Leo gpa body repair

[fordgpa]

Hi guys ,
I have started ripping the tub off Leo gpa .It needs some [or major] bodywork [ a few things have to be redone ]
I started with sawing out the rear lower parts to make new repro for it.
It always looks strange body with big holes in it. :twisted:
Leo I hope we can rebuild the Kursk.



Peter

[leo verhagen]

Peter,

I'm full of confidence that the "Kursk" will float again so she can get a better name. I know you are a marvelous repair man on sheet metal. Thanks for all the work so far, I hope to see the next photos with less holes :shock:

[Donovan]

Leo,

This must have come from a museum...not enough holes in the hull :)

I have a lot more holes to fix than what you have, I can only imagine what it would be like to have a finished hull.

Good luck and Peter, don't forget to get them all!!!

Donovan.

[leo verhagen]

Hello Donovan,

After bringing the hull to the sandblaster I must say I was not unhappy with the result. There were not as many hidden bad spots as I was afraid of. But there is a lot of smaller and also some mayor repairs to be done to bring the hull back into a factory (or museum) shape.
Here are some photos of my hull after the sandblaster, the result look great, but if you really look close and do some measurements with other hulls then you will notice some work has to be done.





But this is how it started, especially the bottom rear was in poor (read almost missing) state :cry:

[Donovan]

Leo,

OK, now I believe it is a REAL GPA. Your rusted out rear end looks similar to mine and entirely more believable!!

I know exactly what you mean. When I had my hull sandblasted I discovered numerous holes that I am systematically trying to repair. Luckily, I have a welder who is meticulous, but slow. Hopefully by summer the hull will be finished and I can start the real assembly. Right now I have the frame and drive train and I am trying to see that everything fits where it is supposed to and that I have all the parts. Still have a few pieces missing but hopefully will get them or have them fabricated in the near future.

I will post some pictures when the hull is finished.

Good luck,

Donovan.

[fordgpa]

Hi all,

After removing a lot off the wrong made body work I started repairing the hull off Leo s gpa .
It is a lot off work and measuring and trying to make the parts as good looking GPA as they should be.
The left side is almost finished now ,everything is in its place .
See the pictures.



After this the other side has to be done. :roll:

Peter

[Donovan]

Peter,

Your efforts look great. I remember one comment my welder had as he tries to repair some of the hull. He indicated it would be hard to make some of the welds "look as bad as the originals." I told him I did not care as the welds were underneath the vehicle and "no one is going to be crawling underneath the vehicle."

Good luck, the work looks great!!

Donovan.

[jerome]

Dear Peter

Have you considered making a few extra panels? I will soon go through the same restoration process with my hull, and I know I will need those parts. I am probably not the only one as this is the weak part in the GPA.

Cheers

Jerome

[fordgpa]

Dear Peter

Have you considered making a few extra panels? I will soon go through the same restoration process with my hull, and I know I will need those parts. I am probably not the only one as this is the weak part in the GPA.

Cheers

Jerome

Jerome ,
The making off those panels was no fun :evil: , the point is .
When they made the GPA everything was forced to fit so I think every GPA is a little different in its measurements.
If you need them without the profile in it ,it won t be a problem Stephen makes them . :idea:
I think they are pressed in one piece.
I first had to make the profile in it,then force it back to the shape it needed to fit on the wheel side and the rear.
At the wheel side the steel was different shaped as at the back ,it was forced to fit at the production. :cry:
This made it a lot more difficult to shape and fit it. :?
The last part was shaped during the welding ,to make sure it connected without changing the schape off the inside fender. :D

Peter

[jerome]

Dear Peter

Thanks for the response. I guess, the more I learn about restoring GPAs the harder it looks ...

Cheers

Jerome

[fordgpa]

Hi some more pictures off the work on the body

[richardfs]

Great work,

I am looking forwrd to getting started on my hull in the New year.
Your sure make it look easy.

Having done this job once before I know it is not an easy job.
When I did my original GPA I had very little metal working equipment.
I use to cut away the rusted metal and then make a card board template. It was crude but effective.

I can see I am in for many happy hours with my grinder and welder once again.

Keep up the good work.

Best regards

Richard Sanders

[GlennV]

Hi Peter,

Great work on the 'ass' of this GPA :wink: (sorry for the expression !)

.... Really, it takes very good craftmanship to weld all the sheet metal in place without disturbing the original shape of the hull !

Just out of curiousity ....... Are you done ? Or is there more work on the hull ?

Beste regards,
Glenn

[fordgpa]

Hi Glenn, No I am not ready with the sinker or Kursk [nickname for Leo s GPA]
See pictures now the other GPA known badspots have to be done or redone.
Lots of work .
Peter

[fordgpa]

More progress is made best wishes for the New Year to all of you :lol:

Peter