Natural progression from the rear seat panel is to get the driver side transmission tunnel panel into position.
For now I am leaving the passenger side to allow access for fitting the drive shaft later in the build.
So, back to the drivers side and it generally fits well, it needed some slight bending towards the footwell end as it follows the chassis frame plus at the end, the panel needs to bend in towards the driver side footwell panel.
Once the bends have been put, I again mark up from the inside (drive shaft side) where the frame runs, removed from the chassis applied masking tape to replicate the chassis frame. Holes were drilled for the rivets and the panel re-fit and held in place using some clecos to get fixed firmly in position whilst I drilled out the holes into the chassis frame. Debur and we are good to go with final fit, rivet etc.
Prior to applying the polyurethane sealant, I peeled off the protective film and cleaned the panels/ chassis frame.
Started with the back panel, I applied plenty of the black ultra sticky adhesive sealant, re-fitted the back panel, riveted, clamped and fixed firmly into position wiping away excess sealant whilst being constantly wary of not getting it onto the skin for a prolonged period as its horrendous to get off once engrained onto the skin!
I followed up the rear panel by doing the same process with the driver side panel.
All fixed into position and left to harden over the next 24 hours
Beginning to look more like a chassis now some panels are getting fitted!
 |
| Even jensen approves! |
Time for some more paneling!
Now I have got alot of the services (brake lines, fuel lines, main loom etc) running through the chassis, its coming to the point where I should start getting some of the panels fixed into position.
Back Seat Panel a nice one to get fixed in... Perhaps it was late in the day or the brain was not functioning fully, however I have to admit I spent best part of half an hour working out how this panel actually fits into position.
The solution as always was obvious once I had expelled some frustration in wondering how and why it was not fitting into position. Simple - bend the panel from the middle concave shape, pop the sides into their position on the chassis release the bend. In it goes - as I said simple!
Next need to mark where the panel will be riveted. Its not a load bearing panel so not a huge number of rivets will be required to secure, the polyurethane sealant will be a strong enough bonding agent also.
Easiest way to mark out for drilling, get a black marker pen and scribe from the rear along the chassis frames where rivets will go. remove the panel from the chassis once scribe'd and mark equal spaced rivet holes onto masking tape - following picture shows that after marking up with the pen and masking tape.
3.2mm drill bit for the rivets, some cleco fasteners to assist holding into position whilst further holes were drilled and its all good to go with the sealant and final rivet once the protective film has been removed
Once the bends have been put, I again mark up from the inside (drive shaft side) where the frame runs, removed from the chassis applied masking tape to replicate the chassis frame. Holes were drilled for the rivets and the panel re-fit and held in place using some clecos to get fixed firmly in position whilst I drilled out the holes into the chassis frame. Debur and we are good to go with final fit, rivet etc.
