hello everyone,

i have a 72 that i am working on and i need to replace the tail light panel do to rusting through what appears to be the seams. My question is how difficult are they to replace. are they welded in or just bolted in? i see bolts all around it but can not tell if it has welds in it too. also if it is something that i can not do myself (i am no where near a mechanic but enjoy to do simple work on my cars) how much should i expect it to cost me to have put in, i know giving an exact price is not possible but a price estimate would be very much appreciated, thank you!

 

Do you mean the light housing or the sheet metel it's attached to?

 

nope i meant the whole metal tail light panel sir

 

The panel is welded.

 

Lets see, I wonder if I have a pic that will show you what bolts on and what is welded... There are end caps for the fenders and the tail lights, those bolt in. The panel is welded to the trunk floor, two braces for the rear bumper, the quarter panels along the top and sides. Chances are if the tail light panel is rusted, so are the floors in the trunk. Its not an absolute that the trunk is rusted out, just probable.

Here is what the area looks like with everything removed.

 

thanks thumpin! but no the trunk is very solid actually which is weird, but the drop pans that connect the trunk floor to the lower rear fenders are rotted out. but the trunk floor above the fuel tank is very solid.

but i have a new ? if someone could help, after examining the underbody the torque box part of the rear frame where the front of the leaf springs bolt on to look pretty rusty, and i know if those are rotted thats a safety issue. i dont know if its just surface and just needs a good wire brushing and some paint yet but if its rotted how screwed am i? haha i found replacement torque boxes on NPD but i have a bad feeling that will cost me literally a kidney to replace... some insight would help me a lot!

thanks!