YES! UPDATES!

I got off work early today and shot over to the junk yard to find a few goodies for the door panel. Check it out:

Speaker grills, reflectors, door lights, emblems and some cool chrome switches


I was hoping to find use for these door lights but the curve might cause a problem



Door speaker


Chrome Switches from a Buick Regal or Riviera - I like these!


Different Door Reflectors


Different ones in different positions




I like this one best


Now on to some fiberglass work! I started work on the radio console. I cut the top piece


Created a little support area with tape to sit so I could apply the hot glue


I then hot glued the piece in place from the top, let that sit and then mixed up a batch or filler and spread in on the inside



When the filler dried I then began the long process of sanding by hand - no machine tools here


I then flipped the console over, sanded the inside and laid up more fiberglass to give more structural support


I'll remove the extra tomorrow morning and begin to create the front plate


I'm hoping by the end of the weekend I'll have a functioning radio bezel - I'm hoping! I'm still not sure what to do about the shifter plate yet - whether to tie it together as one piece or keep it separate. And then it's onto the other door panel. I'm starting early tomorrow - it's supposed 70 degrees and SUNNY!

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-19-2010).]

UPDATES!

First... I did a tremendous amount of sanding on the door panel this morning. I used 150, 180, 220 and the 400 grit paper. The entire panel minus the concave area is smooth as glass and ready for paint. I just have to get this last area smooth. I'm also trying to work the area where the door handle plate goes - there is lots of warpage. Both door panels were warped when I got them so... Gotta work with what I have.

More filler


You can still see the slight bumps


Overview with a shot of primer


Radio Console - LOTS of work today... kinda

After the fliberglass and resin dried and removed the extra and sanded smooth




I then placed the console back into the car to get an idea of how much trimming I needed to do


After a few measurements I decided to removed a far amount leaving enough in the back to house the two gauges


After the cut


Another


Making the gauges fit - this was actually a real pain in the a$$. I had to removed 3/8" of the plastic holes where the gauge pod mounts to the metal bracket in order the pod to fit inside the console. Why? I found out very early on when doing the first console that fiberglass likes to warp, push and pull plastic. The stock plastic console was warped while the resin cured - you'll be able to see in later pics



I then painted the console with white primer - doesn't look like much but it is getting there


Per my original idea I scribbed and cut line going around the edges


Another - you can see how warped the top is


One side with be painted gloss white and the other flat black


Installed with test paint - not to shabby but I think I'm going to paint the whole thing white with a little bit of black. What do you think?


Another - uh oh! It look like I removed too much material. You can see the back of the gauge pod sticking out. Looks like I either remove material from the pod or add material to the console. I'll have to look at different options


The beauty shot - I still haven't figured out what to do about getting access to the radio, A/C, etc... I'm considering using the stock front plate and permanently adhere it to the console. I would then sand, blend and paint it gloss white. If I do this it would save an incredible amount of time and glass and I retain the basic look. So then, the only way to access the radio is to remove the entire console. What do you think?


From afar looking down - it definately needs to be painted all white to match the larger armrest console


I am tired... I thought I took more photos than this... I guess all that sanding wore me out! That's it until tomorrow!

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-20-2010).]

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 03-22-2010).]