'76 DeVille - Body Assembly Manual?

[mgbeda]

Hi Everyone,

I am at the point in the restoration of my Dad's '76 Sedan DeVille where I've unbolted about everything that can be unbolted, and it's time to start cutting off the rusty body panels (yes, I know it's insane to go through so much trouble to restore a car like this when you can get nice rust free examples for two grand.  But I'm insane, so it's okay.)

What I would really love to have is some sort of manual that describes how all the individual pieces of sheet metal were welded together to make the body.  Does anything like this exist?  I have the Cadillac Chassis shop manual and the Fisher Body shop manual.  I even got an assembly manual for a '72 Buick, thinking the underbody would be pretty close.  It is, but the assembly manual assumes the assembly starts with a completed Fisher body.

Is there such a thing as a Body Assembly Manual?  Or would a parts manual, which I hear has many exploded views, have things broken down to individual sheet metal panels?

Thanks,

-mB

[Chris Conklin]

yes, I know it's insane to go through so much trouble to restore a car like this when you can get nice rust free examples for two grand.  But I'm insane, so it's okay

You're in the right asylum.

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

mB,

The 1975 Illustrated Master Parts Book has exploded veiws of the sheet metal panels. Check eBay for auctions of same.......And yes, you're in the right place for your state of mind

Ralph

[Philippe M. Ruel]

Throw two grands in a rust-free example and use it as a pattern...

[mgbeda]

Thank you for the advice, and for understanding my "insanity".  I've got my parts manual now, and it does help.

-mB

[RobW]

All you really need to do is find the factory seams, drill out the spot welds and seperate the panels with a hammer and flat chisel.
Are you buying used sections for parts? By sections I mean the way a salvage yard cuts a 1/4. You wind up with a third of the trunk floor and about a foot of rocker panel.

[mgbeda]

No, I got a parts car.  Almost rust free, but didn't run, and was less than the local junkyard wanted for one of their shells.

-mB

[RobW]

So you're cutiing up a rust free body to patch up a rust bucket?! You do realize that any time you cut and weld you're inviting rust? Why not switch interiors and mechanicals? Paint it whatever color the other is.

[grinch]

Rob-

We all have our own insanities.  Every time I go out to the shop I wonder what the hell I'm doing, pouring money into this car of mine.  mB's have already been excused.  Explaining them may take longer.