Used the chemical stripper today and it's not much help. Different than sanding, but as big a PITA. Went back to sanding, and got hood, hood sides and both front doors done today. Primer and catylist arrived from Summit, along with my vacuum gauge and new valve cover gaskets with metal inserts.
Summit is really cheap priced on these gaskets compared to everyone else; only $11!

 

Getting to a point I can see the end in sight! Got the car mostly sanded, with just the front fenders to finish. I'll take turkey day off, and maybe finish Friday. Then start masking and if the weather permits I'll shoot epoxy primer this weekend.
After that I have to decide if I'll block out the body and paint it, or turn it over to the pros. I'm gonna have the guy who painted the Camaro stop by next week and look it over to give me an estimate. If it's too much to swallow I'll probably give it a try myself. Still haven't narrowed down the color, but getting closer!

 

Before any painting or primer I needed to get the latch arrangement done on the frontend. I had 3 Dzus fasteners on each fender that worked well, but didn't look clean enough for me. I decided I'd remove them and weld up the holes, then come up with a better system.
Once the holes were welded I traced the fender opening on cardboard and made up 4 pieces of 16ga. steel to reinforce the two halves of the fenders. My cheap metal brake wont bend the heavy metal, so got my anvil out and beat it into submission on the edge.


Once I had the 90 bent I checked fit and shaped them on the belt sander to get them close.


Got all 4 fitted and tacked them in one at a time, then ground all the welds.
Top side:

Bottom:



Ground down the filled holes from the old Dzus fasteners and it's ready for a latch system, and alignment pins.

Hopefully this will be quick to unlatch and also keep the fender halves lined up well.
Anyone have any suggestions for a latch system let me know! I haven't settled on one yet, but have a couple ideas. Might install a regular hood latch on each side, with a release handle on the latch. Hopefully if I slot the holes I can line it all up easily. Or may go with late 20's Ford hood latches concealed for holding it closed.

 

Problem solved! Found a couple old Datsun/Nissan PU trucks at the wrecking yard and they have a little compact hood latch that looked perfect. Bought one for each fender, and after removing the lower fender I clamped the two halves together and drilled a center locating hole through both.
Once the hole was drilled I opened one to 3/8" for the pin, and one to 1.25" for the latch. Drilled the mounting holes in the bottom half for the latch plate and mounted the pin in the top. I need to use the rotary file to open up the latch hole even further, and then space the latch down 1" to get the adjustment within range for the pin.
Ground off the clip for cable connection and threaded the tab 1/4-20 to add a bolt for manual release. I can reach inside and release each side and the spring will pop it up, then it can tilt open.

 

very nice work!! I just love a good build thread and fab work

 

Thanks jakeb!

 

Removed the pin today and threaded the shaft all the way down with a 7/16-20NF die. I couldn't see any way or reason to use the spring and cup on the pins, so I installed and adjusted the pins without them. Once I could push the lower fender piece on the pin and make it latch I reinstalled the lower fenders loosely with bolts to the body. Then I closed the frontend and latched the two fender latches. Adjusted the fenders to align with the uppers and tightened the lower sections to the body.
With the lowers tight, and the frontend latched the upper and lower fenders fit so well that it feels like one piece again! I can reach inside the fender and release the latches, then tilt the frontend up. When closing the pins come down and sit on the lowers, then I just jiggle each side until they line up, and push down slightly to latch them, almost like closing a hood.

Got the fenders stripped today, so I'll go ahead and do some filler around the welds and the gap, then it's ready to spray epoxy primer!

 

Nicely done with the latches! If you kept the springs on, wouldn't they help to keep tension on the latches and eliminate the chance of rattles between the panels, like it would with a hood?

 

Once it's painted I'm adding a dense foam strip on the two halves to make sure I don't get squeaks and rattles. The catch side of these latches is a cup that the large part of the pin fits snuggly into, so it wont allow much movement. The foam will stop any excess up/down movement.

 

Nice work Val. Deff. using your noodle on that one.