The shuddering s-box- 1980 Mazda 626

[Low Elco]

Hi, I'm Chip, been here a while, been trying to contribute. I did a frame-off for my dad (Yeller) and have an 87 GMC SWB Waiting in the wings (LBT).

To that end, I do a little side hustle from time to time and a friend has been on me to take this on. Then he got over to see Yeller, and now he's really hyped up. So, it's here. It's a family deal for him, I think his uncle owned it. Anyway, you think getting parts for a '48 Chevy truck is hard, HAH! All these cars rusted to pieces, and were throwaway to begin with. Then you gotta deal with the folks that have them, won't ship! GAAAH!

But I digress. Anyway, Tom dropped it off today and we stripped all the major chunks off, test fitted the one new fender we could get someone to ship, and testfitted out my fakackta idea for a patch panel, which should work pretty good. This oughta be an adventure, 'cause it's the outside edge of my meager skills. But, like a friend of mine says, Sometimes ya gotta make sure they still clank. Otherwise, why bother? So, away we go! Off to the pics-

Tom pulling parts-


Driver's fender-note missing bottom, but not too bad.


NOS Pass fender- got F'ed on the shipping from Tucson, but we got it!


The nose-not bad....


Pass side-

[Low Elco]

More pics- there's some rot in the rockers, not bad. Big dent in the roof, not bad. Bottoms of both fenders gone-not bad. Quarter Drops skins all bubbly and crusty-ehhh, and Dr. Quarter lip completely gone-Oy! We'll see!

Tom's famous!


Big gonk in the roof-


As delivered-


Opened up-


My idea for the patch, which is the front of the pass front fender. Not to shabby, eh? We'll see how it goes, but I'm kinda encouraged.


Thanks for playin' along, it's a new adventure!

[Jonboy]

What a sweet car. I am soooo jealous .

Tom must really want that car.

[Low Elco]

It's a family thing, and it'll be his daily bomber. I'm kinda getting fond of it. I like the early Jap stuff, really simple.

In the "one thing every day" vein, ordered the .023 easy grind tonight. That stuff is nigh to impossible to get locally. Found it on amazon of all places.
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[Jonboy]

I hear you on the early jap stuff. There was a early 80's Corolla (the wagon looking 2 door) that had the bumpers shaved and was flat blacked bombing around where I work. It was actually pretty cool (for a Corolla).

I guess this might be a bad place to say I have really been eyeing Mini Cooper S's here on the truck board, huh?

[Low Elco]

Naaah. I actually kinda like the fiat 500 abarth, though I admit to being influenced by the commercials. Gawd, that girl is hawt!
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[Low Elco]

Got my easy grind in, finally got out to the garage tonight. Ground out all the Pass side lowers, and SCHNIKIES! This was supposed to be the good side! Take a look-

[Low Elco]

That was just the front- wait'll ya see this!-









Well, this oughta be interesting.

[Jonboy]

Ain't nothin' for a stepper. PS, some of the screen from the filler work is still there....

[Low Elco]

Heh, you noticed! Yeah, this is a fine kettle of fish were in here.
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[NONHOG]

This will be fun to watch. Alternate for sure!

[chevyrestoguy]

Just take it one area at a time. Keep your heat setting low on your welder and make small tacks when you're doing the patches. Those cars have extremely thin sheet metal and it'll warp like crazy if you put too much heat on it.

Those early 626s are really rare nowadays. You never see them on the road. I owned an '86 626 GT Turbo back in the late '80s. Fun little car.

[Low Elco]

Weeel, so we found major rot on the "good" side. So now what to do? I ain't Marcel, or Bernt, or Fournier. But, I got a welder and a zip wheel and I'm good for a laugh. So, I went to PNP today and got to lookin at stuff. I noticed that a 90's s10 seemed similar, so for $15, I cut the tails off a bed, then went and bought some sheet steel from the drop bin at the metal place. Brought all this home, and it just might work out with a nip and a tuck. Got busy and Fabbed a drop for the quarter and fit up the outer, not too bad! I'll finish the inner out and POR it tomorrow. Feeling a bit better about things. To the pics-

'murican steel, Baby!


Bad spot in the front of the well, too. Got a little chunk for that too.


Juuust a little crap in there. Note window screen.


Not too bad! A pleasant surprise.


New main inner, just gotta finish the ends.


Stay tuned!

[Vic1947]

Geez, Chip, what do you do for real fun? Stick bamboo splinters under your fingernails?

[Low Elco]

Ha, It does seem a tad masochistic! Stacy says it's good for me. I miss making stuff and thinking creatively for a living. I was really kind of enjoying the metalwork toward the end of Yeller. So, I'll give it a whack.

[Jonboy]

You need to turn that frown upside down, mister! Looks like you are making some progress.

[Low Elco]

I know! Oddly, I was in a pretty good mood when he took that. Musta been concentrating.
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[chevyrestoguy]

Now that's using your head! Good call on the S-10 stuff, and the you can't beat the price!!

Is this car going to get re-sprayed when the metal work is done, or are you guys trying to get this car dialed in for the vehicle inspection? Do you guys have inspections in your state?

[Low Elco]

Thanks! I've been a big s10 guy, and it seemed familiar when I was grinding. Took a look and yup, looks similar. It's a big relief, wasn't sure what I was gonna do. It's gonna get sprayed nice, our inspection is just mechanical, no prob there.
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[Low Elco]

So, I've been working. Lemme see, rear inner drop finished, inner pinholes welded, inner primed and painted, outer fit up, rockers cut out, patches fabbed, rust treated, washed and por'ed as much as could be reached. Should be welding 'er up later this week. Still gotta come up with an edge for the outer, may go cut the rest out of that s10. Anyway, here's pics-











Nuthin' but a chicken wing on a string. I'm kinda stoked, got new TIG gloves today (the old ones had holes in the fingertips! ouch!) and when I get all this rocker mess done, I'm gonna put my new EZ-grind in and give that a whack. Stay tuned-

[Bomp]

Ooooh, just found this.

Watchin'



or I'm aboard Mehearty.

[Low Elco]

Yarr! Got to live up to the Bomp standard!

Ok, bought some proper tips, bought the welder from Uncle Matt, switched in my ez grind. Come to find out I had .035 in all this time! So now, .023 with a proper .023 tip. Welded in 2 patches last night with the ez grind. THAT was a learning curve. Takes a LOT more wire speed. Had to revert to the far extreme method to dial it in. But, it's the BOMB-BEE when you get it down good, and it grinds like butter but ironically, it lays down and melts in a lot better than the standard stuff. Git some today. The wire, too!
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[Low Elco]

So, the rocker patches are in. Stilll have to grind, but they're in, not too bad. Had one shrink a bit, but it's still within spec for a skim to make it right. I have to remember my own advice about going slow. Also, these magnets in the pics are AWESOME. 30 lb. Lift magnets from HF. just right for holding sheetmetal flush, like a second hand. Run, don't walk, and get some, they're cheap. Oh, yeah, I went down and cut out the rest of the s-10 this weekend. Here's your proof-

[Vic1947]

Looking good! Did you get your EZ Grind wire locally? I found some online in 11 lb. rolls. I'm guessing the spool diameter is 8" but it's hard to tell from the pictures.

[Low Elco]

Ask and ye shall recieve!

Esab 69130051 A/S Easy Grind 025 X 2# Spool -...

This is a 2# roll. $40 all in. Cannot be had locally, not stocked and order qty not enough. Just as easy off Amazon.

Oddly, I was remembering what I told you as I was doing this. "slight tip in, aim at the last tack," I'll go shotgun if I don't talk myself down. I wasn't sippin' either, and that seems to help, actually. This stuff REALLY likes a tight fitup. The third pic had a nice fit at the back and bottom of the left side of the patch. Zip zip, done! Tom's coming out to grind welds tonight while I attempt the chicken salad outta chicken poo trick on the quarters. Wish me luck!