I appreciate the timing of this article.
darkbuddha HalfDork
6/23/24 4:13 p.m.
I appreciate the timing of this article. I started shoving my '70 Mustang back together and it's felt a bit haphazzard, mainly because I set artificial deadlines which tempted me to commit compromises I'd regret.
As brief as this article is, it has reminded me to take a step back and get back on track following a logical process rather than just stabbing at things willy-nilly. Unfortunately, there's probably still going to be some of that, but I'll know how to get back on course after.
Wolf New Reader
1/10/26 11:58 a.m.Pre-assemble everything. Just finished a '70 Boss 302. Luckily I hired a steel fabricator to help. If you're doing a resto measure EVERYTHING before disassembly.. #8 sheemetal screws are your best friend. Even if you use self drilling, pre drill any holes where the panels aren't clamped together. I bought a box of 1/8" cobalt drill bits. Before burning any wire make sure that everything fits. Mount the doors, hood, trunk and bumpers. I thought I had everything right but when I mounted the bumper the holes didn't line up. Luckily I still had the adjustment available.
All aftermarket sheetmetal sucks... It is truly a better than nothing situation.Use as much original as possible. Be prepared to cut new metal to shrink or insert more metal in brand new panels. Don't be afraid to hire expert help. I paid $95 / hour.
Originally I had sticker shock. Now it is money well spent. Pay attention to what the pro does and ask questions if you don't understand why. This year I'm doing a "69 Z-28. Did all the metal work myself because everything becomes easy when you know how.