how hard is it to replace the quarter panel skin??(69 cuda)

[69cuda]

how hard is it to replace the quarter panel skin??(69 cuda)

[matt63]

I tried once and decided I didn't have the body work skills to do a nice job that would last.  The other consideration is that some panels need serious body work skills to get fitted and to get the lines right.  It's not always as simple as welding them on.  You can always fit the panels temporarily and see how much work is required before deciding which way to go.  Just don't cut too much metal out.

[elitecustombody]

it's not that hard if you know what you're doing,but if you never done it, I would find someone who has experience to atleast give you some pointers of maybe supervise the process,I'm sure there are bunch of pics on here and other boards to get a general idea of what it takes,the hard part is drilling out the spotwelds and removing the old sheetmetal,but prepping for new quarter is important ,so you can get good heat penetration when welding ,you will need more than a few pairs of vise-grips

  Stefan   

[Topcat]

If you are really planning to do this by yourself, its best to try to have all the tools necessary first before you begin. The one thing you will discover that is very important to have is a good air compressor. By good I mean one that will keep up with all types of air tools that can drain your tank down fast. 15+ @ 100 psi is ideal with a 60 gal tank.
I know this all too well as now I need to upgrade my pump and motor HP.

Next, you will need a mig welder is my preference. That really won't be needed until your ready to install the new quarter panel back on. Hobart, Miller and Lincoln are the best choices and many members here probably have one of these that are DIY'rs.

To start with, you just need to take your time. Get to know how everything is attached. you will find divits spots that secure the panel throughout that are the spot welds. Sometimes they are hard to see. Use a 3M paint remover roloc (the spongy dark colored one) and go over the area. They suddenly show up where you couldn't see them before. You will be drilling these out with a spot weld cutter. Then, persuading them to separate using pry bars and chisels of all sizes to gently separate without denting.

if you have a good collection of Mopar magazines, I would go thru them and try to find all the articles on how they did it. A really good one recently on doing the dutchman panel was in the 12/07 of Mopar Muscle and 10/06 issues. This isn't a quarter panel, but metal is metal. The only thing they differ is how they go on. Anyway, read, read, read, and look at lots of pictures and you will start to get a picture in your mind on how the procedure should be done.

When you get to the door area edge and the tail panel, you are at a cross roads. Some recommend leaving a lip edge as a reference and butt welding the new edge to the existing. Some say do it all. You need to decide... do you really want the complete panel replaced? Or just the bad inner majority leaving all outer edges as a reference for the new. If you decide to do the whole complete, drill a few small holes priors in strategic locations and on the new one in the same exact locations on the new one. this is on edge areas where you drill. now line up the holes and you should be pretty close to how the old one came off. do you follow me on this? All your steel areas that are going to be re welded together, give a light spray of weld primer. That way if it takes longer before decide to weld, they won't start to rust.

I don't know your skill level of ever doing anything like this before. I haven't done it before either and I don't claim to be an expert. but I read and studied a lot of pictures. And I think it's starting to pay off.