Adventures in Bodywork

[jovial_cynic]

I've been dabbling with bodywork on my 510 for the last year, terrified at first at the idea of cutting up my beloved car and trying to patch it back together. However, after peeling through some of the nightmarish work that was done to the car by the previous owner, I figured I couldn't do much worse than what was already on it. 

My first attempt was cutting out a stubborn dent that was "solved" by a monstrous glob of bondo. 

 

It's a little hard to tell what's going on there, but what you are looking at is a mountain of bondo covering a patch panel that went over the 510's gas cap filler hole. The previous owner shaved the gas hatch, and his metal work must not have been as good as he had hoped. That's a lot of bondo. 

 

Before I had a decent MIG welder, I tried welding this up with my oxy/acetylene torch. 

 

Not great. Not horrid. 

 

I ended up getting it done, but oxy/acetylene is not the way to go when it comes to patch panels. I ended up picking up a great Hobart MIG welder and it's worked wonders. 

 

Another problem area was the entire rear panel. That picture above... it looks like sheet-rock, the bondo is so thick. I tried cutting away the bondo to see where the metal began, and it just took too long. 

 

Unable to deal with all the bondo on the rear panel, I simply cut the panel off. It would be easier to start from scratch than to try to fix that mess. 

 

I've always liked the name "Nissan" more than "Datsun." I managed to pick up this truck tail gate at the local pick-and-pull in Fresno. I also picked up a few Nissan badges to throw on the car. 

 

Here's the tail gate, skinned and tack-welded to the rear of the 510. 

 

Here is it fitted up with the trunk lid. Not too bad. 

 

A little bondo work of my own (very little bondo), plus I've filled (with metal!) the spot where the tail gate handle once was. 

 

Filled and ready for smoothing out. I've also set the tail lights in place for the picture. 

 

Smoothed out and primered. The rest of the car was also primered afterwards. 

 

It just needs paint, but it's basically done. It's the first Nissan 510 tail panel.

 

[DatMo]

looks awesome man!

goodjob!

 

look forward to seeing more

[Trophy24]

I like it cuz it's different! Good concept

 

I'm doing the bodywork thing too, but I am cheating a bit by hiring a body guy friend of mine to do the difficult stuff

[jovial_cynic]

I try to do as much of it as I can myself. With the right tools and attitude, you can do anything. :)

[opalbeetle]

^^Agreed!!

[Ratwagon1600]

Nice work, definitely like the custom tail panel idea!

 

I try to do as much of it as I can myself. With the right tools and attitude, you can do anything. :)

 

 

^^Agreed!!

 

^^^ Have a look at the second line in my signature block

[jovial_cynic]

Thanks. I'm gonna throw on some more Nissan badges once the paint is done.

 

I'll be honest - the whole idea of cutting the tail panel of my car terrified me, and my heart sank when I made the first cut. And once the tail panel was fully removed, I knew I had no choice but to push through and figure it out. Point of no return, you know?

 

It does help to have a good quality welder. Hobart 140 is outstanding for sheet metal.

[opalbeetle]

I'll be honest - the whole idea of cutting the tail panel of my car terrified me, and my heart sank when I made the first cut. And once the tail panel was fully removed, I knew I had no choice but to push through and figure it out. Point of no return, you know?

 

One of the best motivators to repair sheetmetal on a Datsun....cut a hole in it!

 

I appreciate your philosophy completely! "Push through and figure it out!"

 

Great job on the build! Keep at it!

[yellowdatsun]

I love the embossed Nissan tailgate idea, very cool.

[jovial_cynic]

Thanks.

 

I spent the last few hours sanding down primer, prepping the car for paint. I should have more photos tomorrow.

[Kirden]

By this pic I was like OH NOES! Poor 510 :geek:

Here's the tail gate, skinned and tack-welded to the rear of the 510. 

 

 

 

But, I really like the end product. Good job :thumbup:

[jovial_cynic]

I wasn't worried. :)

 

I had the picture in mind from the start, but I didn't know where I wanted to place the tail lights. I left them in the stock position, because I think they look best there.

[izzo]

Could have angled them more, made them look like angry eyebrows if you catch what I mean. I think erichwaslike did that with his 521 lights.  With the perfect angle it'd been teets.