Greetings all,

I have started my first adventures in body work and I am a little frustrated. I have a couple questions that could use some hashing out. Here is some background first.

I have basically welded the entire quarter panel on. I was attempting to weld in some pin hole in the weld seam and numberous times I have blown through the weld as well as the surrounding sheet metal on both the upper portion of the origninal quarter and the new lower skin. I have used some plate to cut patch panels for the weld location, but every time I think I have it on good I blow though another thin spot.

Are the aftermarket rear quarters reall that thin?

Am I supposed to be able to move the quarter with the push of a finger?

I thinking that the quarter was not very well aligned and that when grinding down the weld I thinned the surrunding metal too much. It also appears that I warped some of the metal on the original quarter and the new panel. It doesn't look like anything some filler can't fix, but will I be haunted by the knowledge that the quarter is a little warped and thin in spots?

I am really tempted to buy another skin and start over but I have spent 4 weekends working (learning) how to replace a quarter.

Have any of you guys been through a similar expereince.

I am so close to cutting off the old quarter but don't want to waste all the time I've spent so far!

 

I'm not really fond of "skins". You'd be a lot happier with a quarter panel.

I have basically welded the entire quarter panel on. I was attempting to weld in some pin hole in the weld seam and numberous times I have blown through the weld as well as the surrounding sheet metal on both the upper portion of the origninal quarter and the new lower skin. I have used some plate to cut patch panels for the weld location, but every time I think I have it on good I blow though another thin spot.
Sounds messy.

Are the aftermarket rear quarters really that thin?
The ones I am used to are as thick or thicker than OE, that's easy to check. Might be softer, that's not so easy.

Am I supposed to be able to move the quarter with the push of a finger?
Sounds thin, or warped.

I thinking that the quarter was not very well aligned and that when grinding down the weld I thinned the surrunding metal too much. It also appears that I warped some of the metal on the original quarter and the new panel. It doesn't look like anything some filler can't fix, but will I be haunted by the knowledge that the quarter is a little warped and thin in spots?
There will always be a little filler, if you want the final result to look good.

I am really tempted to buy another skin and start over but I have spent 4 weekends working (learning) how to replace a quarter.
Now you know how, re-doing it properly will be easier.

 

The welding has been very messy. It seems as though the quarter is strong except for a couple problem spots. I feel like the back where i can move it with my finger is warped and therefore is easy to move around. Everything else seems very solid.

I just don't know what I want to do!

 

Hard to say without seeing the problems but if you are blowing through the new sheet metal, what ever the thickness, then i would say your welder is turned up to high. What type of welder are you using? I hope it is gas shielded and not flux core. I never recommend quarter panel replacment for the first timer, especially if you are just learning to weld. As far as thinning the metal around the weld it sounds like you need to change your grinding technique or you're not using the right equipment. For grinding through spot welds I like to use 36 grit rollocks, I think I spelled that wrong.

 

What he/\ /\ said

 

Anyone else have any other insight?

 

doing the same on my 66. I ended up picking up a magnetic plug weld tool from eastwood. the copper face rests against the backside of the hole you're patching, and helps to prevent blow through. What size wire are you using? .30 or .35? Drop it down to .23 and turn down your voltage a little.

 

I put a quarter panel skin on my 65 coupe.... The best thing to do is go SLOW.... dont get the quarter panel too hot and there will be very little warpage... It also sounds like you have the welder too hot or you are going to fast... Need to spread out the welds and let it cool... dont use any cold water to cool it off but just take your time... i did mine first try no problem... If you burn through then the welder it set to hot or you are staying in one spot too long

 

I considered the eastwood tool in the past. Ultimately, I bought a 2" copper union in the plumbing section of the local hardware store. I flattened the union with an anvil and a big f****n hammer. I've used the copper to back up thin metal welds in a number of locations on my mustang.

This approach seems to work well and the piece of copper pipe was only a few dollars.