'66 Malibu N/SA

Dave Muller · 08-30-2015, 09:04 PM

Once again I got tired of doing body work, and drifted off into something else. This time it was the tachometer mount. It's pretty tight on top of the dashboard, so I built a mount to move the tach down and back from the mounting plate on the dashpad. There appears to be at least a half inch between the back of the tach and where the windshield will be. I'll likely move the tach forward just a bit; it's not as close to the steering wheel as the picture makes it look, but it's closer than I'd like it to be.

Dave Muller · 11-22-2015, 10:43 PM

Well the past two months have seen little progress; first I was busy racing my Camaro, then I went with the wife on a two-week Panama Canal cruise (which was awesome!). Then upon my return I immediately got sick. But I have finally gotten back to work on the Chevelle the past couple of weeks.

At this point I finally finished up the left door (what a bear that was!) and the only panel left is the right quarter panel. I say "only", but it has eleven dents! One of which is a crease over a foot long. In fact the only major panel on this car that wasn't damaged was the trunk lid, the rest of the car averages about four dents per panel. Was this thing in a demolition derby? Not only that, but there's evidence to suggest that it hasn't been on the street since the mid-70s! That would mean the car took on about three dents per year on average! Was it driven by Mr. Magoo?

Other than the last panel left it all seems pretty good now, though I know I may get some unpleasant surprises when I see it with shiny paint. I keep reminding myself though that I'm pretty sure the win light never comes on in the other guy's lane because his car is prettier.

Anyway, it's looking good at this point for me to spray the car the week between Christmas and New Year's as planned. Then I'll be off to pick up the engine and transmission.

Here's what the finished side looks like, not that it's very good looking, what with mismatched primer spots and horribly mis-aligned panels in this temporary assembly I did:

And here's that pesky quarter panel:

Dave Muller · 11-30-2015, 09:04 PM

Little bit of a set-back here...

I was happy that I was 2/3 done with the quarter panel already, but then I took a close look at the right door. I really thought I had looked that over before. But it seems I just noticed one little dent up top as I walked by and decided to fix it then. But I never did check out the rest. Turns out the bottom part of the door has six more dents.

Fortunately my work situation changed a bit and my week off has been pushed back to the first week in January, so I have an extra week to play catch up. Plus the more I do this work, the faster I get.

Mark Yacavone · 11-30-2015, 09:22 PM

David, Thanks, but instead of reaching for the camera, you ought reach for the cheese grater!
Save yourself some work that way.

Dave Muller · 11-30-2015, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

David, Thanks, but instead of reaching for the camera, you ought reach for the cheese grater!
Save yourself some work that way.

I did that just after taking the picture. It helps a bit, but the initial sanding goes pretty fast anyway. When I get aggressive filing it it sometimes takes a little too much out of it.

RobbieRacer · 12-13-2015, 03:14 PM

Happy Birthday Dave!

Dave Muller · 12-14-2015, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieRacer

Happy Birthday Dave!

Thanks Rob! I spent most of it doing (what else?) body work on the Chevelle. All done now except for some minor spots here and there.

RobbieRacer · 01-07-2016, 02:34 PM

Looking good Dave. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing it in person.

08-30-2015, 09:04 PM	#1
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Once again I got tired of doing body work, and drifted off into something else. This time it was the tachometer mount. It's pretty tight on top of the dashboard, so I built a mount to move the tach down and back from the mounting plate on the dashpad. There appears to be at least a half inch between the back of the tach and where the windshield will be. I'll likely move the tach forward just a bit; it's not as close to the steering wheel as the picture makes it look, but it's closer than I'd like it to be. Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-07-2017 at 09:58 PM.

11-22-2015, 10:43 PM	#2
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Well the past two months have seen little progress; first I was busy racing my Camaro, then I went with the wife on a two-week Panama Canal cruise (which was awesome!). Then upon my return I immediately got sick. But I have finally gotten back to work on the Chevelle the past couple of weeks. At this point I finally finished up the left door (what a bear that was!) and the only panel left is the right quarter panel. I say "only", but it has eleven dents! One of which is a crease over a foot long. In fact the only major panel on this car that wasn't damaged was the trunk lid, the rest of the car averages about four dents per panel. Was this thing in a demolition derby? Not only that, but there's evidence to suggest that it hasn't been on the street since the mid-70s! That would mean the car took on about three dents per year on average! Was it driven by Mr. Magoo? Other than the last panel left it all seems pretty good now, though I know I may get some unpleasant surprises when I see it with shiny paint. I keep reminding myself though that I'm pretty sure the win light never comes on in the other guy's lane because his car is prettier. Anyway, it's looking good at this point for me to spray the car the week between Christmas and New Year's as planned. Then I'll be off to pick up the engine and transmission. Here's what the finished side looks like, not that it's very good looking, what with mismatched primer spots and horribly mis-aligned panels in this temporary assembly I did: And here's that pesky quarter panel: Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-07-2017 at 10:03 PM.

11-30-2015, 09:04 PM	#3
Dave Muller Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 497 Likes: 162 Liked 223 Times in 73 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Little bit of a set-back here... I was happy that I was 2/3 done with the quarter panel already, but then I took a close look at the right door. I really thought I had looked that over before. But it seems I just noticed one little dent up top as I walked by and decided to fix it then. But I never did check out the rest. Turns out the bottom part of the door has six more dents. Fortunately my work situation changed a bit and my week off has been pushed back to the first week in January, so I have an extra week to play catch up. Plus the more I do this work, the faster I get. Last edited by Dave Muller; 07-07-2017 at 10:03 PM.

11-30-2015, 09:22 PM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,820 Likes: 2,910 Liked 5,129 Times in 1,956 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA David, Thanks, but instead of reaching for the camera, you ought reach for the cheese grater! Save yourself some work that way. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

12-13-2015, 03:14 PM	#6
RobbieRacer Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 320 Likes: 17 Liked 118 Times in 41 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Happy Birthday Dave!

01-07-2016, 02:34 PM	#8
RobbieRacer Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 320 Likes: 17 Liked 118 Times in 41 Posts	Re: '66 Malibu N/SA Looking good Dave. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing it in person.