To Weld Or NOT to Weld

Gents:

I need your expertise. I'm in the process of getting the eng. compartment down to bare metal, and I'm looking at a WHOLE bunch of HOLES...!

Every episode of OVERHAULIN' I see, Mr. Fooze has had the firewall smooth as silk. Now, I ain't no Chip Fooze, but I think this firewall and engine compartment could be cleaned up to look pretty good.

There are a couple spots on the '65 firewall that I have a question about. The photo depicts the car on it's right side, so don't get dizzy tryin' to figure out what I'm attempting to show.

#1. This is the area where the brake line feeds the rear and front axles. Could this not be reduced in size?

#2. A large hole/opening just ahead of the centerline of the front axle. Is this perhaps, to assist in setting the alignment? If not, it could be closed up, perhaps.

#3. On the firewall, a small rubber "door" covered this up, but it's open to the inside of the car. Heater hoses...? I will be running an aftermarket heater, and I've seen several photos of '65 Mopar, where this is just left open. I'd like to weld that one up too.

4. Not seen in the photo, is a fourth opening in the firewall, dead center that had a plastic insert [just below the hood line]. I have no idea what that was for. I screwed up on not taking a whole bunch of photographs BEFORE I started tearing her apart, but, that's water under the bridge. Several photo's I've seen, simply show the plug.

If Mr. Fooze [I love that guy and the stuff he does] and company read this post, they might have some ideas on cleaning up this area of the car, but in the meantime, I'm hopeful I can depend on my friends at forbbodiesonly for some suggestions.

1 and2 are for access to align the car, not only do you need them but when the engine is in you don't really see them. #3 is I think for the clutch rod but I'm not fimiliar with your year.

Not many holes are there you don't need, but since I like the original look I guess I've never thought about it much.

#3 is simply covering a drain from the cowl so things like leaves can me extricated. Don't know about #4 without seeing it. Been to long.

Ok, thanks. That makes since, as #3 was FULL of leaves ... >)

Rather than weld anything at this point, probably would be best to just weld up the holes where the original heater was, and forget my other ideas.

Leave 1,2,3 as they are, weld up #4, not needed for anything.

I agree. After looking at the post, and the comments, I realized I should have done my homework. #4 will be welded up, the others will be left as they exist.

Don't weld up the shock hole!!!lol!!!

Here is what I did to my 64 Sport Fury. I will not be using a heater and using an auto tranny. Electronics will be inside with me and I am not sure where I will punch out the holes for wiring. With this economy, I am forced to hold back on more work till the end of the year and the car is scheduled to go back in the paint shop for a little more work within a month or so. Some people like the smooth look and some hate it. Lift off glass hood too !

Cleaned up the cowl and no wiper arms either !!

Very very nice. Clean and straight, that's what I'm lookin' for. I am going to assume, this is a race car. No color selection for me as yet, but I need to make that decision pretty quick [I worked as a automotive painter for several years in my other life..!] and I'll be doing the paint work. Probably a two tone, but that too, is still up in the air.

Thanks for the post...that gives me some encouragement.

Moose et all: After seeing your outstanding inner fender wells, I'd come to the conclusion, this is what I wanted. While it's different in style, your ideas set me in motion to do something along the same lines.

I've only completed one side so far, but I'm pretty happy with the result. The firewall will also be cleaned up as well, all I need now, is some time.

I did get the roof panel stripped to metal and sealed, and the outside of the right front has also been stripped down to bare metal and sealed. Here are a couple shots of the drivers side inner fender well.

Looks great! Nice and smooth.

I dig the louvers, looks sweet!!!!