Anyone here ever try to use quarter panels off of a donor car? Sounds tricky but I think I remember hearing it could be done. Just curious.

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino (http://www.dreamelectric.com)
Originally was & will be Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top (now black)
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear - Factory PS, PDB, PW, Tilt, A/C & More
My El Camino Home Page (http://www.dreamelectric.com/index.html)
Other Restorations -1969 Snowco Trailer (http://www.dreamelectric.com/Snowco.html) & 1967 Sears Custom 600 Tractor (http://www.dreamelectric.com/1967Sears.html)
Team Chevelle Member #995

I've heard of it and been offered a "good" shell for my 69 to attempt this. They are apparantly original quarters but I'm still mulling it over as I have no insight or advice about doing it either. Sorry.

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Shawn,

Yes, it is fairly commonplace. Take a trip to any dry climate area of the country and peruse the salvage yards. Littered with cars missing their quarters, rockers, and just about any structural component of the car you can think of.

About 20 years ago I had a Dodge Challenger for which I needed to get a replacement roof skin. Did the boneyard thing. Practiced cutting off the damaged panel, so that when it came time to remove the 'fresh' one from the donor car, I knew exactly what had to be cut to get it off. It was held on with about a zillion spot welds through the front & rear glass openings, and the rain gutters, but came off just as pretty as you please.

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Bill Pritchard
69 SS396 Convertible
"Life is short; eat dessert first." - Ogden Nash
My low tech web page (http://home.att.net/~bpritchard/index.html)

I just recently replaced a quarter on my Elky, from a donor car. I would have to say, this was the easiest one I have ever done. All I had to do was get the spot welds under the trim and the around the wheel opening and put back in place it was so easy. Since the trim covers up a majority of the spot welds....minmimal body work. The only thing that I recommend is that on the donor car cut more than you think you will need and don't just go hacking away on it.

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66' El Camino (under construction)
66' El Camino (Pro Street)
66' El Camino (Parts Chaser)

66' Gotta Love em'!!

Hey 66, did you replace your entire quarter,including the door jam. I just cut one off a 64 to do my 65 elco and wanted to know how long it took and any special tips. I just bought a spot weld cutter to make the job easier.

Sure did BIGMOE, Yeah, I drilled out all of the spot welds in the door jam along with the B pillar. I also cut my rocker panel about 6" in front of the door jam on the donor car. I used part of the donor car rocker and the existing rocker. The reason that I did that is, I didn't think I would be able to get a secure fit with the 1/4 to rocker seam in front of the wheel. All the interior trim will cover all of my ground down spot welds as well as the bed trim. Only had to apply a skim coat of filler to the rocker and B pillar and that was it. Came out real nice! One more thing, make sure to drill out the spot welds in the tailgate jam area too. It all came together on this project. I hope it works out well for you too. It took me 2 days to get the 1/4 welding back on. I hope this helps ya out.

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66' El Camino (under construction)
66' El Camino (Pro Street)
66' El Camino (Parts Chaser)

66' Gotta Love em'!!

[This message has been edited by 66 L Kmno (edited 12-14-2001).]

Glad to hear it! I'm sure doing it this way could save a lot of money as opposed to getting NOS panels as well but still getting the same quality anyway. I'd need to get outer and inner wheelwells for my car, so this is probably the only way to go. Thanks!

Thanks 66 for for info. I already repaired the front and rear window channels, the only thing left was the qtr. panel. I have to do the drivers side. What side was yours, Because the gas cap window looks kind of interesting, any info about that? Thanks

Hey BIGMOE, Mine was the left side also. All that I did on the gas door opening, I seperated the 1/4 from the gas... I guess you call it bracket on the outer wheel well. Then, I drilled the spot welds out of the gas bracket on the donor car and then reattached it back on the 1/4. It might could be done leaving it attached to the quarter. When I did mine, the car that I was putting the 1/4 on the bracket was rusted. It lined up pretty good with the existing opening so I left it alone. I don't think that you will have a problem. Are you replacing the outer wheel well?

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66' El Camino (under construction)
66' El Camino (Pro Street)
66' El Camino (Parts Chaser)

66' Gotta Love em'!!

For those of you who think you have rust problems on your cars, be thankful it doesn't look like this: http://www.dreamelectric.com/images/lhwhlhs.jpg http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

[This message has been edited by Shawn (edited 12-15-2001).]

been there done that. Rebuilt a 62 impala conv. that you could actually open the doors and walk into the car without stepping up. OUCH!

That car looks Canadian!