I would very much appreciate a little friendly advise on how to approach and tackle my rusty quarter panel project. As you can see there's rust in the outer skin, the trunk drop, and the lower area of the wheel well/tub. I picked up a real nice rust free quarter from a guy on ebay, but I'm not sure how to execute it's installation. Should I start cutting the spot welds on the donor piece, and weld the individual parts in separately? Or would it make sense to try and weld them in as a unit? I've tried to do a search on the subject, but haven't found anything useful. Thanks Matt W
I would mock them in place separately and then when everthing is fitted together tack weld and re-evaluate before final welding. If you aren't replacing the entire quarter you have to be carefull when replacing material above the belt line and trying to marry it up to existing metal. The existing metal can "oil can" and pop out of shape when you cut out the lower portion. Hope that made sense.
Thanks for the advise. I kinda figured that taking the new quarter apart was the way to go, I've spent the last 2 hours drilling out spot welds and trimming everything to fit. So far I've done a pretty darn good job (if I do say so myself). Hopefully by this afternoon I should have it all mocked up and ready to tack weld. Since we're on the subject of panel replacement, has anyone on the forum ever used the no weld patch method? Before I bought my mig welder I ordered a rivet kit from eastwood that is especially for patch panels. It came with some flanging pliers, some dimpling pliers, all sorts of clekos, and some panel adhesive. I've never used the kit, but it seems to be a pretty good idea. At leased you wouldn't have to worry about heat warping the metal like I usually do when welding. Cheers
I just stripped down my used torque box the same way you are stripping down your quarter. Then you can install it back to your car like Ford did using the same spot weld holes. I have both sides of my quarter bottoms to do the same way as you are doing, by using good used non-rusted quarters. I also bought the flanging pliers from Eastwood and intend on giving them a shot. I'm going to be able to attach my quarter bottom just below the body seam so the seam strength will still be there to hold it all together - I hope. I'm still going to try to weld them through multiple 3/16 drilled holes if I can get the flanged overlap
If you decide to rivit the panel in place...Make sure the rivits are steel not aluminium. The steel ones wont promote galvanic corrosion.
Once you get good at it Matt, or just need practice, you can do mine for me lol, thats my next undertaking after the interior is done.
I have used the panel adhesive. O.K. for areas where the body work won't show....like a pinch weld. I would never use it in an area where body work is required. It expands and contracts at different rates than metal...and will show through the paint.
