I have a 70 Chevelle and my rear window channel is rusted through on the right side. Is this channel replaced with a full quarter panel? I'm planning on putting in full quarter panels. If not how can I go about fixing it.

Thanks,

The Germ

Sounds a little like what I am going through, could you get some photos? Rear quarters, whew thats a project and some money.... I welded in new floors last year, that was my most grooling task yet on here.

I'll get some photos tonight and post them.

There is a replacement panel available which goes from the bottom of the rear window, to the trunk opening. It replaces the two rounded corners of the window opening. Search around at the usual vendors...I'm sure you will find one.

I actually need the right side between the window channel and the sail panel of the quarter panel.

Yup, part of the quarter panel.... If the rest of the quarters are in decent shape I'd see if you or someone else could fab up a patch panel. That's what I've been working on. Ugly stuff (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70mousejob/Ugly.JPG) This one (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70mousejob/Moreugly.JPG) is harder to see, but is the scarier rot. I've already done about 1/2 of the work, definitely not my favorite stuff to find.
Best of luck!

Thanks 70mousejob! I looked at your pics... the rust on mine is pretty close to the same on the left side of your window channel. The only difference is that mine is on the right side. I'm going to have to replace the quarter panels anyways so if that fixes the problem I'll be ok.

The rust holes you describe in the window track are almost identical to mine. They're about 1" above the bottom of the opening, along the right side and extend to some degree, approx 2" up the inside of the track.

The affected metal is part of the 1/4-panel and not part of the sail. I also have some additional rust under this hole, on the metal speaker deck. Try finding one of those as a replacement!

Anyway, since I'm a computer guy and not a bodyshop guy, is there a particular gauge and/or type of metal to use when ginning up a patch panel, or could one conceivably grind down and fill these holes? I'll farm the work out (somewhere), but I'm trying to get an idea of what the repairs will consist of. If a panel can be "made", it may not need a full 1/4. Patch panels are wa-a-a-a-ay cheaper! smile.gif

I too likely will need to replace the entire 1/4, since there is a considerably large hole behind the wheel and other misc damage above and in front of it as well. It seems odd, that considering the rest of the car shows little to no rust that this panel could be so bad...

The panel below the rear window DOES NOT include the corners. I have one from OPG waiting to be installed. Waiting for me to repair the rusted out corners. Previous posts on this topic indicate a demand for a small section including the corners but, for now, a quarter panel or do-it-yourself are your only choices. :(

You should look for a doner car someplace and chop out the sections you need. Is that speaker and rear seat panel brand new? It looks real nice in that area.

Looks like alot of Sacramento's in here graemlins/beers.gif

donor car or as a lot of people on the east coast have done, just cut sheetmetal to shape and then hammer to form, weld in and finish work the area.

My back window was the same way when they took off the vinyl roof and removed the back window. The shop refabricated the entire channel. See my pics on my site under "Body Shop Photos". smile.gif

Hey pnut

Yeah, at least two anyway... graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Are you in the city? I'm in Rocklin...

Yeah Im in Sacramento right off 50/watt ave. I just scored a job at Tognotti's too graemlins/beers.gif

Tognotti's huh?
Now THERE's a car parts store!

Imagine, folks... a Wal-Mart sized store!

Good luck pnut!

Unfortunatley the previous owner put a half quarter on over the original quarter panel with rivots and then put bondo over it. So I'm going to have to remove the quarter panels anyways. So I gather that the sides of the window channel are replaced when you install a new quarter? If this is true then I guess I don't have to worry about it.

The Germ