I have a 67 stang that I am working on. It had been hit in the front at some point and then straightened back out instead of replacing the damaged parts. So my fender aprons up to the shock towers are all wrinkled and need to be replaced. I tried to start by removing the radiator support, which is also fairly damaged, but find that it is spot welded in like crazy. Some of the welds are in places that make it IMPOSSIBLE to drill out. Is there another way of getting the radiator support and fender aprons out that is easier than drilling a hundred spot welds?

The fender aprons against the firewall are also damaged, the hood hinge mounts are destroyed, so how can I get these pieces out most efficiently?

Also as far as drilling out the spot welds, I dont want to drill through both pieces of metal, just drill through enough that the apron pops loose, that way I dont have to spend a ton of time filling holes everywhere. Is there a tool for this? Or a technique? What is the best way to do this?

Thanks in advance for your help....

Brandon

 

if you go to a welding shop they should be able to get you a special drill bit made specifically for drilling out spot welds, it's basically a flat tipped drill bit with just a little point on it to keep it centered and stuff

 

There is a special bit used to remove spot welds and after you'll have to clean the rest with a grinder. The only other ways are to cut the metal with a torch or to use a sawzall or grinder to cut it out.

 

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I hit a parked car on the RH side of my 1965 coupe. The fendor apron and radiator support along with the fendor have to be replaced.

Taking off the fendors, both sides, made me take a look at all the splash sheilds also, they will be replaced.

I used a sawsall to remove most of the support and apron. That makes it eaiser to get to the welds. They do sell spot weld removers for around $30, but someone told me I would need more than one because there are so many welds on the pieces.

Then I used a crowbar and hammer to remove what was left after we cut it out. It worked, but it is not pretty.

Do I recomend it?? No. But sometimes you have no choice. Or in my case, $$$

Good Luck