drivers side quarter panel

CoryB · 11-14-2002, 10:18 PM

What tools would I need to remove the rear quarter panel? I noticed it was spot welded and a friend suggest to drill them out...Or, (un?)weld if off? I don't have any experience working with body parts...does anyone suggest I take it to a body shop instead...how much does that go for? Thanks.

gint · 11-15-2002, 04:37 AM

I'm going to attempt to cleanly remove quarter panels from the 72. I bought a spot weld cutter, but I haven't used it yet. It's kind of a funky little drill bit that looks like a 5/16" hole saw bit. If you attempt this I'd be interested in hearing about it. It will likely be a while before I get to try it out myself.

derek_sf · 11-15-2002, 08:45 AM

I tried to get a font fender off using the spot weld removal drill bit tool. I wasn't even able to undo one weld before my bit broke. maybe I bought a cheap one??

CoryB · 11-15-2002, 10:10 AM

I forgot to mention that I need to remove this quarter panel so that I can put another one on. IF I did drill it out, would it damage the exsisting body so that I wouldn't be able to re-attach the new panel....?

Jim Savage · 11-15-2002, 10:28 AM

Just drill through the center of the spot weld in the outer panel. Try, and I say try, not to drill through the underlaying panel. Take a small chisel and tap between the panels to relieve the panel from one another. There are "lots" of spot welds. You have your job cut out for you. If the replacment panel has holes where the spots welds were. Then just weld in the holes to attach. Body shop would charge mucho $ for this work.

Jim

Conrad W Peden · Conrad W Peden's Garage

Heres the best pic i have of one that was taken off with a drill bit. Sorry its kinda big

You can see in the foreground the lip that the fender is attached to. We didnt drill all the way through.

I suggest getting a Carbide tipped drill with a 135 degree point and a 'fast' drill. The fastest hand drill you got.

BTW... there were 130-140 spot welds on one of my rear fenders. Anyone else counted?

roadtrp204 · roadtrp204's Garage

If the old quarter is trash cut it off in pieces, grind down the mating surfaces, and plug weld the new piece on. Cutting all the spot weld is really only nessary if you intend to reinstall the old piece. Here is a link to study and understand how the quarter relates to all the other pieces. http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/Parts/Body/body_panels_rear_big.htm

CoryB · 11-15-2002, 05:33 PM

thanks guys, this really helps. what about the sail panel, is it connected the quarter panel or do you cut right under it?

gint · 11-15-2002, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the pic Conrad.