In addition to a full 'UMI performance' suspension upgrade I'm finally getting around to addressing this quarter panel damage; the result of a tree branch falling on it.
So far I have:
- pounded out using a hammer, a thick book, and a floor jack, as much as I can to relieve the pressure and get the deck lid opening and closing.
- ordered a Goodmark driver side quarter panel.

I'm planning on cutting out just the part I need and butt welding it in. However, there is a mild crease near the wheel well. I was hoping that pounding and lifting the crushed section back up would relieve the pressure and eliminate the crease - no such luck.

Any suggestions on how I should proceed?
Note: I only have a 110 craftsman mig welder and have only used it once and have no experience in doing body work. ;-)

 

Was that spot there before the limb fell?

I replaced my quarter and put up a couple pics in my project thread. I was pretty new to welding when I did it. Honestly replacing the entire panel isn’t too bad but it’s definitely tedious.

 

Yeah, that spots been there for about 20 years. ;-)
After I get the body work done I'll sand those down before sending it out to get painted.
The crease that is most concerning is about 3 inches in front of the fuel door.
If possible, I'd like to only have to cut a minimal part of the quarter panel out.

 

I’m not a body man, I gotta make that clear first. I know there’s a guy here who is a body man or at least a painter so maybe he’ll chime in.

The biggest problem you’re going to have is stretched metal if you leave that crease in. Maybe look into shrinking discs. I recently bought a stud gun with shrinking tip to shrink metal and it works great. Even if you get it kinda straight without shrinking you’re probably going to get the “oil canning” or “tin canning” effects where the metal pops in and out when you touch it.

 

I would like to know where you had take the little black fender rear add ?

 

I have no idea what you just asked?!

 

I think he's asking about the black fender trim on the outside lip of the wheel wells.

 

The car came that way back in the mid 80's. I got the car around 1990'ish.

 

Really not sure just how far back I should cut and/or how much of this new quarter panel I should use?!
Unfortunately the 'skin' doesn't wrap high enough to replace the top 3/4" piece that's colapsed but I think I can pound it up to mate with the section I use.

 

Once you cut the damaged area off, you should be able to reach in with something and push that crease out from inside the opening you cut out. Push on the back side of the crease low area while tapping around the crease on the outside lightly with a flat hammer. You're going to have a wad of filler on it no matter where you try to splice in the new piece.

For Miche25, google "stick on wheel well trim" and you'll get plenty of results....
https://www.ebay.com/p/12024892212?i...yABEgIN0vD_BwE

 

Get a cheap set of body work hammers and dollies. Especially the dollies.