Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I'll say this, most every hatch I've seen for the past 20 yrs in this area is rotted just like this one. And most folks wouldn't attempt to repair it, but you've got skills.
Great job, love the detailed pics.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I have to say, that is some work on that hatch. Just wondering, you'll be able to do something to keep it from rotting out again over the years to come? Or it is just what happens to them and there is no way around them doing that?

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

So far the hatch is about 90% patched up and ground down. Hopefully by next weekend it will be all patched, ground down and ready for a test fit then epoxy primer and on to the mud work

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Got a little more ground down today and started on the small patches around the bottom lip of the hatch

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Slowly making progress on the hatch. All of the patch work is finally complete and as of today about 90% of the grinding is done. Hopefully by next weekend it will be in epoxy primer and ready for mud. It has been quite a challenge but well worth it and it is coming out nicely so far

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I think it looks awesome!

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Thx Dave ..... I hope to finally have the hatch in epoxy primer tomorrow ( fingers crossed lol )

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

The hatch is finally in primer and ready to begin the mud work

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Looks good.

I'm presuming you have test fit it?....:)

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Thx Leon .... Fits like a glove

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Good deal!

Leon

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Great work on the hatch. I'm bookmarking this. I forsee having to do this myself down the road. Did you build a jig to do the radius bends? (at the arrows)

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I like seeing how you methodically repaired the hatch piece by piece. I can learn from that. Thanks for putting up all the pictures.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Thx LT7A .... Im getting closer to being finished with it

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Today I discovered that one of the hinges for the hatch needs the pin and the bushings replaced. Does anyone know if the door hinge pins are the same and if anyone sells a kit ? Im assuming that if the door pins will work they will have to be cut to length ? Any info on this would be great , thanks guys

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I got the glaze knocked down this morning ( pics are from yesterday when I started) and shot another coat of primer on. Tomorrow if all goes well I just might get some paint laid down on the hatch

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

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Looks like a new one. I'm glad you can keep motivated....

LockDoc

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Very nice work on the hatch! I've got a 72 we're just getting started on for my wife and her hatch is not good either. I did get some from Leon that are better so sometime I'll be doing what you are. But that may be a few months.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Finally got the hatch painted this morning. All and all it didnt come out to bad. Cant wait to get it back on and the glass in so this project is finally finished. Thank you all for the compliments.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Bolted the hatch back on the Suburban this evening. Have to fine tune it and turn the one shock right side up, plus put the seal on and then the glass and it will be all wrapped up.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Very nice work! I think the shock mod is going to have to happen on ours too. I think it might be less finger ripping and less heads getting whacked from the original holder upper.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Not sure if I missed your answer but I was curious about this as well. Did you build a jig for these radius bends?

AWESOME work repairing what most would have thrown away.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

I used a piece of 2x2 square tubing, C-clamps, and the vice for that bend. The others I just used whatever I had lying around the garage that was round LOL. I did make it a point to be very careful cutting the bad portions of the hatch out and keeping them somewhat intact so I had a pattern to compare.

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

This evening I managed to get the hatch adjusted and lined up. Tomorrow we are going to install the glass plus the seal and this project will be finished. Im really happy with the way it turned out. Well worth the effort

Re: New project : 72 Suburban
 

Today we installed the glass in the hatch along with the hatch seal. The hatch project is finally finished