Part learning about the nature of the aftermarket skins, part learning in general, but overall it hasn't been near as hard as I thought it would be. After a lot of head scratching, fitting, cutting, trimming, measuring, cutting, trimming some more, the passenger side is ready to weld. I think it looks great. Found out the right side skin was not stamped perfectly so the window ledge was not useable because it was too low, so I had to weld the original window ledge back on (oops! ) Need to so some reconstruction behind the scenes first (replace the wheelhouse lip) and apply some rust protection to the wheelhouse before it gets welded. Better dig out all that seam sealer from behind where it attaches to the rocker or I'm gonna have a big fire on my hands.
Thanks y'all. Yup, the name's Matt. Eastwood calls them Intergrip panel clamps, that's where I got mine. May order another set, they are proving very handy for this. Though I wish the piece in the back that you have to slide in had a 90 in it so it would be easier to hang onto, it's not very long and easy to drop when you are trying to place the clamp. http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1159&itemType=PRODUCT
Matt, Do you think the lower parts could be used for patch work with good results. My car has some rust popping through here but a full NOS qtr is hard to find and very expensive. From the side marker light down
where did you get the quarter from? did it come as a full quarter with the flanges all the way around like the stock one has? is it stamped good as far as all body lines and contour? looks good
I got the quarters at a place here in KC called KC Auto Panel. They are made in the US at the same factory that makes probably everybody else's including Autokrappers. Overall quality I'd rate pretty good. The contours and body lines are good, but the lines are not quite as crisp as the factory ones. Not enough to jump out at you (I hope ). From my time working with it, and learning what I could and could not do, I would say it was intended for nothing more than a skin. It does come with a 'flange' all the way around where it wraps around the edges of the skin. This makes it appear that you could use it as a full replacement (front to back anyway) but the bends are not crisp, and it ends up being too long to weld to the door jamb and taillight panel. The exception is the wheelwell lip and the lower quarter where it joins to the trunk drop -- those appear to be useable (we'll see for sure when I start welding). The shape of the lower quarter contour is not the same as the factory quarters, I will probably dolly it into better shape so it can drain away from the weld at the trunk drop. All that said, yes I think you could use the lower portions for patch panels on a factory quarter. You may have to/want to do a little hammer & dolly work if you are replacing the contour that wraps around to the trunk drop.
