[Rob Mears]

What is the standard (and most acceptable) practice for welding in new quarter panels? Some have mentioned butt joining, others overlapping (which apparently creates a 'trough' that retains rust causing water), and still others talk about creating a 'flange' where the panels meet.

What is the general concensus on how this procedure SHOULD be done? Thanks!

Rob M.

[gab7584]

The best replacement is using the entire panel (with sail panel) eliminating any seam except for the roof seam (also most expensive) but if you just have a shot panel overlapping works fine, keep fitting and trimming keeping the overlap under a half inch. The correct overlap won't create a trough. I've also used an air powered crimper to help give the area some strength,(worse looking from inside the trunk)and butt welding is the most time consuming (a pain!) but can be finished off easier inside the trunk. Have fun!

[wrench turner]

I installed quarter skins using the crimp method. I used a air powered crimper which does a good job. You will have a noticible overlap in the trunk but after rust proofing I layered on under coating which I applied with a paint brush blending it like body filler. The under coat I used drys and hardens. I let each coat dry a day and finally used spray under coat on the back of the quarters. If you look close you can still see the overlap but you really gotta look. I would recommend full quarters it will cost more to buy but in the end you will save time and money on labor less plastic work which a skin takes time to mold the filler on.

[Allen M]

If you use full quarters, spot weld them like the factory, but seal the joints Por-15. If the roof skin is leaded, then lead the panels together just like the factory. If you use partial quarters, BUTT JOINT works the best. You use less filler to smooth the panel. Lapping can trap water and cause the panel to rust faters because when the filler gets wet from inside, it stay wet like a sponge. Weld the seam solid if you use a partial quarter.

There's a lot of little tricks for Butt welding sheet metal with a MIG that noone knows about.

[pipeman]

As far as using lead to finish the roof pillar seam goes, I clean the seam, prep the bare metal, spray a good coat of etching primer {dp-90} and use a good quality water resistant body filler. I have had good success with a filler called Metal Fil. Just some advice because I know that most weekend bodymen dont have a lot of experence using lead fillers.

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69 rallye green X77 Z/28,1967 SS 396 Conv. 1974 c-10 454 swb