[carolinacustoms]

Hey guys, the owner finally brought the quarter for his 55 a few days ago. It was of course a repro, but it fit up pretty well. I did notice it did not have any of the side molding holes, but after looking around on the web that seems to be fairly common and not really concerning or hard to fix on the side molding. My problem is it doesn't have the oval shaped holes for the molding right under the side window. I did not think to take pictures which would have been helpful for anyone not familiar with these cars, so I will try to get some up Wednesday to help with explanation. What I am looking for is a good way to cut an oval hole? I can't help but think some company makes a punch or tool for this since there apparently all made this way repro. The side molding takes a round hole for the retainer clips which is easy enough, measure and drill. But the oval hole is about 1/8" on either end and about 3/8-1/2" long. I had thought of drilling a hole on each end and using a carbide to trim between, but I'm not sure how well that would work, so I am open for any suggestions. I am hoping someone has done this in a good way that I haven't thought of yet. As always thanks ahead of time.

Kelly

[painted jester]

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...1&d=1361249043



This pic help any? Click a couple of times to enlarge.

[carolinacustoms]

Originally Posted by painted jester

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...1&d=1361249043



This pic help any? Click a couple of times to enlarge.

Yes sir. The holes right under the windows are the ones I am trying to figure out how to cut, punch or something in the new skin. Thanks for the picture I am sure that will help clarify things a little.

Kelly

[painted jester]

Originally Posted by carolinacustoms

Yes sir. The holes right under the windows are the ones I am trying to figure out how to cut, punch or something in the new skin. Thanks for the picture I am sure that will help clarify things a little.

Kelly

I made a pattern from the other side reversed it taped it down across the top, slid carbon paper under the bottom to transfer it to the panel, drilled the 2 ends and a couple in the middle and used machinists files to finnish them up drummel grinders make a mess ! Its slow and tedious work! But if you don't care its covered with the molding LOL I never found a good quick way But those I did came out good no one could tell they weren't already there.


Jester

[MARTINSR]

There you go Jester, perfect! Making patterns is so overlooked, tape, paper, metal, making a pattern is some of the best time spent on a project.

Another way I transfer the info is to simply stick the tape that the pattern was made from and using a razor knife cut the tape on the lines, leaving the pattern exposed on the metal below to make another nice line with a sharp Sharpie. Remove the tape and there you go.

Brian

[tech69]

you can make those holes that look like pills very easily. Just take your template and drill two small holes at each end. Maybe a 1/8" bit will do. Then you take a very small cut off wheel that comes with those plug in dremel tools and slice it between the drill holes. Then file to perfection. When you make your template you use body lines, edges, door handle holes, whatever you can think of as a reference to help you align it to the other side.

[painted jester]

Thanks Brian!!

Kelly I also painted the steel under the pattern flat white !! Its easier on the eyes LOL And you can see the outline better when filing!

Jester

[carolinacustoms]

Thanks for the tips guys. I used the old quarter for a template, just cut out the piece with the holes and since the new quarter is ecoat black I used some chev orange to paint over the template which have me a perfect orange pattern under to go by. I guess I need to dig out the dremel. Thanks again

Kelly

[MARTINSR]

That can work Kelly for putting the holes properly to each other, but in putting the holes on the proper place on the panel it isn't so cut and dry. So make some templates as Henry described off a body line or hole or edge so you make sure you are putting them in the exactly same location. Double checking is always a good idea.

Brian

[carolinacustoms]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

That can work Kelly for putting the holes properly to each other, but in putting the holes on the proper place on the panel it isn't so cut and dry. So make some templates as Henry described off a body line or hole or edge so you make sure you are putting them in the exactly same location. Double checking is always a good idea.

Brian

Brian the piece of the old quarter that I used fit tightly over the new quarter because it had the body lines. I can't really explain it very well but it was the same as making a template. Plus I will check the holes with the molding before I cut anything. Thanks again

Kelly

[tech69]

check it with measuring from clear reference points on both the cut out one and the new one. There may be a slight difference cause the thickness of the metal as opposed to a paper template laying on top of it.


What's good about templates for moulding holes with tape/welding paper is you know the number of holes in correlation with each other will stay true as long as you cut them out cleanly and tightly tape/welding paper it down. So once your holes are cut out the only real concern is making sure the 1st and last holes are matching their measurements and you're hitting your reference points(marked bodyline/door handle hole/ edge of panel) and everything else should be fine.