Quarter panel "tweaking"? [Archive] - Team Camaro Tech

: Quarter panel "tweaking"?


kelly69ss
May 2nd, 03, 03:38 AM
OK we are mini tubbing my 69. I notched the frame (to clear 29.5 x 10.5) on both sides the same. We sat the slicks on 5 gal buckets to silmulate ride height and noticed the pass side had 3/4-1" more clearance that the driver's side. So I begin to look at the car being square (advange of it being on a racecar jig) thinking that a severe hit tweaked the sub frame to one side, however that is not the case, it is square. I then then measure the quarter in front of the wheel opening and behide it. Thats where I found my shortage, its all in the wheelwell/quarter in the lower rear of the quarter behind the wheel opeing. So here is my plan and let me know what you think.

I am thinking of cutting about cutting the trunk area right beside the frame straight from the wheel well toward the rear valance, stopping short about 4-6 inches. Then "pulling" the quarter out. Everything lines up nice as far as driver's door, deck lid, and the rear valance. It does not apprear to have had quarter put on it, and the body work in this area is not badso I don't think reconstructive surgery is needed. And I am only looking for about 3/4". Then cutting a piece and welding it back into the panel where I cut the slit in the trunk. Let me know what you think. Will that one cut yeld the movement that I'm looking for since I only want to put the bottom out a little?

Toby Keen
May 4th, 03, 01:11 AM
I've never done what you are suggesting but I think you might have one result that you won't like. Pulling the 1/4 panel out at the bottom will have an opposite effect on the 1/4 panel at the top which could cause an "oil can" distortion over the wheel well. The less the 1/4 panel is moved out, the less the distortion. The more the 1/4 panel is moved out, more distortion could result. The problem might not show up until after the 1/4 panel has been re-welded or even later, when you stress the body during normal operation. This response is based on whether or not I am reading your question correctly.