Okay, the guys in white are waiting outside with the straight jacket to cart me off. Before they get me I need to know one thing:

What is the proper method for putting on quarter panel skin?

I definetly am not a body man. Those of you that can bend, slap, wack, tap and some times beat and bang and get the metal straight, I envy you. I'm slowly learning. Needless to say this was my first attempt at this and it looks like crap. The welds were great but I created some wonderful high spots. I warp the panel really good. I have all the proper equipment to do this with. I have done quite a bit of sheet metal fabrication before but never something as critical as a quarter panel. I think lack of help and improper spacing of the welds is what got me.

Alright, I cut the old panel off down to the rocker panel and slightly into the door jam area so that I wouldn't have to mate the panels together at the crease where the chrome side trim goes. But futher up I left about a quarter of an inch past the door jam of the old panel intact and I also left about a 1/2 inch at the top. I tried to do a perfect cut and fit of the new skin.

I have to redo this panel. I am thinking about leaving the new panel longer, slipping it underneath the 1/2 lip left from the cut at top, and riveting it before I weld. Is this correct? Anyhow, can ya give me some tips and pointers on how make the next attempt a little more succesfull?

ZZRE, go to www.autobodystore.com...there (http://www.autobodystore.com...there) is a great message board there, ask this question there and you will get a response from some experienced bodymen.

Gambitt

Check out the body pics on my site. It has some pretty good shots of when I put mine on. www.creeksideclassics.com (http://www.creeksideclassics.com)

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There is nothing like doing it yourself. www.creeksideclassics.com (http://www.creeksideclassics.com)

Yes,those pictures look very familiar.probably the easiest way for a beginner is to lay the new panel over the top "ledge" of the old quarter.You should attach the panel with sheetmetal screws every few inches along the top of the panel,this holds the panels tight together for welding (remove screws after and weld up holes)and also put some down the sides,some vice grips work well in the wheel opening.Make sure you have the panel perfectly aligned and attatched with screws BEFORE you weld.drill some holes every few inches in the new quarter in the wheel opening,clamp it tight to the wheelhouse and plug weld the holes shut.Only weld a small stitch at a time and jump from end to end,allowing each weld to cool before going back to it.You can tap the new panel down lightly as you go,it has a tendency to lift up from the heat.Then when your done grind the welds smooth and you will have to finish the seams with filler.Heres a pic,if you look close you can see the screws http://members.spree.com/entertainment/ochrisl/Pict0017.jpg

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68 camaro,hugger orange ,white stripes.327 4 speed. http://members.spree.com/entertainment/ochrisl/

[This message has been edited by ochrisl (edited 07-11-2001).]

My car had a skin riveted on when I bought it. I went with the 80% because of the blending that would be involved with the skin.

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There is nothing like doing it yourself. www.creeksideclassics.com (http://www.creeksideclassics.com)