Can someone please tell me how to go about prepping the fastback panels on a 65 for the plexiglass window and box intallation. I see there are spot welds on the tray portion that has the drain. That should be pretty easy to remove, but then what about the bracing in the opening? Should i just cut it out with a grinder and if so, does anybody have any after pictures? Thanks so much for the help! Here is the project i picked up yesterday.
Branda has some basic instructions posted at their website. I had mine apart few months ago and attached a pic. Not a pretty sight! You may do better looking job than the SA factory since you're not working on the assemby line worrying about keeping up. I used this and a hex drill bit for those hard to get to rivet holes. It also helps to cuss a few times during fitting and installation...It's not a fun job. Good Luck! Ken
thanks for the picture and advise! So, it looks like i will end up just slicing into the tray and not actually removing it. Is that correct, or am i seeing things wrong. Thanks
You'll still need something to screw your interior trim pieces to, so the tray and the other piece remains. Wait 'til you get to trimming the interior vent panels and locating those cuts! That's when the real fun begins! Ken
Yeah, you'll need some sophisticated equipment- nahh. You'll need an air chisel and and a 14oz hammer. This in an original, low-mileage 66 GT350, completely unrestored except for an old respray.
WOW! I started on the lower portion of the drivers side two days ago with a sawzaw and it certainly is not as mangled as the original Shelby. However, the rear of the vent will probably get pretty ugly since i cant use the sawzaw on all of it due to lack of room. Thanks again-great pics. What size are those scoop holes? 3"-4"??
3" Here's a picture of mine after I got it together last month. My original panels were really wavy and a few of the rivet holes broken away. These panels were made by a guy named Kent in El Cajon, CA. I think he makes airplane panels, etc., and are fiberglass not ABS. I heard from another member these are better fitwise than some of the other kits out there, and I agree. I used my original aluminum frames and replaced everything else. Ken
I thought I would mention most all of the original 66 GT350's used rivets in the quarter windows that were black anodize. Sometimes over the years the black is rubbed off or sun bleached away and of course they are not readily available which are just a few reasons why restorers tend to replace them with the generic silver rivets. AMK sells them in a kit specifically for the 66 GT350 quarter windows. The black anodized rivets blend in better then the silver rivets on the black panels IMHO. Bob
Thanks Bob. Just ordered them from AMK, part# F-3920. Looks like I'll be drilling these out and replacing...