The preparation is all done, stripped, cleaned, de-greased, metal prepped, washed and dried. It's all ready for the metal etch primer. My back is hurting so I'm quitting for the day.

This is the fabricated part I made and this shows it installed on the car. Now I can go back to the paint prep I was doing while I was waiting for parts.

This shows the panel still on the car. The other shot shows the panel after drilling out the spot welds and removing it from the car to use as a pattern. As you can see it is rusted through almost the entire length of the piece. I fabricated a new part and am now in the process of welding it in.

Well, still waiting for parts, so I decided that this was paint removal weekend in the engine room. I used a chemical stripper, several different sizes of scrapers, and a lot of newspaper. I now remember why I don't like doing this. I couldn't talk my wife into it so I was stuck with the job. I took three days because of my bad back but it's down to bare metal now. I will go over it with a Scotch Brite disk to clean any last bits of paint off. The plan is to wash it with metal prep, degrease it, prime it with acid etch primer, sand it smooth and apply the color. I'm going to use a single stage paint in the engine room and the trunk area, and catalyzed paint on the body, whenever that happens. I discovered a rust problem on the left side of the engine compartment near the bottom. There is a piece of sheet metal that sticks out there that has no use other than providing a place to mount the left side apron (which I still haven't found). The rust worm had done its job and the plate was completely eaten through for about 90% of its length. I decided the easiest way to fix it was to drill out the spot welds, remove the damaged plate, use it for a pattern and fabricate a new piece from sheet metal stock. I took pictures but haven't down loaded them yet, maybe tomorrow.

I need to give credit where credit is due. A friend from the Corvair Center forum, screen name "nodice" did it for me using a program called Gimp. How many of you noticed the side trim pieces were moved and the body cove repositioned?

Well, I did a little body and paint work today, What do you think?



Don't get excited, it's photoshopped, just needed something to post while still waiting for parts.

Found out today that there is a different sprocket for the early 500's. Now just have to wait until it gets here. All the other parts are the same; drive sprocket, timing chain, seal and gasket. I installed the seal in the case, from the inside. That really seems weird to me but that's how it is shown in the shop manual and that orients the sealing lips in the right direction. I also cleaned up the nuts and washers used to mount the housing to the engine so It's all ready to go when the parts get here. Spent some time designing and making patterns for the engine lid hinges since there is none available anywhere in the world for less than a million dollars . GGGGGG Wonder what happened to all the ones on the cars? Must be like the hood trim, I've been told those parts fell off when the car was driven off of the dealers lot. Also did a little dent removal on the rear bumper prior to sending it to the chrome platers. Mostly just puttered around in the shop today, waiting for parts.