74 Dart Sport Restoration

On to the rear side panels. I appoligize for not taking a lot of pictures while I was doing the side panel replacement.

I marked out how much forward on the side panel I wanted to cut. Leaving the rest of the replacement panel intact. Then I transfered the measurements to the new side panel. The only cut to the replacement panel is a straight line down from the top to the middle of the wheel well lip. Again I overlapped the panel 1/2 inch and offsetting the edge of the remaining body side panel to get an even flush fit. I completed plenty of measuring and test fitting before cuttin the old panel off.

The top of the replacement panel fits down into the inside of the trunk lip and wraps around the rear tail light panel just as the original did.

Around the wheel well lip and accross the top side of the replacement where it fits into the inside of the trunk panel and on the bottom side of the lower quarter panel I drilled out the spot welds with a spot weld cutter. The trunk inner side panel was in good shape so I didn't have to replace it.

Again when I put the replacement panel on I held everything in place with sheet metal screws and used a plug weld technique to attach the replacement panel.

The replacement panel fits onto the body like a glove and the alignment of the trunk lid to the side panel is right on. Take plenty of time and check the aligmnent of the trunk lid often to make sure your panel gaps are good before welding anything.