Out of curiosity, how hard is it to hang replacement quarter panels?(yeah I know this depends on experience to a large degree...) I have some welding skills, and my dad has alot of welding skills and can help me. I was planning on buying the replacement skins from autokrafters. Anyone have any tips or tricks? Even better, would anyone happen to have any URLs to some sites with good closeups of the whole process? Any similar car would work fine. I just want to see the steps involved. Thanks, AC BTW, Im new here. Very cool site.
Here's how to skin a Mustang ... it would be similiar ... lots of butt welding involved .. http://homepages.together.net/~manycj/mustang/mustang4.htm
Thats a pretty good how-to. I just wonder if I will have to get one of those wheelhouses...I also wonder what they use to line up the panel...eyeballing it? Anywho, Im sure it will all become obvious once I start on mine. Thanks. AC
Best advice I can give to a novice on this is to go to your local library. I have done that so many times in my life and ended up being able to accomplish anything I wanted to do. Study, plan, work the plan. First time might not be the best, but with experience brings quality and job satisfaction. Dan
In case anyone is interested, here are the best pics I could get of the car right now, Its buried behind a truck bed, a few lawn mowers, and other assorted junk At least it gives a general idea of the cancer spots. AC
If it's just the lower quarters, I would suggest just replacing those sections. It'll be easier in the long run... Good luck on the project! -Corbin
Actually, I havent sanded enough to know yet, but I think its the lower quarters, VERY little around the wheel well below the body line, and the bottoms of the dog box (or whatever its called...the piece behind the door and in front of the rear wheelwell). I plan on buying the autoKrafters skins and replacing everything from the body line down. Either that, or do it in pieces using just the bottom of the quarter, a piece for the fender lip, and a piece for the dog box. I think that it would be easier just to hang it all in one piece though. Suggestions on this? Thanks, AC
Just replace the bad parts. The replacement panels are not exact fit replacements but if you use parts of them they will work fine. Do one side at a time so you have the other side as a reference for measurements.
before i cut anything i always put the replacement skin on top of the old one and put a few pop rivits to hold it that way i can make sure thats were i want it before i start cutting plus it acts as a reference point. just remember to always cut long its easy to cut more metal, than add more metal
The tip about lines being hard to match on repop panels is good. I was fortunate that the panels I got from my supplier were a great fit. I've heard all too many horror stories about hanging quarters and them not lining up well. If you do decide to do the repairs piecemeal, make sure you have nothing but good metal around where you are welding in the patch. Always better to cut out too much than not enough and leaving rusty metal in your work.
