After replacing the quarters on my car, I have a problem with the deck lid fit on the left side. I've replace the deck lid with another repop which improved the fit. The left side gap is .195 the front and .400 at the rear with the right side at .200 front ad rear (Yes I'm using calipers for this). I've already done a lot of metal work on on the front corner radius to get a fit there.
deck lid gap (http://groups.msn.com/SarasPlaceofPictures/67camaro.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=97)
I still to to fix this gap. any ideas out there?

I hate to tell you this but the trunk lid should have been on when you replaced the quarters. With the gaps on both sides I doubt you can fix this short of cutting the quarter panel at the tailpan and the filler behind the rear window to trunk panel. If anyone has a better idea I would love to hear it.

That masking tape makes it hard to see the gap!
You could go throu 5 decklids and find each one fits a tad different then the other.

A fix would be adjust the decklid til you are happy with one side of the gap. On the side that doesnt fit you can file down the edge to increase the gap. Then on areas where the gap is too big add metal with your MIG. Just place small tiny tack welds along the edge. Once the area is welded take grinder with 36 grit and just knock the very high spots off. Dont use it to make the final shape. Then you can use a bastard cut file to shave the weld down. Once its close switch to 180 grit sandpaper on a rubber sanding block.

The problem is being they are all repro you don't know what is off, the deck lid or the quarter! I would vote for the quarter being the most "wrong" being it is the hardest to repro. In that case, if it fits the tail panel as good as it looks like it does, if it is TIGHT up on that pinch weld on the tail panel, you have no choice. You will have to cut a slice along the top at the edge (REAL CLOSE, about an 1/8" from the edge) and spread it over until the gap is perfect and weld the seam. I have done it and works very well.

Originally posted by DanBnis:
I hate to tell you this but the trunk lid should have been on when you replaced the quarters. With the gaps on both sides I doubt you can fix this short of cutting the quarter panel at the tailpan and the filler behind the rear window to trunk panel. If anyone has a better idea I would love to hear it. I agree. When I put on both quarters and taillight panel on my car I couldn't tell you how many times I took the hatchlid on and off to check gaps. I had to cut out a thin slice out of my NOS quarters and then butt weld the pieces back together to get them to fit better and also had to take a homemade slide hammer type tool to pull over the weatherstrip channel in a few spots. I also had to rebend and do some hammer and dolly work on the folded in lip on my taillight panel where it met against the quarter panel. I wanted my panels to fit real well and after looking at an original car the fit in that area was not as good as what I wanted but it was probably within the factory tolerances for the time is was made and what was passed off to the customer.
If it was me I would spend the time to make it right. If you have to cut into part of the car then that's what has to be done. You hope you will never have to put on a different trunk lid but if the car ever gets in an accident the body work should include making the gap even like it was originally.
Jim

"If you have to cut into part of the car then that's what has to be done. You hope you will never have to put on a different trunk lid but if the car ever gets in an accident the body work should include making the gap even like it was originally".


Jim, that is exactly my point. You "modify" the WRONG part not whatever you want to. With this situation without bolting on a nice original decklid, who knows exactly what is wrong. That would be my problem with this repair. If you can't really find out what it is, do what it takes to fix it. If you need a decklid in the future, you can just make it fit like you are doing now is the way I see it. You have to do SOMETHING, you don't just toss the car in the crapper right?

Anything is better than that.

Martin has some great advice. I installed repop quarters on my car which were'nt too bad, but still spent a lot of time to get all the gaps and lines perfect. With mine, the trunk was decent, but the side gaps needed some help as did the back edge of the deck lid which was 3/16 too long. We took a die grinder with a cut off wheel and sliced the top edge of the quarter panel 1/8" along the inside edges of the quarters just along the edges of the trunk lid. Then we spread that area until it closed the gaps to a consistent line on each side of the trunk. Once that was done, we stitch welded the gap until most of it was covered by doing a few passes and keeping things "cool". Once we were happy the weld was ground smooth and then we filled the area with USC "All Metal" filler. The results were excellent, my trunk lines are flawless, and heres a couple shots for proof. Hope this helps you out as we all know pictures are worth a 1000 words. http://www.x33d80.com/images/fp_1/MetalWork.jpg
After slicing and closing gaps to perfect lines.

http://www.x33d80.com/images/fp_1/trunk_lines.jpg

Cheers......Graeme

Well as you know, the gaps should of been in place when the quarters were put on. my .02 cents worth. 2 options, cut the rear body panel at the seam where the 1/4 and body panel come together and bring the 1/4 to the rear body panel then weld it all back up, keeping in mind there is seam sealer between the 1/4 and body panel. It will help you hide the repair or try welding some coat hanger into the gap of the 1/4 and close it up that way, then finish it in your favorite plastic. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Jim, It isn't that the quarters were nessisarily hung wrong (though just by the fact that the decklid was off, was wrong) it is that the quarters were made wrong. That is where we get into what I was talking about, WHAT IS WRONG? If the relationship between the rear body panel and the quarter around that corner are correct, you certainly don't want to modify it there. You want to CORRECT the mistake, not make a new one.

If and I say IF because I don't know. IF that area is tight (installed correctly) and the shape of the quarter is correct there with the relationship of quarter to rear panel is correct, than the splicing of the top and closing up the gap is the best way.

That is of course if you can't correct the problem with another lid! But from my expericance with aftermarket/repro parts, they are ALL wrong to some degree. So the "bestest" way is to close the gap and get on with life.

That is my opinion my logic as to why. smile.gif

I had the same problem. But I had re-pop (Goodmark) decklid, both ¼’s,, and tail as well as a salvage rear filler/hinge assembly! My gaps were all hosed on the sides, but unbelievably, the top was ok. Wew. I’m sure the sides were a combination of re-pop quality and the fact that I’ve never done body work before. Probably more of the later. Kevin T from paintucation.com talk me into sectioning down the side. As an amateur, I was intimidated, but it worked out well. He suggested not messing with the deck lid, but rather make the cuts in the ¼’s. I have pics of the process here. Be warned that everyone else’s suggests should probably supercede anything my amateur self did.

Go to this page and scroll down to the “01/30/2002” and "01/5/2002" sections:
http://ww6.che.ilstu.edu/craigon/Body2002.htm

Bob (or Tampabaysexy if you prefer ;) )

Do you have the orginal decklid for that car? I just bought one from Florida that matches your paint job. I know a red 67 isn't exactly rare, but the lid has the same Z stripes that your car appears to have. I bought the lid from a guy in Deltona, which isn't all that far from Tampa, any connection?

Tom

Gentlemen, a belated thanks for the input on this. (Lightning put my computer down for a week)
Martin SR, I should have asked BEFORE I welded. The deck lid was on and I knew I had a problem when the left quater was hung. Thats not masking tape. I painted the actual gap area yellow to highlight it.

As a novice I am now learning the magnitude of that problem. The deck lid in the picture is my second repop lid.

1) Are you suggesting that I need to cut both quarters to even the gap. The RH side fits quite well.

2) Is the cut supposed to be right at the top of the 90 degree bend for the gasket support flange?

[ 07-31-2004, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: z51bob1 ]

1. No, you only need to do the side that is bad. In fact, if both sides where bad you could move the lid over a little and "Cheat" by only doing one side.

2. I don't understand exactly what you are saying. But I would put money on it that the area is not exactly as original. This would be one of those things on a repro that isn't quite as "crisp" as the original.

Thanks for the advice. I'll post some pictures when I get it fixed.