Quarter Panel Replacement Question

[mrr1999]

Hey guys-

I need to replace a QP on my Camaro and I had a question. After stripping the car down to bare metal, I notice that the lead seam on the sail panel is not there. Its one solid piece going into the roof. I know the previous owner had it replaced once in the 70's , but that was grafted in at the body line down by the door.

My question is, since the replacement panel is beveled at the top where it mates with the roof, and the current panel doesn't have a seam, will I have a problem joining them together? Without the lead seam, the roof doesn't have a matching bevel for the new QP to mate with.

Thoughts? Thanks!

[BobK]

I'd say you'll definitely have a problem. Do you have any pics of what's there now? It almost sounds like someone welded a patch in to span the recess that normally gets leaded, and did a good enough job that you can't find the weld seams. If that's the case, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to tie the new quarter in.

[Rick D]

It's no big deal, just cut the old qtr lower then where it meets the roof from the new qtr. Now instead of having the beveled area you can cut out the step in the new qtr and seam them together this way, kind of like a butt weld. But I would make a sleeve to go behind where the seam will be. In the collision industry today all the qtrs are butt welded when the qtrs are replaced and they are done with out the sleeve behind it. Hope this makes sense? If not I can but some pictures to show what I'm talking about?

[mrr1999]

Makes sense. After the old panel is removed, weld a plate (sleeve) behind the cut that overlaps the new panel, then butt weld the seam, right? Maybe some pics if you don't mind, thanks.

The bigger question is...how badly can I mess this up? It's my 1st QP re-skin so I'm already questioning my abilities.

Oh well. Only one way to find out :_paranoid

[elitecustombody]

If you can weld, I'm sure you can handle it. It's not that hard, that piece will help keeping any ghosting showing. Make sure you have good penetration,because that's what you will rely on once the welds are ground and sanded smooth.