Replace 1/4's or not?

[440]

Well, I surely wasn't expecting to replace any of the quarter panels on my car. Unfortunately after pulling the tail panel it became apparent that it needs a full left side quarter and half right. The left side quarter could be repaired but the labor cost would probably be about the same as replacing it. Due to recent circumstances I don't have the funds to replace it

Do I put the car on hold for another year or just put it back together and forget about it? I have a new tail panel and valance for it.

I must also say that the tail light cut outs leave a lot to be desired.

[Cooter]

You buy that car "Done"?

If so, Hope you can do your own work.

[440]

Yeah, it was bought as is. There's not much rust in the car, trunk floor, rails etc are solid. The valance corner caps need replacing and a small rust spot repaired. The left quarter could stand to be replaced from prior crash damage that was poorly repaired, although it could still be repaired. This is the reason the tail panel is being replaced.

I intend to attack the trunk with a wire wheel and paint it properly.

[Cooter]

Just be prepared for when you remove those quarters and see all the rust you couldn't before.

[440]

I know it's going to be a shock, these things weren't really rust protected. There is a little bit of surface rust under the package tray so I can only imagine what lies under the quarters.

The other option is to put it back together with the new tail panel and valance and not worry about the quarters for now.

[JB400]

I'm one that would do all my body work all at once, but that's just me.

[Ryan]

If you cant afford to do it properly now and you know that you wont be happy with it then wait until you have the cash to do it the way you want. Its more expensive to do it twice. As far as the taillight panel goes. Yes the openings suck and the buckets will need to be rewelded to get the lights to sit correctly. The valance will also require a fair amount of work.

Also for what its worth if I was to do it again on a car that had solid rear window corners then I would probably just use quarter skins and leave the factory door seams, trunk seams ect... alone.

[areibel]

Yeah, fix it.
It sounds like the same thing I found on mine, I knew the passenger quarter had been "sculpted" out of bondo, but I was just going to do a skin on that side along with the trunk floor and tail light panel.  I found a tail light panel close, but looking at the valence I doubt it'll survive being removed and replaced, along with the corners so now they're on the list.  When I pulled out the interior it was a little better news, only a half pan in the front but the drivers side quarter needs patched or replaced in the front dog leg.  Sheesh!    So it'll give me lots to do this winter, I just have to decide whether to whistle in the dark a little and just do the skins instead of the full quarters
or to cut it open and see what scary stuff is hiding in the C pillar!  It was going to be a quick and dirty to get the car on the road, but I don't want to pay for everything twice...

[440]

Ouch, quarters are $990 here and another $1000 - $1500 to fit. I think the car is going to go on hold for a year or so. On the bright side I can finish installing the dash in the meantime and restore the grill (which I was going to do after the tail end)

I know the quarters would bug me if I didn't fix them properly. Depressing to have to do but better long term.

[Ryan]

Ouch, quarters are $990 here and another $1000 - $1500 to fit. I think the car is going to go on hold for a year or so. On the bright side I can finish installing the dash in the meantime and restore the grill (which I was going to do after the tail end)

I know the quarters would bug me if I didn't fix them properly. Depressing to have to do but better long term.

You would be surprised how much of a discount you can get on the quarters if you get them from a AMD distributor. I think I got mine for a little over $700 each. Or you could get and partial quarters.

[440]

Summit has AMD full quarters for $692 and Goodmark fulls for $579. Unfortunately being in Australia your limited to what you can get. Shipping them on your own would be a killer  

All the car needs aside front quarters is a grill restoration to be really tidy.

[Ryan]

ya that doesnt help you at all. Looking back ay my records looks like I paid around $525 each full panel.

Contact "elite custom body" he is a member here as well as on moparts.
And again don't be afraid of using the AMD partial skins. Nothing wrong with them as long as they are installed by someone who knows what they are doing. would save you a lot of money.

[JB400]

I sent him a pm of what I have been quoted for a pair of full quarters.

[440]

Thanks Stroker/Ryan, I'll send him a PM and see what they'll be landed. My guess is they'll be about the same as what I can get locally if not more.

I think I'll gather the parts to do the rear and finish putting the dash together. I'll also restore the grill in the meantime till I can get enough cash to do the tail.

I think I'll also replace the tank too but keep the sender unit as it all still works fine.

[1970Moparmann]

You might want to check out your rockers depending on how bad the quarters are.   

Select a reputable person to install them also.  My brother-in-law (rest his piece) had a guy weld his metal work, and it was BAD.  My poor sister has spent thousands on replacing the crappy work this other guy did. 

[Dino]

Since you're so far away, if the metal on that left one is still good I'm all for trying to save it.  Worst that can happen is that you spend time removing paint and bondo only to find out you can't fix it.  The metal on these things is pretty solid so even if it looks like someone ran over it, you can still get it nice and straight with some effort.  You can also use same gauge steel to make patch panels, depending on how bad the bottoms of the quarters are.

Regardless of the route you choose I would defnitely not weld the new parts in without tackling the rest.  You'd never be happy with the result.

[jet]

Hi 440, I need to buy 2 rear quarters for a 70 charger.  I believe I have got 2 companies that can ship to Aust.. Might be possible to combine an order. Where are you located.      jet

[440]

Thanks Jet, I'm in Adelaide. Where are you? I couldn't buy them at least for a couple of months even if a smoking deal landed at my feet. Everything else took my cash that I had saved up to complete the car.

Luckily the Aussie dollar is good so the panels will be cheaper again but freight, tax, import fees etc might make it more expensive, unless you need a full container load of stuff. I also know a shipper that might be able to get them here reasonably cheaply but I haven't inquired yet.

[Patronus]

I dont know about the shipping.. but: www.521restorations.com

[440]

The quarters could be saved although the lower body line and where it meets the tail panel is a bit screwed up on the left side. Maybe cut out the damaged portions to save as much original quarter as possible? In my experience so far aftermarket never fits nearly as well even though you should technically be able to get it to fit better than new. If the AMD tail panel and valance are any indication of how the quarters will be then I'd do anything to try and save as much of the existing quarter as possible.  

[jet]

Good lead thanks Patronus, I will save the link. 440, I iive on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melb. The contacts for shipping are in Melb. and  the goods would be in a ''shared '' container. I have a new AMD full 68 rh rear 1/4 I bought for a 70 but would rather not modify the side marker light cutout.  Disappointing  that the AMD panels dont fit. I thought they were better than the rest.

[440]

I know the Mornington Peninsula, my wife is from Melbourne. Hopefully the quarters are better than the tail pieces.

Elko is reasonably close to you considering, just expensive and don't get back to you when they say they will.

[jet]

Wonder if Elko could do a good price on 4 off ? Havent heard any glowing reports about them. Had one small deal with them thats all.