mikesz1984

i am getting ready to replace my rear quarter, and i was wondering how do you separate it from the rocker panel. i see where they join at the bottom, but i don't see any spot welds. Also when i take the stuff off around the gas cap,is it attached there somehow?

camarotucker

iTrader: (2)

You can take an air hammer and go around the perimeter and get the main portion out of the way. It is also easier to remove the spot welded sections when they are only a few inches wide as opose to the whole quarter at once. Sometimes it helps to find spot welds by running a 3 inch ginder along the perimter. Also look into getting a "seam buster" ("Stek" makes a good one) if you dont have one already.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

Mike, the nature of your questions indicates you really need to get under and inside your car before you do this job. The quarter panels are not just a skin, there's quite a bit of interconnecting panels and supports. The most important part of this job is the planning:where to cut out, where to trim the replacement, etc. also, if you haven't really looked back there , prob some rust you don't know about that might change your mind on the job. The QP on these cars is part of the unibody, you won't be undoing spot welds and replacing a panel, you will be cutting out a complex section and then panel welding the new one in with butt or flange welds. Here's a couple pics to show you what's under there, if you search some other threads you will see some more pics I and others posted.
I'll say it again, this will take careful planning, don't just start hacking into it.

mikesz1984

lol yes i have tried looking in there but with the convertible stuff in the way it is a big pain. i probably wont change my mind on this, i have never done a rear quarter, but have done many floor boards, fenders, and even body work to motorcycles. The rear quarter is the last piece i want to challenge myself with. I have looked at a bunch of pictures, which is how i noticed that the rear quarter is separate from the lower rocker, and it looks like there is some form of sealer where the fuel filler comes up to the panel. Before i start this on my 1991 vert(bad rear quarters) i am going to try and salvage a rust free panel from my 1984(bad frame), so i wont be damaging the car i am planning on keeping. I am just hoping to pick up some tricks to make it a little easier. I do already have the aftermarket rear quarter panel so if i cant get the one off the 84 i can hire somebody to show me how it is done.(i am all about learning new things)