. I've seen it a number of times before with people using the 59-60 dash/guages. Nothing wrong with that, just it's not that different. The reasons why the dash should go out weighted the the reasons it should stay.


Dash before.......


Speaker on fire.......


Dash gone.........

Stormed_Norm

iTrader: (10)

I'm curious as to what your going to do to the dash. I should also do my own conversion post.Here's my dash, as I agree with you stock gauges suck, and digital dash was o.k 15 years ago. It's been done to death. Here's my dash:

doctahouse

That's what's great about your dash, you have a nice large flat surface to work with and customize. I like how you did the signal lights and highbeam lights.

Jimbo1367

Awsome build.

doctahouse

thanks Jimbo

doctahouse

I was thinking about all these people buying these new Air Jordan shoes today. Does buying them make you a basketball ball player?

I figured it was worth a shot.........





Back to the wheel house area.



Clear plastic so I know where everything is.







I think the body mount looks wrong with the gusseting. I drilled both sides out.

doctahouse

The brace was just a little too wide. I flattened and re-bent the steel to fit.









Looks much better now.

doctahouse

Sure beats the hell out globbing on the filler

doctahouse

With a litle grinding, you'd never know what was done.



Other side that's up for the same treatment







Also finished putting the large body plugs in.

doctahouse

You're wondering now what the hell is he doing? This is access so I can block off the wiper cowl area as well as the hinges. I am going to use this area for my sub enclosures. I got the idea from Rod Zimmerman's BMW back when he put a pair of subs in kicks. Mind you he installed 15's I'm only going 10's max. Convertibles are hard to get good feeling bass out of since normally the subs are mounted in rear. I'll be fiberglassing enclosures in awhile.