Fenders welded on!?!?!? 280Z (OK no, just... bondo...)

[ArcticFoxCJ]

4 minutes ago, Freez74 said:

I can imagine.  Wouldn't think it would be usable under all that mess.

The jury's still out.  This is what I found underneath:

 

 

[Freez74]

Not as bad as I thought.  May be time for this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBAO7DV/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=A2W3M6PH7V4H54&psc=1

[ArcticFoxCJ]

5 minutes ago, Freez74 said:

Not as bad as I thought.  May be time for this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBAO7DV/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=A2W3M6PH7V4H54&psc=1

Man, Amazon has everything...

[Patcon]

You can probably plastic weld that from the backside and make it presentable. Several ways to do it if you're interested

[ArcticFoxCJ]

5 minutes ago, Patcon said:

You can probably plastic weld that from the backside and make it presentable. Several ways to do it if you're interested

Definitely.  I'd like to salvage as much of the original stuff as possible.

[Patcon]

A soldering iron with a flattish tip will work. A small piece of stainless mesh can be embedded from the back side across the crack using heat. The metal strengthens the joint. There are hot staplers available that do a very similar thing. Hot wire staples would really beef up the repair. You might find it necessary to paint the whole thing when your done to fully conceal the joints and get an even finish. Be carefulful of using too much heat. You can distort the piece of lose the finished texture

[psdenno]

Interesting that the previous console repairman didn't fiberglass the inside of the console instead of the outside.  A few strategic patches and reinforcements on the underside would have saved it.  I patched mine from the inside and filled cracks and holes with epoxy from the outside surface. Painted it and reinstalled.  Looks fine.  I touched up the silver highlights with a fine tip silver Sharpie.

 

[bpilati]

On 7/18/2021 at 5:07 PM, ArcticFoxCJ said:

Hey all,

So I'm in the process of tearing down my '77 and it's looking like these fenders are welded onto the rocker panels and maybe the subframe.  Here's a closeup of where the seam should be between the fender and the rocker, and some photos of the underside where the bolt(s) should be attaching the fender...

Is this a typical repair?  I had a '77 before and it wasn't like this so I'm certain it isn't factory.  

At this point I assume I'll be cutting this puppy off.  Any advice from you seasoned Z folks?

Ewwww

[ArcticFoxCJ]

Well.... didn't see this coming...

They filled it...  with bondo.  And it looks like it's that way all along the bottom of the fender.  You can see where it's swollen in the front and where I picked some of it off.

 

[Patcon]

Unfortunately, that is exactly what I expected...

[ArcticFoxCJ]

Two steps forward, one step back...  Or is it the other way around...  Eventually I'll have this car so far apart there CAN'T be any more surprises...

 

...right?  

 

[Patcon]

Yes, at some point, no more surprises