Drivers Side Quarter Panel Nightmares

The drivers side quarter panel on this car really should be completely replaced… but we already did the lower rear section. Plus the “bead” down the middle is slightly different on the repro panel, so it wouldn’t match well with the door… so I guess we’ll just fix this bastard. For starters, the panel has a bit of a “bow” to it from being pushed in right here. I used a unispotter to weld these studs on, and then a slide-hammer to pull on it. This got it out pretty close, will have to level the rest with filler.

Pull out the dents with studs

So then I test for some rust again, and dangit, more rust! These holes could be welded up easy enough, but who knows what the rest of this thing is really like under there… I guess I might as well replace the entire wheel lip.

Uho, rust!

And its a good thing I did, kuz look at what was underneith! Yikes! No telling how long this would last before rust-bubbles started showing up under the paint. I tested the other side of the car too, poking at it with the awl, but it seemed to be solid.. so I’m goona gamble that the other side will be OK. This side, the drivers side, does seem to be the rusty side of the car, so I guess this shoudln’t be any suprise.

Shit the bed!