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Right Quarter Panel
replacing the lower quarter panel
a quarter for your thoughts?
More paint removal revealed several holes along the bottom of the right rear quarter panel and lower portion of the wheel opening, so out came the cutting wheel once again!
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removalHere are the nasty bits removed and added to the growing pile of rusty removed panels.
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new piece fabricatedHere is one of the pieces I fabricated. This will replace the rusted piece from the lower wheel opening. The outer skin of the quarter panel will be welded to it.
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Fabricating the lower quarter
Not the best photo, but this shows the replacement piece I made, including the lip on the rear where the rear "wing" (aka fender) mounts. It then folds under the body, and finally the "flange" welds to the inner rocker panel. I find that marking my measurements and notes right on the metal helps me keep my "mind's eye" on what the piece should look like and how it will be fitted. I use things like arrows to line up the panel to the body, x's to show areas that will be fitted beneath the original panel, etc. I don't like to butt weld, so I create lips and flanges to go under or over existing panels to make it easier to weld them together.
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Here is the new piece(s) welded in and the final result after several hours of filling and forming. I actually did this area TWICE - I had the first one nearly ready for primer when I noticed that it dipped down about one-half inch, so I cut it all back out and started over. On my second attempt, I clamped a three-foot-long level to the bottom of the body under the door to use as a straight edge and guide for reinstalling the panel.
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