L78 M22 pacer - some firewall shots.

[firstgenaddict]

Here are some shots of the firewall on the pacer I am doing for Bergy - Bruce. It's a L78 M22 3.73  endura bumper pacer bought new in Ct. and drag raced early in it's life.
This is going to go together quickly, as the engine trans subframe rear end, top frame, dash cluster, glass mechanisms and etc are restored and ready to go - I believe he has the seats covered as well.

[firstgenaddict]

couple more -
I had to turn the lights in the booth off to get a decent shot of the transition...

[169INDY]

If is not bad form for me to ask What product do you prefer for the body joint sealing, ?

[firstgenaddict]

I use 3M Fast and Firm  Beige - it looks exactly like the factory and tools nearly identically. I take a chip brush dip it in lacquer thinner and drag it through the bead I lay down. You cannot be slow and timid... get on with the job and it will come out correct, the slower you are the worse it will look. I also look at the original photos so I get the order correct - down from the top of the cowl at the sides, and then mid firewall under the cowl tag to the fender mount, then from the pass side fender mount on firewall face across to the middle with a curved end where it crosses the drivers side.

[169INDY]

OH Got it, I have had that very problem, Messing with it I like the Thinner Tip that would help the lubricity and encourage flow and smoothness.

Thanks for sharing.

Jim

[bergy]

James is an artist AND an engineer.  Rare combination of skill sets - perfect for restoring these cars :-)

[cook_dw]

As always amazing work.

[ric1969]

   I'm a big fan of James work and his knowledge awesome stuff.

[Edgemontvillage]

Details look great James, nice work.

[70L34]

Nice details.

[69Z28-RS]

What prep work was done to the body that removed the original seam sealer?   Was it blasted or dipped or ??

[firstgenaddict]

I scraped all of the seam sealer out to kill the rust in the seam - then blasted the seam - etched it to remove the rust in the pits then - neutralized - then 1:1 epoxy sealed everything -
Most of the photos will not load here as they are too large (bit wise) to put up more than one or two per post.

Here is a link to the thread Bruce started on Yenko.net
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=163458

I sectioned in the dash through the first two slots in the speaker grille and through the defroster ducts.




This shows the state of the seam just prior to seam sealing it.













Testing techniques to match the satin Chrome finish of the top catches - sunvisor mounts
I think I nailed it...


Original header molding with satin break line


Heater box with original markings -


Restored -

[69Z28-RS]

Thanks for the details...     ..  VERY nice work!

[firstgenaddict]

Some more -- wiper orange and dash texture -
I put the same "problems" in the restoration as the original - finger marks etc
Chipped the paint out of the vin because the original is stamped after paint  and is chipped.

[RichSS2006]

Can't wait to stop by and see this one.