Where do the welds go for the inner wheel wells and trunk drop offs? 1969 Pontiac Firebird

[@ArrowheadGarage]

Welding Day is My Favorite Day!!!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Mine too!

[@TimCato-hk6rg]

Thanks for showing the details on how you push, pull and nudge these panels into place.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

You bet! Making them for right and clean makes for a better finished product and really not that bad to do.

[@brian2359]

All those screws it looks like it’s going to a Def Lepard concert all studded up!! Great video as always!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yeah this bird is being a prick….🤣🤣 thanks for watching

[@JK_Nex_Garage]

Nice. I like the screwing of everything first and then taking it back apart. I can’t imagine the time you would lose welding yourself into a corner (and things didn’t line up) because you didn’t test fit first. Great video. 👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It is a little time consuming to test fit the entire car. For me it’s worth it and a lot less time trying to undo welds and reposition panels that we all know aren’t exactly perfect or always line up great anyway.

[@RonWatson-b6u]

Your website home page picture is super cool!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Of the 68 & 69 bird? Those are the first two cars completed at the VVG. I really like the picture too

[@davidbisnette7673]

Looking good, man the sheet metal screws!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I have a porcupine bird.

[@patrickmerriman2952]

Looking good, Jon!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thank you friend

[@chuckeecheese162]

Nice work John. 🍻😎

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@drewpackard6646]

Looks very well John!!👍🏽

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I am very happy with the fitment of the panels on this old bird.

[@donley8416]

Great work lost great info

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@larrygonzalez3159]

Another great video Jon as always. Went and got my floor pan and rear quarters today. Still need to find a passenger side door jam piece yes you know the one I was too late asking about that you already sent to Luis but I will find one. You have given me so much more with all your videos Priceless!!!!! Thanks for doing what you do!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

You are making good progress on your car. In can say that I have never seen a frame rail rust quite like yours at the spring mount. I suppose it keeps these cars interesting it seems that all have there own way of rusting apart. That panel can be purchased for about $90 by itself if you don’t find one

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

Great job buddy the car is really coming out. Great, I have done the same thing with the trunk drop off. I have welded the bottom to the wheelhouse at the end. , work's great because there is enough flex there to Mate them together.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yup no need to lock until completely test fitted and happy.

[@bradsrestorations1085]

Excellent progress! You, Sir, are moving through this build quickly! Good work.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I have been fortunate Not hit any big snags to slow things down. I have about 10 hours a week to get things done and so far so good

[@rajcam80]

Looking great!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks! I hope it will be in body working stage soon

[@gibsonexplorer8777]

John can you slow the welding process you do for the spot welds again please another good informative video thanks for sharing them.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yup already done on the video when i welded the 1/4 panel on. Had a few other people ask the same thing

[@gibsonexplorer8777]

@VinylVillageGarage yes its a really good prosses keeps everything tight and in place.

[@SeanJoseph-s2s]

Good tips and content and thanks

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Appreciate that

[@woodrowdelozier1]

Good stuff 💪😎

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes sir thanks

[@darrellsaunders4267]

Looking gooder....BTW, did you quit the Orange Mt. DEW? Ha ha!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Absolutely NOT! Lol I still have like 10 cases in the garage

[@milesunderwood2380]

Coming along nicely 👍👍👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thank you!

[@MrYz250fman]

Comment......engaged

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Much appreciated! Your comments help

[@chevyfan82]

👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Much appreciated!

[@philipperichard8]

Nice work as usual! Looks like you ended up replacing the driver’s side inner wheelhouse as well? Maybe I missed something in a video but thought I saw you patching that one.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

lol well sharp eye my friend! Yes it did get replaced. Once I removed the 1/4 panel I found more rust in the top of the seam that I felt would cause me issues when separating the inner and outer and time invested to salvage the inner wasn’t worth it. Plus I had an inner on the shelf so it got replaced.

[@RustyRatchetGarage]

Awesome work as usual, what do you use to put the font on your thumbnails

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I use a free program/app CANVA it’s user friendly enough even I figured it out.

[@davidbrown-55]

Looking gd as usual. Weld trough primer?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

The red stuff is weld thru primer, I use it on any bare metal seams. I don’t always bother with removing the edp and then repainting with the weld thru

[@kwacasey]

What kind of garage heater is that, curious about how well it works. Also, when welding during cold weather are you opening up the door to exhaust fumes?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It runs on 220v it cost me about $150 picked it up at rural king, it has a remote somewhere that came with it. When welding it’s best to keep it vented for sure so when its closed door season it’s good to stop and let thing clear out then get back to it.

[@perrywe1]

I really like your technique for plug welding. do you use a 5/16 drill bit to open the plug hole on the near panel? Also I guess there is some clean up grinding to do on the inside or underneath panel as some weld is bound to stick out . Thanks for sharing Jon

[@VinylVillageGarage]

If you move fast enough after a lot of practice no grinding required at all front or back of you do need clean up It’s super minimal sometimes. I did a video awhile back on the process kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKnChJqMYst7pq8si=_kq1AGxHigWjiEJE

[@brianbarry6909]

90% prep 10% finish You are a great example of work smarter not harder😊 Quick =slow. slow = fast 😅

[@joeroad6618]

Aren't you concerned about the large gap between the drop off and the wheel liner?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Once all assembly it lines right up and pulls up tight. I leave it undone until I final weld on the 1/4 panel so in can have some adjustment in and out on the lower part if needed

[@philipperichard8]

I was wondering the same thing!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

@philipperichard8 it does look bad but when the 1/4 get installed it gets pulled back into place. Part of the issue why it looks bad is when you properly install the trunk drop off it pushes the wheel well forward to follow the contour of the drop off. It has a weird jog in it that I don’t understand what its purpose is why it’s that way.

[@philipperichard8]

Good to know! Thanks!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

@@philipperichard8 anytime!

[@donmassey9204]

Do u work on other people's cars

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Nope, not at this point just family and close friends.