Week #2

After a weeks soaking with Liquid Wrench the bolts holding the rear springs in place were removed as was the rear itself. This is not the original rear but an old 8 3/4 looking thing with big nuts holding the axles some how. When I first got the car I thought this rear was stuck under it just for mobility, but after crawling around it is obvious this rear was used for a long time. Anyhoo, had to cut the U bolts to separate the springs from the rear end. Interestingly, while I was under the car I found out that what I believed to be surface rust covering the underside was actually just rusty colored dirt and clay! Cleaners and a little brushing revealed the factory blue paint, just like the books say, sprayed from the outside in, about a foot or so, and then fading into bare metal. Also, the original undercoat is about a 3 feet wide shot right down the middle covering the tunnel. When I get the car on the rotisserie I will scrub it down good a take some good pictures.

The bottom of the gas tank was dent free and covered with this clay/dirt stuff. I had high hopes that it was in good shape topside so it could be reused. Well, to my surprise, under the pad was 90% shinny galvanized steel. Pretty lucky considering the trunk floors condition.

Ahh....the trunk floor. This car will be getting a full floor with extensions so no time like the present to cut out the old. I grabbed up the air hammer and panel ripper and went to work. I got the bulk center area out and "prepped" the areas outside the frame rails for removal next session. Poppin' all those spot welds is a task....but for reasons only you people could understand, I'm looking forward to it!