I WAS planing to replace both quarter panels on my 1969 El Camino but after some research I'm a little worried. I know the replacement panels don't have the side marker hole (any recomendations on tools to make the recessed part of the hole). The question I have is what the difference in the tail light area is. I have read that the replacement panels are basicly 1970 and up in configuration. Has anybody used them on a 1969? I want to maintain the 1969 tail lights. Please help.

You can just cut the holes out. NOS ones aren't that much. Also most of the repop quarters have a incorrect body style line behind the rear wheel at the bottom. The wheel well chrome does not fit them well.

Where can you buy NOS quarter panels?

Ebay, Craigslist, swap meets, etc.

True Connections Dick has tons of nos and used parts they specialize in el Caminos.
http://trueconnections.com/

If you are in Colorado, as your profile states, you should be able to find a donor, and use original quarter panels. There are still a lot of Caminos around just south of you, in New Mexico.

You can just cut the holes out. NOS ones aren't that much. Also most of the repop quarters have a incorrect body style line behind the rear wheel at the bottom. The wheel well chrome does not fit them well.

How do you know the body lines are incorrect ? :D

I used an nos door skin, and quarter. I would look around until you find one. I've heard many horror stories about repro body panels. The quarter I found didn't have the marker light. You can't just cut a hole because the area is actually recessed to accept the light. I cut the section out of the old quarter, and welded it into the new quarter. I also had to replace the door skin, and rocker. Not because of rust. It was t-boned in a slow speed crash. Here's a couple shots.
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee335/wrrose/100_1793.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee335/wrrose/100_1795.jpg

i am doing the exact same thing this week. time to put the qtrs on the elco.

I remember that look too. No wonder I have gone through 4 gallons of epoxy. Top, bottom, inside, outside coated. :D

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/336/dsc0034wp6.jpg

I used an nos door skin, and quarter. I would look around until you find one. I've heard many horror stories about repro body panels. The quarter I found didn't have the marker light. You can't just cut a hole because the area is actually recessed to accept the light. I cut the section out of the old quarter, and welded it into the new quarter. I also had to replace the door skin, and rocker. Not because of rust. It was t-boned in a slow speed crash. Here's a couple shots.


Got any pics of your quarter to rocker gap? Mine is not great at all with these aftermarket full 1/4's

I'm glad to see some one else replacing quarter's on an elk. 2 comment's to this thread,,, #1 is to Bill Rose, I like seeing u pull the complete quarter as i did the same and i also like ur body jig, I followed rubadub's plan's and made mine like his. #2 is to ss396boy i noticed you cut ur quarter to take a version of a quarter that welds in and doesn't go clear to the roof and around the door latch area. I had my elk quarter pannel replaced 25 year's ago and that is the way the body shop replaced it. I had cracking problem's with the weld in that area and after year's of water under the paint and frezzing , it cracked the paint and bondo out and the rust was so bad i decided to replace the complete panel as Bill Rose is doing. That area is a verry high stress area on the body. Just some thought's and input on the 2 way's these quarter's are being replaced.

Some other thought's on the quarter panel replacement is HOW does fisher body co. spot weld the quarter panel to the rocker panel? And put the panel on,,,, This is the biggest puzzle on my 70 elk, Figureing out the jig saw puzzle on how they ass. the body's together. C-ya Scott

Some other thought's on the quarter panel replacement is HOW does fisher body co. spot weld the quarter panel to the rocker panel? And put the panel on,,,, This is the biggest puzzle on my 70 elk, Figureing out the jig saw puzzle on how they ass. the body's together. C-ya Scott

That's a real good question Scott. I had the Elky quarter off, as well as the rocker, and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how they welded the quarter to the rocker, inside the lips. I had several body guys look at it, for their thoughts. The only answer we could come up with was: The rocker had to be spot welded to the quarter previously, and attached/welded to the body together.

I welded the rocker in first, then put a weld/bead all the way across the seam (slowly, one tack at a time, so it wouldn't warp) from the outside. They I ground a groove in the seam/weld with a small right angle grinder. Then I finished it up with a thin layer of plastic..

I know what u mean Bill. And then to get the quarter fender/ rocker panel assy. on the body under the rain guard and over the outer wheel house panel is a strange feat to perform. But in looking at my body there is one thing that i know for sure. The roof is last. As soon as it get's warmer i'm going to figure out this jig saw puzzle and post my finding's