Got a 71 Chevelle that needs body work about everywhere. Son and I want to make it a daily driver. Needs trunk pan or extensive repair, work around rear window, lower fender and quarter work needed and lower front part of door, wheel houses, etc.. Where do we start? Rear quarters will need replacing can see where someone repaired at some time and the bondo(I'm sure) is cracked and lifting behind the rear window. Should we start by removing all body parts that can be unbolted? What book would be best to check under dash wiring and vacuum info as the radio was stolen out of this car and thieves cut a lot of wires and vacuum lines. Time is on our side just want to know where and how's the best way to start. Any and all help and suggestions would be appreciated. Pete

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67 std camaro conv 327/210, 1978 annv vette, 1985 Z28 Camaro, 1971 Chevelle

Does it have a running motor now? If not, wait until you do until messing with the vacuum lines to see if they work correctly.
As far as the body goes, reomove all bolted parts including gas tank. Replace the quarter panels first )if the car is straight now) After that, remove the back glass and interior (rear at least). cut out trunk floor and repair back glass frame. That's a start. This would be MY method. I like to concentrate on one thing at a time since the project may sit idle from time to time. Plan each evolution with enough time to finish each one. Just my 2 cents worth.

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Triple Black 69 SS 396

I'd get a factory assembly manual and/or service manual - I have both for my car.If they don't have wiring diagrams in them - get them too. Worth the money in my book for all of these.
These will help with everytinng you do.
I did floorpans first, then all interior metal work, then on to exterior.
I agree with jimmy P; do one part of the project at a time.
Yes, I would take off everything that will unbolt.
Don't just do the obvious, poke and prod, grind out ALL the bondo so you can see what it is covering. you will hate yourself later if you take shortcuts or skip something now.
Thin metal won't last long, so if it is questionable, check it out and replace if you can.
Replacement panels are worth it if you can afford em all.

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Make it the way you like it, forget what the other guys say!
http://homepages.studentcenter.org/64elcamino/HOME.html

Thanks JimmyP and 283v8,
Jimmy the motor runs great. Thanks for the sequence, it will help. The car is straight. Would you recommend taking the front fenders off, the doors, trunk lid and hood off all at the same time? I think I can salvage the fenders but most likely will have to replace the quarters and trunk pan. So do the quarters before the trunk and window, right?
283v8 Thanks for the info. I went through the bondo deal(unexpectedly finding it everywhere) with my 67 camaro. I didn't take shot cuts then and hope not to now. It just may take awhile longer due to budget. Keep that info coming guys and gals I need all of it I can get.

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67 std camaro conv 327/210, 1978 annv vette, 1985 Z28 Camaro, 1971 Chevelle

A MIG welder and a Fisher Body manual will really help too.....



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Redrum (or Mike)
68 Corvette - 383 CI 427 HP
69 SS Chevelle being updated to Pro-Touring
97 Z-28

before removing all bolted body parts i rebuild door hinges and rehang doors and fit them to quarters,that way when the quarter work begins you know where they should be for perfect fit.start with the doors and work your way back.if you remove large amounts of floor pans you may want to put temporary bracing in so nothing moves around also.body work is the hardest thing to do in my opinion.good luck!! Mike

I recently went through this. I left all the bolted parts on until I had all the sheet metal welded in. I removed the fuel tank, cut the left quarter panel lower to allow me to get to the trunk floor. Cut old floor loose, cleaned the weld surfaces and welded on a 2 piece unit. It takes some measuring and sizing up before you commit to welding. Make sure to put in new trunk extensions. I then measured and cut out the remaining bad left quarter (after determining the amount I wanted to replace. I replaced the left outer wheelhouse, then installed the replacement quarter section. I used the aftermarket quarters and didn't wrap them into the door opening. My rockers were good so I left 1" of the original quarter above the rocker and just back of the door opening to maintain the original body contours. After migging the metal with a spot every 2" I added a spot every 1" in the left quarter, I moved then to the right and followed the same steps. Once both rear panels were complete I moved to patching the bad front fenders. Once all the exterior metal work was done, I removed the front sheetmetal. I moved to the small floor areas I needed to patch later.Please use both calk type seam sealer and brush type. The brush type was used in most visible areas by GM.

You'll have to have the doors off to change the 1/4's, so you might as well take the fenders (front clip) off before the 1/4's.
You can do any patch work on the fenders while they're off. Do all the final body work after assembly though. It's easier to 'match' the panels to one another when it's all together and panels have been aligned.

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Triple Black 69 SS 396