making hood hinge braces for a 1971 AMC Matador. the hinge mount points were damaged from seized hood hinges and we have to make reinforcement plates to stop the hood from kinking again.
Have done similar repairs for a few people in the past, usually Chevy pickups, NOBODY ever lubes their hinges! $$ to be made. Mine were not QUITE as show quality. (Also 25+ yrs ago) My BIL had a Matador about the same age with a BBC/Turbo 400. Great video as usual with the great explanation of the process and the mistakes made. Honesty, it's not just for Billy Joel. Thank You, Sir! Michael in Colorado.
Hi from Queensland Australia. Love your Newfie accent. Very rare for us to hear down under. First words we class you as Canadian, then no, Irish, then “oh yeah...Newfie”!
Very few people have both a high level of metal working skill AND the ability to explain it in simple, easy to understand terms. Tony shows amazing talent for both. Thanks so much. I can't tell you how invaluable your video lessons have been to me as I restore my own classic. I am sure that there are thousands more with the same experience. I always "stick around".......to see you did it!
I’m retired from the automotive business. I’ve worked in every aspect including auto body. The one skill that I wish I had was being a good fabricator. I could do basic patch panels etc; but nothing close to this skill level. My hats 🎩 off to you sir. 👍
Amazing how you make the parts you fabricate fit so perfectly. Now I can restore my rust bucket without buying most of the needed items rotted out of my 2003 Silverado, just from watching all your videos. Thanks for the education.
I always cant wait till you post new videos. I like watching you do your magic to these old cars. You are one of the best metal guys on TH-cam. Your craftsmanship is superior. I've learned a lot from watching you.
You do fantastic work, I love how you put those drip edges on and how you put those window frames in that's amazing work. Keep up the great work and God Bless you and your family. 💯👍👍🙏🙏✌😊✌
Geoff here, I own the Matador. You should have seen the metal work he did on the drip rail channels and one outer drip rail. The car had a vinyl top that turned everything around the edges to swiss cheese! You can't tell where he's been after he's done! Hell, he can't tell sometimes! He's a master at his trade and my car wouldn't be anywhere near it is without him. He's a good man but a great friend.
Oh, also great job showing the tools used. already fabricated a few and it makes the work so much easier. Did recently purchase a bead roller to make my trunk panels. Figured I could buy them for twice the price of the bead roller or buy the roller and have it around for other projects. So far, I love it but my son seams to love it more.
It never fails that some factory panel can't hold up to its purpose and needs fixing. With the work you did on that vehicle, you are getting closer to making a car from scratch.
Super job Tony. Glad you showed the drip rail where you cut away part of the roof. Need to do this on my67 camaro. As always, thanks for the help again.
Nice work as usual. Thanks so much for the video. You sure seem to save a lot of vehicles up there. I'm sure people appreciate your work who owned these cars.
The opposite of Cut & Butt , Fit & Function. It does what it's supposed to do , fits and functions as stiffener braces without compromising hood /fender gaps, seams and fitment. Once primed and painted, no doubt the bracing will look like it grew there. Good call Tony, no need in making a job any more complicated than it needs to be. 👍👍
Tips are always very good Tony. You are an inspiring to all off us watching your skills and magic touches with your fabrication skills.When you are doing it it looks very easy but when i do it there is always something that wat to go there own way.Keep up with your good tips and easy and understandable way off explaining what and how you are doing it.Greetings from Fanie from South Africa.
A '71 AMC Matador sold for $250,000 on eBay if you can believe it! Back in 1970 a friend of mine's granny bought herself a '69 AMX 390 4bbl she used to rip around in. Beautiful car, metal flake royal blue and white, w/white leather interior. She kept it immaculate via paying a pittance to her grandson every weekend to detail it.
Amazing! Ya read my mind, kind of. I needed to make strut tower braces to prevent problem others have had. I bought 16 gauge metal and was still "over thinking" it. Very similar solution. On line "gurus" said cut out the whole inner fender and buy new at $600/side +shipping from UK or Europe. Not in the budget. Thanks again!!
Fitzee, you need to start a online School of welding metal and body works without bondo! You are simply the best!! and have a very good flow with your presentations in the videos P.S. I'm serious.
Without bondo!! Now I wouldn't go that far. You need to put alot more hours into metal finshing to be able to do that. Nothing wrong with filler. It's a leveling tool!
I have a similar issue with the hood on the '62 Polara 500, except that it had been forced closed so much that the hood rib buckled and tore. I was fortunate to obtain another hood from a fellow in Long Island, NY that is undamaged, but it would be nice to salvage the one that's on the car presently. It would involve pressing out the wrinkle from the bend.
I've never been able to figure that one out. If I don't like a video I stop watching and move on. Why a thumbs down? More inclined to believe that (like me) they are using a tablet. It is so easy to touch the wrong thing without even noticing and presto you have given an unintentionally thumbs down.
@@avid6186 Well....at the time of my reply, the percentage of the thumbs DOWN to thumbs UP was 0.4761904761904762%. I call that a win for Mr. Fitzee 👍. Look at that...another thumbs UP 😂
Nicely done Fitzee. I haven't seen one of those hood scoops in person since I was 15, that was 50 years ago ! I can't imagine NL has lots of AMC parts floating around.
@@fitzeesfabrications I’ve got two old door skins with all the information for dimensions, I just need to do trial and error on getting the curves right,
@@OldJoe212 Oh yeah! I bet heavy wall pipe would work good! I was thinking to use an old socket but I have some pipe. I think I'll give that a try. Thanks for that idea.
Gotta love the Matador. I had two back in the late part of the last century both 72 two doors and one was a 401 the other 360. all most bought a third off of Eddie Stakes but wife gave me the evil eye. found out eddies was one number different from mine. bummer. sold then both in the late 2000s. Just had two many rides. All AMCs 78 V8 pacer swapped 304 for 401/727 still have my 59 2dr American S/W and a 70 AMX. by the way I see a AMX in the opening scenes but cant find it on any of your videos?? Love to see it since I'm doing the trunk. speaker tray , I know AMXs don't have a speaker tray but its that part under the rear window. and also the rear quarters. so far work is going well with your help. Thanks for showing me the way.
Love amcs. I have a few myself. The amx in the beginning is one I did a number or years ago. 69 390 4 speed car. After doing a number of the first gen amx 2 seaters. Have lots of pictures of them but no video.
I did a hood from a 1972 Roadrunner that did that but I pulled the skin off of it and made the plate on the inside after taking a dolly to it to make it look factory and no one new it was ever done because I took a drill bit and made it look like the factory welds around the edges
Encimar parches es un método del que siempre renegué pero la experiencia en el trabajo de carrocería me llevó a reconocer que hay determinadas reparaciones donde es la forma correcta de solucionar el problema, de hecho lo he usado. 👍
Great solution for those big old hoods. I'd be interested in seeing how you made up that custom spoiler for the front end! I have a 71 Chevelle and would like to make up a spoiler for under the front bumper.
Tony, I appreciate you showing how you pulled up the compromised metal to be better supported and in close to original location. How would you approach a small tear kind of a vee shaped ~1 inch length in a tailgate (near the top when closed) with no access to the back for hammer/dolly work to bend the metal back where it can be welded back together? Weld a cloths hanger wire and use a slide puller? 99 Tacoma so a bit newer and thin metal. I haven't figured out a good approach without cutting the torn section out, straighten/weld, then butt weld back into place. Tony tell me there is a simpler way I haven't thought of yet.
Have done similar repairs for a few people in the past, usually Chevy pickups, NOBODY ever lubes their hinges! $$ to be made. Mine were not QUITE as show quality. (Also 25+ yrs ago) My BIL had a Matador about the same age with a BBC/Turbo 400. Great video as usual with the great explanation of the process and the mistakes made. Honesty, it's not just for Billy Joel. Thank You, Sir! Michael in Colorado.
Another great video. I lost count of how many great tips you gave doing this project. Tomorrow I will be greasing all my hood hinges!!!!
I just noticed you are more on fixing vintage cars...you are really great and your work is nice, clean and smooth
Hi from Queensland Australia. Love your Newfie accent. Very rare for us to hear down under. First words we class you as Canadian, then no, Irish, then “oh yeah...Newfie”!
I never fail to learn something from your videos. I like how you show any problems or mistakes that pop up and how you treat them.
I love that you are so good with repairing old and car's.keep up the good work. I really injoy watching you doing the work
Nice to see a simple but necessary job on a beautiful car and also nice to hear a little story about the car.
Very few people have both a high level of metal working skill AND the ability to explain it in simple, easy to understand terms. Tony shows amazing talent for both. Thanks so much. I can't tell you how invaluable your video lessons have been to me as I restore my own classic. I am sure that there are thousands more with the same experience. I always "stick around".......to see you did it!
Well said sir!!!
Thanks once again for sharing. "Stick around" get's me every time
I think Fitzee is clairvoyant, he always knows what I need to work on.
This guy is amazing, I want to hang at the shop and have some drinks with him.
Tea maybe. I don't drink. Lol. But you can have the drink and I'll have the tea. Lol
Incredible metal work, just amazing being able to watch and learn from a true craftsman . Thank you
I’m retired from the automotive business. I’ve worked in every aspect including auto body. The one skill that I wish I had was being a good fabricator. I could do basic patch panels etc; but nothing close to this skill level. My hats 🎩 off to you sir. 👍
I always know I can hit "Like" before I even start watching.
👍
Amazing how you make the parts you fabricate fit so perfectly. Now I can restore my rust bucket without buying most of the needed items rotted out of my 2003 Silverado, just from watching all your videos. Thanks for the education.
Amcs never get the credit they deserve.good solid cars that got overlooked by all the big 3 stuff.
They were torky not dorky! Those 390s were monsters
Your a great body man Mr. Fitzee!! Fun to watch someone who knows his trade!! Thanks for your tutelage!!
I always cant wait till you post new videos. I like watching you do your magic to these old cars. You are one of the best metal guys on TH-cam. Your craftsmanship is superior. I've learned a lot from watching you.
You do fantastic work, I love how you put those drip edges on and how you put those window frames in that's amazing work. Keep up the great work and God Bless you and your family. 💯👍👍🙏🙏✌😊✌
Great audio and video, plus the usual simple and direct explanations. Thanks
Fitzee you are a master jedi when it come,s to metal work just amazing
Great work Fitzee and explanation of repairs/improvements!
Thank you again for sharing.
Your fabricating skills are amazing, Fitzee!!
I’m pretty handy, but if I had half your skill I’d never have to work a day the rest of my life. Very nice work Fitzee.
This was a great video. I love to see cars in progress more than finished. Probably why I have so many projects.
Another fine job and great lesson. If you ever get around to filming a drip rail repair (unless I missed one already) then I'm here for it. Thanks !
Geoff here, I own the Matador. You should have seen the metal work he did on the drip rail channels and one outer drip rail. The car had a vinyl top that turned everything around the edges to swiss cheese! You can't tell where he's been after he's done! Hell, he can't tell sometimes! He's a master at his trade and my car wouldn't be anywhere near it is without him. He's a good man but a great friend.
Fitzee's Pride and Dedication pays off again!
Another gem of a video!!
Many thanks Fitzee!👍
You deserve so many more subscribers, such a shame only a few of us are benefiting from your knowledge.
Oh, also great job showing the tools used. already fabricated a few and it makes the work so much easier. Did recently purchase a bead roller to make my trunk panels. Figured I could buy them for twice the price of the bead roller or buy the roller and have it around for other projects. So far, I love it but my son seams to love it more.
I've been watching your work for a while now I'm always inspired and using your tips on my 40 Plymouth Business Coupe..
Real work.........adding improvement and correction using skill . Can't beat the feeling of it!
It never fails that some factory panel can't hold up to its purpose and needs fixing. With the work you did on that vehicle, you are getting closer to making a car from scratch.
Thanks for your Videos, this gives me more confidence to tackle the rust spots on my car.
Super job Tony. Glad you showed the drip rail where you cut away part of the roof. Need to do this on my67 camaro. As always, thanks for the help again.
Thanks for this episode - it looks so easy - when YOU do it.
U make it look so easy.i watch and learn something from u every video.appreicate ur knowledge
I know it will be a good one, so I'll thumbs up before I even watch it.
As usually, another fine piece of work. Thanks Fitzee. Ronnie.
Nice work as usual. Thanks so much for the video. You sure seem to save a lot of vehicles up there. I'm sure people appreciate your work who owned these cars.
I am going to have to make myself one of those T dollies. That looks like a very useful tool.
That T dolly works perfectly and very easy to make. The moment i saw Tony do magic with his one imade mine.👍
@@stephanusjohanneshough2646 Magic is right. The man is a wizard with sheet metal.
🔔😎👍
You are a master craftsman.
You know what I like most about your videos?
I always catch myself smiling 😁😁😁😁
😎😎
The opposite of Cut & Butt , Fit & Function.
It does what it's supposed to do , fits and functions as stiffener braces without compromising hood /fender gaps, seams and fitment.
Once primed and painted, no doubt the bracing will look like it grew there. Good call Tony, no need in making a job any more complicated than it needs to be. 👍👍
Genius...A Pleasure To Watch Your Skillful Craftmanship...
Tips are always very good Tony. You are an inspiring to all off us watching your skills and magic touches with your fabrication skills.When you are doing it it looks very easy but when i do it there is always something that wat to go there own way.Keep up with your good tips and easy and understandable way off explaining what and how you are doing it.Greetings from Fanie from South Africa.
A '71 AMC Matador sold for $250,000 on eBay if you can believe it! Back in 1970 a friend of mine's granny bought herself a '69 AMX 390 4bbl she used to rip around in. Beautiful car, metal flake royal blue and white, w/white leather interior. She kept it immaculate via paying a pittance to her grandson every weekend to detail it.
Pure style and workmanship. Always enjoyable, Tony. Thank you.
Fantastic video and tips Tony!
I'm, a Ford guy. But, AMC is the next best thing. As always, Fitzee. Great job!
Beautifully done, Thank you Sir!!!
I thought the best tip was straightening the bend with the angle iron and the bolts.
👍👍👍👍
Yes, it was brilliant. Now I know how to fix my bent Volvo 240 hood. Thank you, Fitzee, sir.
I like that T dolly seems to come in handy in most of your videos. I'm making 1
I enjoy your tips and explanations of what your doing very educational....
You do incredible work Fitzy.
Amazing! Ya read my mind, kind of. I needed to make strut tower braces to prevent problem others have had. I bought 16 gauge metal and was still "over thinking" it. Very similar solution. On line "gurus" said cut out the whole inner fender and buy new at $600/side +shipping from UK or Europe. Not in the budget. Thanks again!!
Thats a sweet car , Its going to be a nice ride !!!!! Great video and great fab work as always !!!!!!
Fitzee, you need to start a online School of welding metal and body works without bondo! You are simply the best!! and have a very good flow with your presentations in the videos P.S. I'm serious.
Without bondo!! Now I wouldn't go that far. You need to put alot more hours into metal finshing to be able to do that. Nothing wrong with filler. It's a leveling tool!
@@fitzeesfabrications As long as it's not a foot thick like some people do!!!
That was a good idea! And it gave me a idea on how to fix a bent tokbox on my mustang! Thank you for that!
Very great work and idea Fitzee!!!!! Awesome sir!!!!
YOUR THE GOAT. GREATIST OF ALL TIME
FROM DETROIT AREA
Those re-enforcement plates are very well done and it will be a long long time before they ever bend.
I have a similar issue with the hood on the '62 Polara 500, except that it had been forced closed so much that the hood rib buckled and tore. I was fortunate to obtain another hood from a fellow in Long Island, NY that is undamaged, but it would be nice to salvage the one that's on the car presently. It would involve pressing out the wrinkle from the bend.
You do such amazing work!! I really enjoy your videos!!
Nice fix , nice car , great job Fitzee .
Excellent yet again with so much information & detailing. Would also like to see a drip rail video when you find the time, please ?
Another awesome video 👍👍
That's a slick fix 👍👍
An ingenious solution to a common problem. Thanks for sharing your solution & tips.
Stay Real.
Rick
The one thumbs down on this video at my time of viewing must be a miserable bloke to be around. These videos are like watching art being created
I've never been able to figure that one out. If I don't like a video I stop watching and move on. Why a thumbs down? More inclined to believe that (like me) they are using a tablet. It is so easy to touch the wrong thing without even noticing and presto you have given an unintentionally thumbs down.
@@avid6186 Well....at the time of my reply, the percentage of the thumbs DOWN to thumbs UP was 0.4761904761904762%. I call that a win for Mr. Fitzee 👍. Look at that...another thumbs UP 😂
Nicely done Fitzee. I haven't seen one of those hood scoops in person since I was 15, that was 50 years ago ! I can't imagine NL has lots of AMC parts floating around.
No and what is around I know who has it. I had a few amc's myself
Great video again - I am glad you showed it fitting on the car...
Thank you. Again for sharing your knowledge and metal experience Fitzee, maybe you can give me some tips and tricks in replicating some door gills,🇨🇦!
I make them off the car and installing them last in the door.
@@fitzeesfabrications I’ve got two old door skins with all the information for dimensions, I just need to do trial and error on getting the curves right,
So manny good tips I was woundering how you were going to make those bends to fit the ratios another good job Fitzees👍
Yay!
Fitzee a couple days early!
Thank you for the content good sir!
Thanks Fitzee. That "T" bar works great. I've seen you using it before in other videos and made a copy. Nothing I tried using before works as good.
I needed one too so I made one. A made mine with 1/2" on one side and 1" OD heavy wall pipe on the other. That gives me another radius.
@@OldJoe212 Oh yeah! I bet heavy wall pipe would work good! I was thinking to use an old socket but I have some pipe. I think I'll give that a try. Thanks for that idea.
WELL DONE and WELL EXPLAINED!!! I need to do the same thing on my '63 T'Bird!!!
Another great teaching video.Thank you very much.
This is an application that would be perfect for the use of 3 M Panel adhesive. It would never fail.
Currently working on 2- 1972 Matador 2 door Hardtops 👍🏼👍🏼
That is sweet. Love to see them
Wow I have to leave another comment , excellent work!
Gotta love the Matador. I had two back in the late part of the last century both 72 two doors and one was a 401 the other 360. all most bought a third off of Eddie Stakes but wife gave me the evil eye. found out eddies was one number different from mine. bummer. sold then both in the late 2000s. Just had two many rides. All AMCs 78 V8 pacer swapped 304 for 401/727 still have my 59 2dr American S/W and a 70 AMX. by the way I see a AMX in the opening scenes but cant find it on any of your videos?? Love to see it since I'm doing the trunk. speaker tray , I know AMXs don't have a speaker tray but its that part under the rear window. and also the rear quarters. so far work is going well with your help. Thanks for showing me the way.
Love amcs. I have a few myself. The amx in the beginning is one I did a number or years ago. 69 390 4 speed car. After doing a number of the first gen amx 2 seaters. Have lots of pictures of them but no video.
Very nice job done and explained once again, thanks.
Such a cool car! Great work!
Nicely done! Thanks for the tutorial Fitzee!
Master of his craft thank you for the video
Thanks for the show fitzee .
Great work as always love the videos..from grand falls Windsor nl..
Great job Fitzee!
Thanks Fitzee, that really valuable information.
Well Fitzee you only need less the 1000 people an you’ll reach 100K subscribers 👍👍 congrats 👏 great video
Thank you
Another great informative video! Thank you!
Awesome job as usual so look forward to these videos
I did a hood from a 1972 Roadrunner that did that but I pulled the skin off of it and made the plate on the inside after taking a dolly to it to make it look factory and no one new it was ever done because I took a drill bit and made it look like the factory welds around the edges
Nice tips and a stock looking reinforcement plate.
Awesome work Fitz!
You have taught me so much! Thank you!
Amazing, voice activated hood hinges!
Encimar parches es un método del que siempre renegué pero la experiencia en el trabajo de carrocería me llevó a reconocer que hay determinadas reparaciones donde es la forma correcta de solucionar el problema, de hecho lo he usado. 👍
Great solution for those big old hoods.
I'd be interested in seeing how you made up that custom spoiler for the front end! I have a 71 Chevelle and would like to make up a spoiler for under the front bumper.
Don't know if I have any pics of that one
@@fitzeesfabrications If you do another in the future, will you video it?
Tony, I appreciate you showing how you pulled up the compromised metal to be better supported and in close to original location. How would you approach a small tear kind of a vee shaped ~1 inch length in a tailgate (near the top when closed) with no access to the back for hammer/dolly work to bend the metal back where it can be welded back together? Weld a cloths hanger wire and use a slide puller? 99 Tacoma so a bit newer and thin metal. I haven't figured out a good approach without cutting the torn section out, straighten/weld, then butt weld back into place. Tony tell me there is a simpler way I haven't thought of yet.
I tried dent pullers. Welding steel on and pulling it. But it rearly comes up right. Most times I just cut it out. Dolly it on the bench and reinstall
Very good job really like your work
GREAT JOB DONE RIGHT THERE!