Caddy side project

[Jaswan]

Nooks and caddys

[Tractor Dave]

I think the door hinge in post 45 was welded on by a man with a white stick using his feet

[Tractor Dave]

Still beavering away. Into the engine bay atm.




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[struikie]

What did you do with that long drill bit ?

JW

[Tractor Dave]

What did you do with that long drill bit ?

JW

It has a wire brush welded on the end. Handy for getting into the nooks.

[struikie]

ahhh I remember you posted that.

JW

[Tractor Dave]

Got a few more parts cleaned and painted.




And the gearbox got a good scrub.




I'm almost ready to start the few bits of welding required


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[Tractor Dave]

First patch is in.










The other side is a bit worse




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[Tractor Dave]

Onto the drivers side. After cutting out the rot I found some more holes.



These two are through to the inside.


Anyway, cut it all out and patches made up and weld through primer applied.


A few complicated shapes this side but got there in the end using hammer and dolly. This steel is 1.6mm and not so easy to shape.



I think this section on both sides rusted as water and mud had become trapped inside at the bottom of the sections where they meet. I have left a drain gap at the bottom and will add plenty of good cavity wax inside.
My welding isn't pretty but it's strong.


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[K Simmonds]

That's looking great Dave, Caddy's are never totally rot free, you were really lucky to find such a solid example to start with.

It'll be well worth all the effort you're putting in now, will last for another 40+ years, probably be better than when new.

[Tractor Dave]

I found some more holes.





But I found a good drivers door lower hinge that I can weld in. Happy face!



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[Tractor Dave]

I didn't have the confidence to do the hinge so my friend and neighbour (who is far better at welding than me) came over to give me a hand.



We drilled out the spot welds on both the car and the spare hinge.

Then carefully measured and cut out a section to weld in.



The old hinge was very rusty inside.




I cleaned up inside the bottom of the A pillar whilst I had access and treated some rust at the bottom. Then it got a good hoover and some weld through zinc primer before it was closed up.




The new hinge has tack welded in position and we fitted the door to check its position. We are good.


Then it was a matter of finishing off the welding.



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[K Simmonds]

Looking great Dave as always, you certainly are very thorough and that will show up in the end result.

Have you decided on a colour yet? There's a few 1980's VAG paint's that would suit it well. However my choice would probably be Oak Green, that really is a lovely colour and looks fantastic on car's with proper lines such as MK2's and Caddy's.

[Tractor Dave]

Thanks Kit.
I've not made a final decision re colour. The car did come with a new 5l tin of the original green so I'm tempted to use that and save a few pounds

[struikie]

Brave stuff!

JW