Grand National Aerocoupe! It's happening...
- Thread starter Turbo1dr
- Start date
I'm learning as I go so it may look like shade tree job. :redface: (who am I trying to kid....it IS a shade tree job...REALLY!Serious, I'm really doing it under a shade tree...a really HUGE one...see the shadow it's casting and how it dwarfs my Turbo Regal!
You my friend, ARE THE BEST SHADE TREE MECHANIC IN THE WORLD!!!!
Turbo1dr
9 Sec Wanna-Be
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
STOP!!!! You guys are making me blush! :tongue: Hahaha! Actually, I do appreciate all the praise on the project Thanks!
As of right now, the aero project is coming along pretty slow. I'm doing some leading work on the "B" and "C" pillar and I'm having to fix some dents on the upper rear edge of the roof where a tree limb fell on it. This is the reason there's been no updates on this thread since it doesn't pertain to the "aerocoupe" part of the project.
I have to get the silver Turbo Regal I just restored car out of the garage so I can start working on the aero at night. I don't want to get all that sanding dust all over or under the hood of it. I'm having a carport installed just for that reason.
As of right now, the aero project is coming along pretty slow. I'm doing some leading work on the "B" and "C" pillar and I'm having to fix some dents on the upper rear edge of the roof where a tree limb fell on it.
This is the reason there's been no updates on this thread since it doesn't pertain to the "aerocoupe" part of the project.I have to get the silver Turbo Regal I just restored car out of the garage so I can start working on the aero at night. I don't want to get all that sanding dust all over or under the hood of it. I'm having a carport installed just for that reason.
I guess this is why you don't hang out with us anymore:frown: You've just too famous for us common people.
Turbo1dr
9 Sec Wanna-Be
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Ha...I just live in the boonies.
I'll be in your neck-of-the-woods this coming up weekend on the 9th.Ha...I just live in the boonies.
Now I feel better, you're coming in town for my birthday! It'll be good to see you again!
Turbo1dr
9 Sec Wanna-Be
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Time to fire up the old GN Aerocoupe thread again!
2011 was not a good year for me. I was jobless from Oct 2010 until March 2011 and was I was helping my mother care for my father during that time. Then, on April 8th 2011 he passed away. He was helping me back when I was doing most of the work on the aerocoupe. After he passed, just two months later my Grandmother died too....she was my fathers mother. She was 92 and he was 72. After such a bad start to 2011, I started keeping my mother occupied to keep her mind off of him and his mother. Seemed like we were going places and going out to eat all the time. Fortunately, I've got a another good job and at the end of 2011 I decided to pull myself out of a depressed state and begin working on the GN again. I started working on the project again at the end of last year and, I have it torn apart to do some body prep before painting. I haven't posted pictures because bodywork and painting isn't related to the installation of the "aerocoupe" part of the project and I don't see the need to post it on the board. However, this part does pertain the aero soooo....HERE WE GO AGAIN.......
I decided to put in a factory brace behind the seat instead of the aftermarket kit.
Here is the surface sandblasted out before welding.
Here is the Monte SS Aero brace positioned in place and ready to be plug welded.. It was a pretty easy job to do and it makes it look like it's factory installed!
Welded in place...
2011 was not a good year for me. I was jobless from Oct 2010 until March 2011 and was I was helping my mother care for my father during that time. Then, on April 8th 2011 he passed away. He was helping me back when I was doing most of the work on the aerocoupe. After he passed, just two months later my Grandmother died too....she was my fathers mother. She was 92 and he was 72. After such a bad start to 2011, I started keeping my mother occupied to keep her mind off of him and his mother. Seemed like we were going places and going out to eat all the time. Fortunately, I've got a another good job and at the end of 2011 I decided to pull myself out of a depressed state and begin working on the GN again. I started working on the project again at the end of last year and, I have it torn apart to do some body prep before painting. I haven't posted pictures because bodywork and painting isn't related to the installation of the "aerocoupe" part of the project and I don't see the need to post it on the board. However, this part does pertain the aero soooo....HERE WE GO AGAIN.......
I decided to put in a factory brace behind the seat instead of the aftermarket kit.
Here is the surface sandblasted out before welding.
Here is the Monte SS Aero brace positioned in place and ready to be plug welded.. It was a pretty easy job to do and it makes it look like it's factory installed!
Welded in place...
Turbo1dr
9 Sec Wanna-Be
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Preparing to install the package tray and the rear seat brace...permanently.
This picture shows where all the original holes are drilled in the package tray for mounting purposes.
Here you can see that there's a brace that rivets to the body of the car and then the package is rivets to it.
Since I wanted to keep the original holes and not drill new ones, I temporarily attached the underside brace to the package tray. I then placed the whole package tray on top of the car as if it was already attached. I marked the body of the car at the end of the brace with a line so I could later use the brace as a guide to drill new holes in the body. This will allow me to drill through the brace using the original rivet mounting points. Talk about OCD...jeez!
Here are all the holes drilled in the body.
Here is the brace riveted in place.
The Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe originally had the rivets installed from the top going through into the truck. Since rivets are usually sharp and flare out when they are installed I chose to install them from the bottom upward. This will keep things you throw in the trunk safer (as well as your hands) from getting scratched.
Now that the brace is installed to locate the package tray on top of the trunk opening, I've drilled some holes in the body to attach the package tray in the sides. These holes will act as "spot welds" when they are welded from the bottom.
I'm thinking about drilling some more holes out between each of the holes I've alredy drilled. That would give it plenty of strength to keep it from popping loose.
Welding inside the holes from the bottom-side to the package tray will hold everything in place permanently. Welding in the holes is called "plug welding".
This picture shows where all the original holes are drilled in the package tray for mounting purposes.
Here you can see that there's a brace that rivets to the body of the car and then the package is rivets to it.
Since I wanted to keep the original holes and not drill new ones, I temporarily attached the underside brace to the package tray. I then placed the whole package tray on top of the car as if it was already attached. I marked the body of the car at the end of the brace with a line so I could later use the brace as a guide to drill new holes in the body. This will allow me to drill through the brace using the original rivet mounting points. Talk about OCD...jeez!
Here are all the holes drilled in the body.
Here is the brace riveted in place.
The Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe originally had the rivets installed from the top going through into the truck. Since rivets are usually sharp and flare out when they are installed I chose to install them from the bottom upward. This will keep things you throw in the trunk safer (as well as your hands) from getting scratched.
Now that the brace is installed to locate the package tray on top of the trunk opening, I've drilled some holes in the body to attach the package tray in the sides. These holes will act as "spot welds" when they are welded from the bottom.
I'm thinking about drilling some more holes out between each of the holes I've alredy drilled. That would give it plenty of strength to keep it from popping loose.
Welding inside the holes from the bottom-side to the package tray will hold everything in place permanently. Welding in the holes is called "plug welding".
Turbo1dr
9 Sec Wanna-Be
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
Before welding in the tray, I put some seam sealer beneath it to seal it from possible water leaks. Then, I used two screwdrivers positioned through a couple of rivet holes and clamped the tray down to the body.
Once I clamped the package tray down, I installed rivets across the center of the package tray where I had already riveted the underbrace. Once I got that finished, I drilled out the rest of the rivet holes in the body of the GN at the front of the tray where the factory speakers sit. Then I riveted that part of the try to the car. A total of 40 rivets for the entire tray!
Getting ready to plug weld it in permanently.
I still have to clean up this seam area up before painting. Tried to make it look factory.
While I was adding seam sealer to the package tray, I went ahead and put in on the rear of the car also.
Once I clamped the package tray down, I installed rivets across the center of the package tray where I had already riveted the underbrace. Once I got that finished, I drilled out the rest of the rivet holes in the body of the GN at the front of the tray where the factory speakers sit. Then I riveted that part of the try to the car. A total of 40 rivets for the entire tray!
Getting ready to plug weld it in permanently.
I still have to clean up this seam area up before painting. Tried to make it look factory.
While I was adding seam sealer to the package tray, I went ahead and put in on the rear of the car also.
xtremexnyc
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2001
Glad to see you are back. Very sorry for the hard times and your loss.
TR Custom Parts
Mark Hueffman - Owner
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
This is a great project and glad to see you are continuing with it. Nice to see some progress. Sorry for your losses.
GetOwnedVette
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2006
Not going to lie..may be the ugliest thing ive ever seen done to a Gn....just my .02. But excellent work in doing it Sorry to hear about 2011, I dont think it was a good year for most of us -.-
Sorry to hear about 2011, I dont think it was a good year for most of us -.-
