Getting ready to start the body on my 68 convertible...the body panels are all in excellent condition other than the snowplow damage on the rt quarter at the back...ive contemplated slowly bringing the quarter back out from inside but am wondering if i would get a better job if i cut out the last 5 inches or so and cut the spotwelds from the tailpanel and replaced with a donor piece...any body repair to straighten the panel will be done with body lead..i like to get some thoughts from anyone thanks
I would try to straighten it from the inside first. You will probably need to heat the sheetmetal with an oxyacetylene torch (is that the right name in English?) because of the sharp kinks.
If you can't get it straight enough to be satisfactory, you can always cut and weld in a replacement panel afterwards.
Can you send a pic of the entire panel and the spot? The bottom is a little rusty as well. Are you sure the bottom and wheel wells are solid. The shot you gave us has a lot of surface rust.
If you heat that panel you will probably expand the steel too much. I would do a through look at the inside quarter at trunk, qtr window and inside wheel well. These qtr panels rust out with humidity. Where has the car been the last 40 years? It may look good because it was patched.
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I don't think any straightening from the inside will meet your expectations after all is said and done, not to mention the amount of time before you come to that conclusion. I would cut is out and weld in a new or replacement section.
thanks for the replies..i'm leaning toward cutting it out..its rusted to the point i'm not sure there will be much left ..lol...i'm in the process of building a rotisserie now...the outside body panels are in very good shape considering the age..only a couple of dings in the rt door...surface rust all comes rt off to good bare metal...i am however gonna have to do trunk and the floorboards..the car has been garaged for the last 14 yrs...blown head gasket but numbers matching so i'll take my time and keep it as original as possible...
