Replacing quarter panels

[victimizati0n]

Hey guys.. were replacing the quarter panels on our camaro (69')

I need to know how to cut them.

Right now, we cut them about 1" below the "fold" on the top of the panel. Do we need to cut higher?

Also, were going to be riviting them on.. then puttying the rivits to make it nice and smoothe. Is there any suggestions? How should we put the rivits on? Where should we put the rivits (top or bottom of the fold in the top of the quarter panel)?

Thanks alot for any help!!

[Dober89]

Do you have the replacement panel so you can see how high up it will go?? That should help you decide where to cut it.

Also I wouldnt use rivits. You would have to use alot of bondo to make the car look right or else I think it would look lumpy as hell.

[victimizati0n]

Originally Posted by Dober89

Do you have the replacement panel so you can see how high up it will go?? That should help you decide where to cut it.

Also I wouldnt use rivits. You would have to use alot of bondo to make the car look right or else I think it would look lumpy as hell.

Yes.. we have a replacement.. but we dont know if we should rivit it on top, or under the fold, and cut an inch off of the replacement.

Also.. rivits are the only way we can go.. unless there is another way (other than welding) to put them on. We would need to re-wire our house to put a welder in.

[Chevyracincamaro]

this is kindof off subject but not really: apparently you dont have to re-wire your house to have a welder. i thought that also, but my friend's neighbor is a professional welder and he told us about a converter that plugs into two of you 112V outlets and puts out 230V. i havent looked for anything like that yet but it might be an option for ya if youre looking to weld...

[victimizati0n]

Originally Posted by Chevyracincamaro

this is kindof off subject but not really: apparently you dont have to re-wire your house to have a welder. i thought that also, but my friend's neighbor is a professional welder and he told us about a converter that plugs into two of you 112V outlets and puts out 230V. i havent looked for anything like that yet but it might be an option for ya if youre looking to weld...

Thanks, but I don't feel confident in welding it on. I'm not a very good welder, and we would have to drop the gas tank and everything to weld them on.

Is there such thing as like a "low profile" rivit that wolnt lift up almost a quarter inch like regular rivits do?

[Dober89]

You might be able to get a rivit with a low head but im thinking it will still be like 1/8th tall. Again your going to have to bondo it up and I dont really see the point in installing a new quarter panel and then having to slap bondo all over it anyways??

As far as getting 230V out of a 115V outlet I dont really see how thats possible seeing that a 230V wire is twice as big. Unless you use a transformer or something.

Ive got a 115V welder in my garage that I can plug into any outlet I want and it works ok for welding body panels which I am doing right now.

[victimizati0n]

Originally Posted by Dober89

You might be able to get a rivit with a low head but im thinking it will still be like 1/8th tall. Again your going to have to bondo it up and I dont really see the point in installing a new quarter panel and then having to slap bondo all over it anyways??

As far as getting 230V out of a 115V outlet I dont really see how thats possible seeing that a 230V wire is twice as big. Unless you use a transformer or something.

Ive got a 115V welder in my garage that I can plug into any outlet I want and it works ok for welding body panels which I am doing right now.

Even if you do weld it.. you will need a little putty.

Also, I don't have $300 for a small welder, and all of the needed accessories

[Dober89]

Yea you will need a little putty. But the welds you can grind down so that they match the surface of the panels which would be way less noticeable than putting bondo over rivit heads.

I just borrowed someones welder becuase im getting a big one but didnt wanna bother running power to the garage for it because were moving in a couple weeks.

[89IROC&RS]

dude, im learning from my mistake here, so let me say with much athouraty, if your not a body shop guy, and dont have any experience here, dont do it. take it to the shop. all im doing is re-hanging my fenders, hood, door, and bumper cover, and im having a hell of a time, your actually talking about doing real body work, cutting welding, and bondo, and are self proclaimed as not that good of a welder. if you want to toy around with some stuff, to get better, thats awesome, but i really suggest you dont use your car as the learning project. i think in the end your just gonna be really dissapointed in the outcome, and have to pay someone to fix it. hate to be a downer, but thats my honest advice.