Older quater panel replacement job

Arrowhead

Arrowhead

Oldtimer
Started a new project, a '69 Cutlass convertable. I'm just doing the bodywork and paint for a friend of mine. He had quater skins replaced by welding shop about 15 years ago and then just used filler to level it out. It sat in a storage shed ever since so I've stipped the panels of all old filler and primer down to bare metal. The shop just overlapped the panels by about 3-4 inches and welded them on. A lot of filled had been added to try and smooth it out.

I'm wondering it it's worth slicing though the two layers and butt welding the new and original panels or if that will just make a bigger mess out of it. The alternative is to just trowel on filler and do the best I can to get the contours right.

Anyone try this before?

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You got to cut that loose brother.. No way around it for a good job in my opinion..
 
I've done similar, I had a 68 GTS 383 Dart awhile back that someone grafted a rear portion of quarter on and lapped it by 4 inches. I made a cut through both panels with an air saw, corrected any irregularities with hammer and dolly and butt welded it back together so I could finish off inside and out. It worked fine. Your Cutlass is a mess though, it looks like they really warped the crap out of the original quarter when they welded it. There is rust between those two layers. The quarter would have t come completely off for you to straighten the warpage on the original panel, then reinstalled and trimmed for a butt weld.
 
Thanks, that's what I thought. I'll probably have to let the owner make the call on that one, not sure he'll want me to slice it all apart. But filler isn't cheap nor my time to spend trying to sculpt filler and it would be better spent reworking the metal.

Your right Bob, the panels are pretty warped, not even sure what it's supposed to look like.
 
It will be one big sculpture if it isn't cut and re-welded. Plus you never know whats under it...few months down the road could start bubbling and what not. Honestly you will have the same or more time in sculpting it with filler and hoping nothing happens as you would cutting it and knowing it is a safe repair.

This is one of those situations where you should keep YOUR best interests in mind. When it's done and something happens, guess who he will tell did the car? He certainly won't let them know he cheaped his way out if he chooses to just fill it up. I know you say he is a friend, but those are usually the ones that do you in. Business is business!! Hope he lets you do it the right way.
 
I'd try and find complete quarters if they can be had, get rid of ALL the stuff that they messed up.
 
Unfortunately, this kind of metal work looks familier. I bet we could start a whole sub-section under the metal working section for this kind of stuff.
 
jeremyb;15762 said:
. . . This is one of those situations where you should keep YOUR best interests in mind. When it's done and something happens, guess who he will tell did the car? He certainly won't let them know he cheaped his way out if he chooses to just fill it up. . .
Click to expand...

I agree completely. You must ask yourself how much is your reputation worth? I lose many jobs because I refuse to put out substandard work and send them to Maaco. :)
 
Saw it apart and hammerweld it back together then! I hate to think of what the insides of the wheel wells look like, though...
 
Is there is a major difference in the coupe quarters? I would think they would be the same for that model year.
On the 65 Buick convertible I had to get a quarter from the salvage yards so no repos were available. Junk Yard Dog and similar sites will search salvage yards and get you some quotes.
Of course no matter which way you go there will be a good deal of work involved in straightening that car out. Always harder to redo someone's hack work.
 
Turns out there was quite a bit of overlap so cutting and rewelding looks like a good alternative. It's making a big difference and comming out much nicer. Now if I can keep from turning it into a washboard rewelding it back together!!!

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Well, the quarter panels were a mess, they had been cut off another car and grafted on this one. So there was 40 years of dents and dings all over them that had to be repaired in addition to rewelding the seams. The trunk lid even required trimming to fit right, not sure why. The back half of the the car is done, ready for paint after a final blocking. The rest of the car is in great shape and just needs some minor reapair and then priming/blocking. He's going to do the engine and drivetrain and bring it back in the fall so I can finish the body and paint.

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Great Job! That quarter panel mess looked just like what I had on this 69 GTO a guy brought into me. They want to do all this work themselves, then at some point realize they can't do it. Then they want guys like us to finish it.
 
The contours of those rear quaters are very difficult to get right. There's a lot more filler in there than I'd like, but my metal working skills are not there yet still.
 
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