Rear quarter panel replacement

[englewoodcowboy]

I looked around and didn't find an answer to my question. So I have my old quarters out and need to clean the top edge where they are welded to the inner fender. Is it easier to drill the old welds out and rosette weld from the top (inside of the bed) or drill the new quarters and weld from the wheel well side (underneath)?

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

I drilled the old welds out and welded them from inside the bed. Worked very well!

 

[sp71eb]

I also drilled mine out from the top and it seemed to work well. It would be tough getting your arm/mig gun and head/welding helmet in the wheel well to get a good weld burnt in. Not saying it couldn't be done but just not easy. I drilled out the old holes and then held up the new qt and marked where the holes are. This way you can just grind where the welds are and leave the e-coat on the rest of the top of the panel. Don't forget your weldthru.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Thanks guys! I was thinking the same thing but wanted to make sure I wasn't complicating it.

 

[Pat B]

I didn't know any better. I plasma'd about a half inch away from the spot welds and air chiseled the the weld while peeling away the remaining quarter panel material....
It took about fifteen minutes per side to remove. I ground away the remaining burrs and stuff.
The really slick part is using 3M Panel Bond to glue them in place.
I did spot weld the rear section at the tail light and bottom.

Pat

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I had seen the panel bond threads and thought that would be a great thing for repairs after paint. Glad to know it is holding up for you. I do have a question on the rear at the tail light section, there is an inner panel the the quarter flange slips behind. On my bronco that panel does not appear to be welded to the quarter flange. Should I drill through it and spot weld it? It looks like it should be welded but was missed perhaps? On the driver side there was a 1/4 to half inch gap and on the pass side it was flush against the quarter panel flange.

I will tackle that part next week after SC but I am looking for any and all ideas/solutions/ how to's I can get before hand.

 

[jmeyer1971]

I worked in a body shop for 6 months (not doing body work) but doing an addition and spent a lot time talking to the guys and wishing I could do what they did. But all they used was 3m panel bond for repairs with the exception of frame work and even saw a couple cars that were wrecked, repaired, and wrecked again (apparently the new camaro has terrible blind spots) and the panel bonded pieces never separated, just crumpled like welded steel. Use it like seam sealer and tape off your ares where it will squeeze out