Rip Van Winkle Lincoln Page 4
Body Work Continues On Rear Wheel Arch
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(Note- at this point I'm not sure if I will start on this
section or move the car around in the shop and repeat the process of replacing
the rocker panel and related structure on the drivers side.)
This page will cover the process and progress of replacing
the rusted area around the rear wheel arch, as with most cars this is a problem
area with water and moisture getting down between the outer body of the car
and the inner fenderwell. You would think after all these years that car makers
could figure out a way of not having rust in this area, but then again why would
we buy new cars if the old ones lasted forever. As this Lincoln will never be
a winter car again I'm going to rebuild it the way it was built, not the way
is should have been done in the first place.
The first step for this work has already been taken way back
when I was assesing the work that needed to be done, this was to start making
templates and patterns of the body shapes before any work was begun.
The first step in this was painting a line grid on the side of
the car extending beyond the expected repair area. Then a sheet of 4 mil plastic
sheeting was positioned over this which was held in place with little magnets
so that it would conform to the curve of the car. The grid and body lines were
then drawn on to the plastic to make a large template of the entire work area.
At each of the vertical lines hard templates were then marked and cut to fit
the curve of the car. (I used left over section of Pergo Laminate flooring they
are little over 1/4" thick and come in 10-11" wide x 36" long)
Each of these was labeled for its position. Incidentally the grid on both sides
of the car were laid out using the same bench marks to measure from so the templates
match on both sides.
Rip Van Winkle
Lincoln Page 1 History
of the Vehicle and Beginnings of the Restoration