A certain restoration vendor (The Paddock) sells reproduction quarter panel skins for $150 ea. Full G.M. quarter panels cost from $500-$680 ea. The only real rust/rot on my car is the lower sections of the 2 rear quarters and front fenders, the latter of which is very minimal(i.e. baseball size). What would be on the restorers mind right about now, what would he do? Should I cut and weld in patches, replace the skin, or replace the entire panel? How much would a shop charge to cut out the old panels and replace with new? (labor only)

I vote for cutting out the rot and welding in patches if its only as small as a baseball.

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Rainer Seitz
Vancouver, WA
Team Chevelle Gold #50
ACES #3784

'68 SS396
'70 LS3 400 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible 350/300hp
and the latest - '70 Malibu 454!

See them all at the all-new Rainer's Hot Rod Shop! (http://rseitz.homestead.com/main.html)
rseitz@chevelles.com

If it's only small areas of rust I would get a skin and cut out patch areas. Don't use the whole skin. My experience is they don't match the existing body lines exactly and are very hard to match up in the door jamb area. If, after stripping down to bare metal, there is more damage than you thought, bite the bullet and get full quarters. They include the door jambs, tail light extension area, and extend to the trunk lid and roof.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575

Dont go with the skins.
The body lines are not exact. If its only a small area use the patch panels otherwise go with the full factory style quarter.
I used a skin on the right side of my 72 back when you couldnt get the full ones, I wish I didnt use it.

Jeff Litka
72 Chevelle SS
72 MonteCarlo

i put the skins on my car back in 87 .they worked fine .but where not the best .i have since put full qurters on the car .if you have the money get the full ones youll have less filler on the car and youll be happy knowing thay are there.

Thanks guy's. Hey Von, thats an excellent idea on using the skins for patch material only, thanks again.

dont use the full skins! i tried that and royally f!@#$d up a car. had to find a different body to restore the body lines and am now using patch panels cut out of those skins!