tailpanel replacement advice....

[craigibc]

I am planning on removing the tail panel from the Demon this weekend and replacing it.

I picked up another tail panel for the car. I have never done a major body replacement on a car before. I got some good advice from the Mopar Muscle article called minor surgery/major surgery.

Specifically... about the tail panel my thinking is on the right I cut right at the end of the tip on the transition from the tail panel to the right quarter panel. I would also make a straight cut at the (horizontally)top of the tail panel and remove the spot weld on the top of the tail panel to minimize bodywork This would make an easy weld back together. I could weld just the tail panel on and not do any cut on the quarter panel at all.

On the other side... we have a dent that goes in about 6 inches into the quarter panel. I am planning on doing the same thing on the left but also going straight into the quarter panel horizontally about 6 inches. I would then cut vertically down to the lower body line and remove that section.
This means I am going to have to make the center body line work on my weld. I should be able to float with bondo the upper and lower as long as I cut inside of them.

WOW!

Now I am confused.... ANY ADVICE?

Craig

 

[70Duster440]

Hmmm, you could remove the lead at either end of the panel and drill out the spot welds, or cut on the corners vertically as you suggested - which I did when I replaced one of my quarters. You'll probably mess up the lead there anyway when you re-weld it.

As far as the dent goes, if I understand you correctly, I wouldn't cut the dent out. You'll make lot of work for yourself by making vertical cuts in the quarter across body lines. Work the dent out and try to confine your cuts to the tail panel. Do you have a pic of the dent?

 

[craigibc]

I cannot figure out how to remove this dent...

It was buried under 1" of bondo...

 

[70Duster440]

Wow, that's messed up good. I found damage under bondo in that area too but it wasn't quite as bad as that. (I'm having nightmarish flashbacks as I type).

The fact that several curved body lines converge there makes it even tougher. An experienced body man might be able to shrink and pull and hammer that mess back into shape but it would still be a lot of work - especially with the bracing on the inside. And, you'd still have to do some sculpting with filler (which isn't necessarily bad).

Replacing that area might be easier and less time consuming in the long run. And though it might mean more welding, you might be better off doing it in two pieces: cut and remove the qtr damage first and graft in the new piece making sure everthing lines up nicely (body lines remain straight and true). Then finish removing the tail panel and graft in that replacement.

 

[craigibc]

Yea... ugly ah.... This is my first project and we thought it was clean and straight....


This is pretty ugly and I have been sitting on this for about three months.

I will take into consideration your suggestions.

I am just afraid I might screw up the bodylines.

Craig