how do you remove sheet metal/quarter panels??

[White951]

I am thinking of buying a car that had an engine fire to part out. I have hand tools, but no specialized tools for removing sheet metal. What do I need to do this.

[mideastmafia]

u will need a weld remover tool. (a die cutter)

the quarter panel is welded on.


SHAUN

[White951]

Mideast,

How can I find where the seams are. Also, I am assuming I have to scrape off the seam filler stuff.

[mideastmafia]

go to a body shop and ask them how they would advise to do it.. if they are nice, they should be able to tell ya.


SHAUN

[Leigh 13]

The front fenders, hood, and doors should be pretty self-explanatory. The quarter panels are definitely going to be the hardest part...if you look there are no visable seams and the sheet metal wraps all the way around the back of the car.

Attached is a post I made a few months ago about taking off the front fender. Good luck-

- Leigh

I removed the fender on my '83 944 back in November, and it took about an hour doing it in my driveway in the dark. I'm not sure how different the procedure is for a later model.

You have to jack up the car and remove the front wheel first. I recommend giving the wheel well a thorough washing with a stiff brush to get out all the dirt and hardened crud, since you have to find and undo fasteners that haven't seen the light of day in a decade.

The row of bolts under the hood come out pretty easily, but the real ***** work is the bolts inside the fender closest to the door. There is a glue-like rubber coating that you have to chip off around the hex heads in order to remove them. There isn't a whole lot of space, so expect lots of bruised knuckles and cursing while you get maybe a quarter-turn of your socket wrench at a time.

The other difficulty is pulling off the fender at the top, where that pesky rubber stuff holds on and doesn't want to let go. You have to be patient to avoid bending the sheet metal, especially since you can never be quite sure if you've unscrewed all the bolts!

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Everybody in the world is bent.

[White951]

Thanks Leigh,

I figured the fenders whould be doable. The rear quarters will be the issue.

[p0r2chby]

This graphic may help in your quest to get at the rear quarters.

To do the work without major damage to the part you are trying to save, Id suggest investing in one of the specialty drill bit's that allows you to get at the spot welds. In some locations, you will need to use some sort of cut-off wheel or grinding bit. I think you will find its better to leave some spare metal on the parts and let the next guy in line cut back to the amount they need. Several car muscle car type mags have produced issues with body work tips and tricks and these would be a great reference if you can get them.

The graphic link I have provided helps to illustrate the final component size for the rear quarter panel (illust. 040 0097, item #2). Please note that it does include the window area.


http://www.lindseyracing.com/refs/p883.jpg

good luck and let us know how you are doing with the work...

James