71 Rear Quarter panel Replacement

[Walko]

Has anyone removed and replace the rear quarter panels.

Is this a job that beyond the scope of a DIY.

Any thoughts.

Michael

[Matt Holcomb]

Michael,

How good are you at cutting metal?

[Walko]

well it depends whether it is with the oxy or angle grinder

Michael

[Biff]

I asked this same question about a year ago, didn't get much response, only advise was to stay away from the rain gutter. Basically you make two cuts- one on the door jamb near the bottom of the window and the other at the rear most tangent of the rear of the window to just below the rear end of the rain gutter. What I didn't like is your putting on a new quarter and your not using the whole thing! But I guess the rain gutter is a real pain in the butt! Good Luck, I haven't gotten to mine yet. Let me know how it goes. Biff

[Walko]

I have seen that is where a lot of people cut them but I actually wanted to replace teh whole quarter.

I will post pics.

worst case I stuff it up and i have to pay for the panel shop to rectify it.

Michael

[project 911]

Michael-

I did this on my 71. No previous experience on my part. It was alot of work breaking loose all the spot welds, and I found that doing the part above the window and down the pillar was not going to be good. I cut the panel from the back of the window radius up to the gutter just a few inches before the end of it. Welding the new panel along that gutter was the worst. I'd stay away from the gutter as much as possible. I drilled lots of holes along the edges to weld through (spot welds). I also did the rockers, and one of the big lessons I learned was to leave the doors on for all of this. When I got done I had trouble with the door edges aligning to the rocker and quarter so I had to grind off welds and get the crow bar out. I used a cheap wire feed welder.
There is a Haynes publication called Restoration Manual Porsche 911 that shows the whole process. Not great, but a big help anyway.

Let me know if you'd like more details.

[Walko]

Steve,

Thanks for your insight.

The haynes manual is a great help however it I felt it didnt have enough close up pictures.

I have the doors off the car at the moment as it is a bare shell sitting on four jackstands.

I will put them back on to assist with the alignment of the panels.

Michael

[project 911]

Michael-

You're right about the manual being a little light on detail. Having the doors off created more of a problem with the rockers than the quarters, but I'd hang them before you finish welding everything up on that end. If you're keeping your existing rockers, you'll probably be ok with the doors off. At least working on the quarters was more pleasant than doing the front pan replacement on my back...

[eimkeith]

do you need quarters? I have them on my '72, one of them was a replacement. they are going to be for sale.

[Walko]

I do need two quarters

how much send me a PM

Michael

[Biff]

I need a passenger side, but the one you have would probably have the oil door for the '72, correct? Biff