SE Tail Panel does not fit - PLEASE HELP!

[KZ]

Ok folks, the SE tail panel is wider on the right side than it is on the left side, and as you can see, the right side sticks out past the end of the body.

I paid a small fortune for the SE tail panel and am wondering if any of you have experienced something similar or have some ideas as to how the right end can be "reshaped" without destroying the anodized aluminum? The left panel is the left side, the middle panel is the right side and the right panel is the right side but looking from front to back.

Thanks

[rUNCHARGER]

Quarters replaced?

Sheldon

[KZ]

I told my body man to keep as much of the original sheet metal as possible on this car. I may be wrong but I think on the right rear side he actually cut part of the lower Qtr panel that was rusted and then patched in a new piece, which was probably from AMD

[KZ]

Picture of the rear qtr panel

[rUNCHARGER]

Hmm: That should work.
They can be massaged but you really have to figure out where it is hitting and think long and hard before trying anything. I really don't even want to suggest anything without seeing it in person, do you have an old SE trim panel you can experiment with by chance?
I had to fiddle with mine, I think it was rubbing on the bottom inside and it was holding the outside edge out like yours. The inside has to come in tight to the tail panel and that brings the outside in as well.
When they are fit there is probably zero clearance between the sheetmetal to the molding and the smallest interference holds them out.
You might even have to slide it slightly to the left side to compensate a bit. Are the original screw holes there and do they line up?

Sheldon

[1 Wild R/T]

Hate to say it but thats why you fit every piece before paint...  I have a nothing Falcon station wagon thats been assembled & disassembled a dozen times fitting body parts & trim....  With a non SE you have two small pieces of trim that can be adjusted to fit, with the full panel the body should be massaged to fit... But at this point I think I'd be loosening all the hardware, center the panel so you have equal overhang on both sides, tighten one side and the center hardware, carefully muscle the other side so it fits the quarter as well as you can, then tighten the bolts on that side & loosen the bolts on the other side & see if it can be muscled into place.... 

Good luck,

[KZ]

Could a guy "pull" on that right rear qtr to hopefully get it to line up with the SE panel? It does;t look to need much

[rUNCHARGER]

I don't think so. Basically you probably have to bow the trim panel slightly in the middle bottom of it to get it to be narrower on the bottom outside (I am only guessing here as I would have to see it to be sure). You don't have to physically bend it, it will bow itself as you install it if you apply light force to the bottom outsides. Also it is most likely that the trim panel is hitting the sheetmetal which is stopping it from going in.
I hope I am explaining this correctly, like I say you have to find out what is holding it up and proceed very carefully.
If you had fully changed the quarters I would be worried but it looks like the top half of the quarter above the trim line is untouched, factory original. Also the tailpanel did not shrink.
Check to see where the trim panel is hitting the sheetmetal. It could be the bottom where the trim panel slides in just above the bumper.

Sheldon

[rUNCHARGER]

If you haven't already put some duct tape on the ends of the quarter while you mess around with it.

Sheldon

[soundcontrol]

Looks like the left side quarter is slightly twisted in the first picture, like the bottom part is pulled in too much, resulting in a slight twist. Was the taillight panel out by chance? The taillight panel would keep the correct distance, but if that was out the quarter might have moved.

[KZ]

as I was not there when the body work was done, I could not tell you, but both sides were cut at the same place to keep as much OEM sheet metal as possible

[rUNCHARGER]

The way the guy did the quarters means the measurement has not been changed. So you should be able to finess that trim panel on.

Sheldon

[KZ]

I appreciate all of your replies/suggestions/comments, I have asked the body man to hook up with the assembly guy to see if they can use everyone's comments

I amy know of someone who has a unrestored SE tail panel but what do you think the odds are that this one would fit any better? It will still have to be restored. I am not too thrilled about that