fixing rear quarter - light housing

[jacksonbase]

The rear light housing has pulled away from the rear quater panel about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch at the top. The spare tire must have stressed this part of the quater at one time. Anyway what is the best way to repair this?
If you push-pull on the top spare tire mount this moves the seam a little bit. Do I need to take the top off to repair and re seal the seam?

Lastly the curved part below my rear light has some damage. Does anyone make a repair panel for this section? I'm a decent welder and ok body man. I just want to do it right the first time

thanks

Jacksonbase

 

[Landho]

Man, great timing with this post! I was dinking around with this exact same issue today on my '69.

I removed the access panel (inside the rear corner) and put some C-clamps on there just to see if I could in fact pull it back. It came most of the way back. Not sure if it will need to be welded to hold or something else.

So that is two people who will benefit from this thread!

 

[surfer-b]

Is there any way you could use some self tapping sheetmeatel screws and re-attach the post from the inside, then maybe you can spot weld it in the same way so not to mess up the exterior. As for the taillight repair section I havn't used one, but from what others have said they are not that good, you end up basically rebuilding them to fit proper.

 

[broncorick]

The repro panels can be used for some patching, but that is it, not a replacement piece. Also the curves don't exactly fit and need some finesse (i.e hammer and lead shot bag) to get to fit. I am looking at the english wheel from harbor freight as a possible tool for body work and somthing like that would work here to make your own patch panel.

 

[bighorn]

I had the same problem. I used a c-clamp to pull them together through the access panel. I put several self tapping screws through it and then plug welded it. It turned out real nice. I also ditched my tire rack as it was the source of the problem.