I have asked some questions in this sections and used it for hours of research, and now I have finally put the rubber to the road.

First, I cleaned up everything inside and painted it:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/insidequarter1.jpghttp://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/insidequarter5.jpg

Then, spent hours making sure everything lined up properly. There is a small body line at the front of the panel I used for reference, screwed it all together, then made my cut.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/quarterscrewed2.jpghttp://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/quarterout.jpg

Then I punched holes in the quarter lip to weld it to the wheelhouse, and tacked it up to where i was comfortable it would all line up. I ensured the panels were flush at every weld.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/quarterhung2.jpghttp://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/GTO/quarterhung4.jpg

For anyone considering doing this on their own, it is well worth your time, and I have already paid for my welder and air compressor between this and the other stuff I've fixed.

Jeremy:
Have you ever had any such experience before? I recently got a MIG and have been practicing on pieces from work (sheet metal fabrication company). I would like to think that I can get good enough to do a large panel if it's needed, but I'm nervous!
Your photos show the panel tacked in place. Have you welded it the rest of the way yet? If so (and if not...once you do so) could you share pictures and explain exactly how you went about it? For example...did you alternate welding in different areas to control the heat? How much shrinkage did you see? How much hammer and dolly work did you have to do to get the seam to look decent?
I'll keep close tabs as I'm very interested in your progress.

I have never done anything like this, in fact I bought my MIG welder just special for this car. Prior to that, I may have spent about an hour on a mig welder around 10 years ago.

No pics yet of my progress, but I do have several more stitches into it now. Basically on these long spaced ones, I came back and put another spot between each one, and as the gap got smaller I skipped each gap. When they get real close, I change areas as you asked about. If I'm going to another area, I check with my hand before resuming my welds.

No hammer and dolly work yet, I still need to order a set of those. I will take more photos as I move along.

Great! Sounds like you and I are at about the same skill level! ;)
When you say you checked with your hand, did you mean for the temperature of the metal?

When you say you checked with your hand, did you mean for the temperature of the metal?

Yessir!

Great work, Jeremy. Came out better than my fisrt try!

Wow, that looks great, Jeremy. I see where you had the new panel screwed in place onto the existing panel. Could you explain how you made your cut. Did you use a thin cut off wheel or plasma cutter and cut both new and old panels together? It looks like you cut along the screw holes. Anyway, could you explain what you did? Thanks, Wayne

Nice work!

I'm closing in on installing L & R quarter skins on my '66. It is so nice to see how others are doing the work. Can you take some pictures that show how you attached the skin at the rocker? how about in the rear at the tail light section? did you leave some of the original metal to weld to?

any other tips/tricks?


-b

I see you have a "Speed Blaster" how does it work and is it worth the $$$

Great work, Jeremy. Came out better than my fisrt try!

LOL but better than your second try?? Hi Andy..

Looks great! Also looks like you have a nice solid car. -MATT

LOL but better than your second try?? Hi Andy..

Perhaps, but certainly not better than my third try :)

Wow, that looks great, Jeremy. I see where you had the new panel screwed in place onto the existing panel. Could you explain how you made your cut. Did you use a thin cut off wheel or plasma cutter and cut both new and old panels together? It looks like you cut along the screw holes. Anyway, could you explain what you did? Thanks, Wayne

This is exactly what I did. If you cut close or through the line of screws, your panels are presumably in full contact with each other. Also, it helps when lining it up after it is all cut out because you can line up the holes again. The cut was made with a 3M green corps 1/32 cutoff wheel.

To the person asking about the speed blaster, yes I'd say it is definitely worth the money. Be ready for a huge mess though if you don't enclose it somewhat.