Project TV 2M8O

Excellent, it's good to see you have a body shop that is delivering on the promise.

BTW, has the subject of body seams been discussed yet, with that shop, or Johnny here? I've always wondered which seams can be filled completely, and which have to have body filler in them.

I hate filler, as it hardens and cracks over time. The seam of the panel below the back window is one of the worst. When that filler lets go, the rust begins there, after a water leak makes an issue in the trunk.

Thanks, I've kind of heard the same thing once before. The body sheet metal shouldn't be flexing enough to break any metal filled seam, but most types of bondo could crack there in some conditions.

The one that made me think of it was the rear door jamb of my 93 Explorer, when we replaced the quarter panel. The slight overlap of the metal panels left a line where they filled it with bondo. The guy cut the seam, the groove there, to make it look factory. I saw it after it was primered, and it made me mad to think they didn't smooth it. That seam may not have had seam sealer in it, so the line was a natural difference of the panels, just painted over. That's the kind of line I'd like smooth if possible, that one is a known rust spot to begin on many vehicles.

Got a text message and pics from the bodyshop that they have applied the first coat of primer to the body! Still a couple areas to finesse before they move onto the doors.

Bill also asked that I bring him all the door innards so they can put everything in so the doors are weighted properly so they can get hung and the bodyline and gaps set correctly. Now the fun begins diving into a 15+ year old parts cache to try and find everything and then get them cleaned, repaired, replaced and ready for install.

Wish me luck!

-Chris

I pulled out the original passenger side latch assembly and set it up on the bench so I could figure out how the power lock sensor and actuator fit into the scheme of things and then started removing the rods one by one and cleaning them on the wire wheel and then installing them on the new door latch.

Need to run out today and pick up a few cans of brake clean so I can finish degreasing the power window mechanisms as well as getting the driver side latch assembly cleaned and rebuilt so I can drop off all the door innards to the bodyshop next week so they can reassemble the doors so they are weighted correctly when they rehang them onto the body to align the body lines and set the gaps correctly. I'll post a few pics of all the finished pieces once they've been completed.

I have a few questions about the window stops and related pieces that I will post under the '72-'76 Ford and Mercury banner so as not to sidetrack this post and have it available should someone else find themselves in the same boat.....