Thread: 77 RR - few Q's on DIY rebuild

Picked up a 77 Rangie in pretty bad shape. Bit of body rust and a sus tranny, engine leaks like crazy but goes ok.

Having a go at doing the body and interior up myself, got it gutted at the moment.

Long term plans -
replace 3.5 V8 with Holley carb with 3.9 V8 EFI
replace bad LT 4sp manual tranny with zf auto and late model LT230
paint car

Few questions:
going to welding night school to do a few patches for the body work, good to learn, might just use fibreglass instead as now I have stripped it down the rust isn’t as bad as I thought. But, on the body I have been wire brushing and paint stripping and priming as I go. The chassis looks fairly good with no holes and only surface rust. Can I just give it a good solid wire brushing to get the loose stuff off and paint it with a rust converter/primer, then coat in bitumised body sound deadener? Is the white knight stuff I already have OK for this?

I have searched the forums and a few people have mentioned a rust converter or having the lot sand blasted, which I don't wish to do.



Also, where is the best place is to order new seals - windscreen, door, tailgate and the rear window seals from? Is there a good local Australian place or what’s a good cheap internet/mail order from the UK?

On another side note, the 3.5 has I think a Holley 600 carb (I don't know anything about carbies at all it looks like a Holley 600 I saw on eBay) and needs a full strip down and at the very least new upper and lower gaskets. I have been offered a low K 3.9 with EFI for a good price - to me its the way to go but I am not a very mechanical person and to everyone else it might be the dumb choice?

PS – let me know if I have posted in the wrong spot or broken the forum etiquette!

Good luck, for your welding school project it is perfect, you just have to get it there.
I am not sure how effective it is, but you can get a smaller sandblasting kit from Supercheeeeeeeeep and the media that goes with it, it may be the way for you to go , for just the surface rust, then apply whatever conversion/primer coat you like.
I can't quote on the door seals etc, but clarke rubber or any of the moulding sellers have the stuff by the roll , thats if you want to DIY, just find the profile and cut and join.
Just stand by the experts for each area you are querying will be along soon,
and welcome.


john