Second Wind - a Packard Gasser

I've always done it with Mig but I'm am capable of doing with Tig, so I'm gonna try it when I start on my Packard.

I weld all of mine with a TIG.
Once you get used to the finger/thumb control, you'll put the foot pedal in a safe place and might not ever use it again.

I think so.

Got it hammered and ground out, more finessing to do later but the general shape is done. Re-installed the door framework and added a piece of 1" tubing above the doors to replace the wood. Couldn't resist playing with some spray bombs... Doors next.

That's looking fabulous ZZ.

The way you chop those tops really make it look much better

Old Iron said:

The way you chop those tops really make it look much better

Click to expand...

Thanks! I know it's a bunch of work for small changes but I think the end result gives the top a better flow and fit to the rest of the body. I didn't want to do a more radical cut - that just wouldn't fit with this build style - better on a low rider, but that's been done already. I like to go down the road less travelled

You're a true craftsman at work! [cl

Ever avoid doing something 'cause you know it's gonna be a bi**#h...?
I've been avoiding the doors because some bonehead (not me!) years ago drilled out the frozen bolts on the lower hinges - all crooked of course. The fix is to cut the whole mounting plate out of the door frame, weld nuts on the back and weld it all back in place - both sides. Not fun but I got it done. Of course the doors fit like crap - lots of work to do to get them right and probably some choice curse words. They've been off the body for 50+ years so it's not surprising that the body is probably tweaked, not to mention what I've done to it [

"Ever avoid doing something 'cause you know it's gonna be a bi**#h...?"
Yes

Thank you ZZ, for making everything look so easy. You give me the confidence to try some of the big body tin bashing.
I'll be watching you.

Fun with doors - well, not so much....
Had to cut out the inside framing, carve off 5lbs. of 86 year old tar and slice the door vertically to get it to fit the opening, had to re-align the beltline a bit 'cause of the changes. Temporary alignment tabs keep the pieces in place while tacking it back together. Top hinge gave me fits, umpteen tries to re shape it, finally had to cut it apart and weld it in the right shape. Jeez, I hope the other door is easier...

Where there's a will, there's a way.......


ZZ, I'm guessing you have a secret third arm and hand you're
not showing.... [cl[cl

Wow, unreal. I'd never think of cutting a door like that. Great work as usual!

05snopro440 said:

I'd never think of cutting a door like that.

Click to expand...

Yeah it seems kinda nuts but I didn't want to mess with the edges - it seemed to want me to cut it there
Anyways, back together and the door frame mostly cut down and refitted. There was a lot of lead in the roof around the door edge, like they had a hard time fitting it at the factory, I had to push it up - it was 1/2" lower than the passenger side! Still have to fine tune the roof edge to match the door top...[
Must have been a Friday afternoon rush job at the Packard plant

Nice work and an innovative solution. [cl[clI'm going through the same thing on the 37. I recut the roof, cut the firewall and rear of the cab loose and reshaping the the top of the door because the gaps and belt line was off.

Nice work! I appreciate the time you are taking to photograph and post your progress.

Spent the last 3 days working on door #2.
Cut out and replaced the rot with new tin, then bucked the door in half...
Top hinge needed reshaping to align it right, lessons learned on the other side made this one go easier. Welded the door back together and got the top frame tacked together. One more day and I'm done with doors - yay!

The Magician[cl

Man, that's lookin good!