Hi I have a few Questions about quarter panels. I have a 72 Chevelle and it needs more work then I had planned on the body. I know Goodmark full quarters are the way to go, but can't afford them and was wondering if anyone has used the $199 panels they have. and where do they weld up on the front of the panel? do they weld at the corner or go around the door latch part like the fulls. and are the bottom of the panel the same? if anyone has used them and has any info on these please let me know. I wish I could afford to take it in to a body shop and have the best put on it but new Baby on the way and thats put me on a budget. Thanks http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

GaryA,
I've used the 3/4 panel and the full quarters. It is $300 cheaper than the full quarter. It just bends about 3/4 inches into the door opening and only goes to the bend line where the quarter bends 90 degrees to the horizontal (top surface of the quarter). It can be used but will most likely cost the extra 300 in body work to finish it at the weld seam. It takes much more weld and sometimes you have to patch other areas on the quarter (rear window area) The full quarter is much cleaner and doesn't show inside the trunk.

Don't forget you will need to figure outer wheel house and trunk extension replacement, to make a nice repair.

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Ed C.
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70SS 396/350 4speed
70 LS6 4speed under resto.
00 C5 6speed

[This message has been edited by EdCarpenter (edited 12-08-2002).]

how about patch panels, how do they connect at the bottom? do they connect to the trunk panel looks like (from pictures) they just go straight down with no lip to go under to trunk panel. how hard are they and how good of a job do they do thanks http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

I put those $200 specials on my 69 and honestly they suck. They did not fit and had to be worked to get them even close. Back where they wrap around and meet the tail light housing was rounded instead of a nice crisp corner and needed alotof work to get the tail light housings to fit right. They also had an extension that covered the rocker anel which I though was stupid because you lose the seam that is supposed to be there. We ended up cutting that off and making a 90 degree bend so that we could keep the seam. They get a thumbs down. Next Chevelle I do is getting full quarters. Then you have to worry about whether or not the outer wheel houses need to be replaced along with the trunk extensions. I had to replace both of these on my 69 and that was no picnic. There ended up being a gap between the 1/4 panel and the outer wheel house lip that was a little more than acceptable. It will end up costing more in body work to get it right if you can't do it yourself.

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Tom Rightler
MCC # 497
Team Chevelle # 978
70 Chevelle SS (http://bluess454.freehomepage.com/70sshome.htm)
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.chevelles.net/mcc/mcc.htm)

Gary even tho those 200 dollar panels seem cheap to put on they are indeed not. Sure you save on the cost of the panel but you lose money on the labor. Replacing a 200 quarter can cost twice if not three times the amount of labor cost on a full. So really you are spending more money on a lesser repair. It takes alot of time welding, fitting and finishing half quarters and in the end all you have is a patched up quarter.

And for the first timer, I really dont recommend a half quarter when a full is avaible. A full quarter repalcement is pretty easy compared to a half job. Replacing a half quarter requires more talent and knowledge of metal working, if you have no idea you can really mess things up FAST. I would wait til you have the cash and time, cause in the end I really do believe you will be much happier with a full then a patch job...Eric


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1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a BUICK BABY
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
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