Should I attempt quarter panel install???

[69XP383]

I am at a cross-road with my 69...

I should probably replace both rear quarter panels (as well as the outer wheel housings, rockers, and tail panel) but cash is becoming an issue. Body guy looked at it and of course he agreed at $45 an hour.

I have the option of attempting this myself with some guidance, but I'm not sure I want to tackle it. The quarters are probably the only thing stopping me from getting on with the project, so I need to decide...attempt it, or sell the car.

Any advice? I've only done some minor repairs around the rear window channel and it turned out fine. Borrowing a mig welder...etc.

Who is a good/cheap supplier for the quarter skins, rockers, and wheel housings?

Also, had anyone tried one of the fiberglass hoods and if so, how well did they work, i.e. are they really a direct fit replacement, or is not worth the pain of modifying them to fit?

Brian

[Silver R/T]

I had fiberglass hood on my Charger, it didn't fit so I threw a stock one on there. Its better to pay a pro to do major body work. really depends on your technical knowledge and how good do you want it to come out.

[bull]

The fact that you asked the question tells me you shouldn't do it. You don't have enough confidence in your abilities. However, I'm not sure why the only option to not making the repairs yourself is selling the car?

[timinator]

I did mine and had no idea how when I started. Eastwood has some great videos and I studied textbooks too. You need a compressor, air tools and a welder. Being patient, taking your time and learning is the way to do it. I've seen body shops do crappy jobs and still charge the owner thousands of dollars. I figured I could screw it up for free. I messed things up along the way but redid them and learned in the process. I replaced both quarters, trunk, wheel housings, tail panel and lower valence. Here's some pics of before and after on mine. I know it's done right. You have to be obsessed to finish it once you start and I was obsessed having a red 69!

[Silver R/T]

good job timinator, where did you get your full 1/4 panel?

[70charger_boy]

I say go for it.  If you take it to a body shop and they don't do a good job, then you will be disappointed and broke.  If you tackle it yourself and do it, in the end you will get satisfaction out of doing it yourself.  I bought a 68 torino and replaced both quarters on it.  It was good practice for a real car like a Charger.  I took alot of notes and pictures and I know what to do next time to make it look good

[Silver R/T]

if you take it to body shop they should make it look very good thats what they do. If not they will have to redo it.

[timinator]

good job timinator, where did you get your full 1/4 panel?

The local junkyard had 3 69 Chargers. I picked them clean. I only paid $250 for both quarters and that included the wheel housings and trunk extensions. I think they fit better and are heavier gauge metal than the skins you can buy. I didn't want a huge weld seam that you get with skins so I cut it just above the vinyl top trim line. I didn't want to take it to the factory seam which is higher to avoid alignment issues with the rear window channel. I actually can't believe how well it turned out.

[Silver R/T]

ya thats very good fit, of course you can expect that when you're using factory replacement part.

[rlushia]

Hey guys

Don't go with out new quarter panels before you check with me. I have posted that I now own Classic Body Designs Inc. and I have made in America 68,69 and 70 charger quarters and now the door skins. They are beautiful and of the gauge the are suppose to be  (18 gauge) and I know mine are a little expensive compared to the ones made over the waters but I have put the offer out to the forum member to work out a group buy. I have sold quite a few already and so far everyone is happy with them. Just give me a call and we can chat that can't hurt can it. I will not promote anything I can't ship I promise that. I am sure that you are all aware of the cost to do these right but like I said I would like to work out a deal for all the charger people that are members of this forum .  Hoping I can help

Thanks

Ron Lushia
Classic Body Designs Inc.
248-623-5952 office
248-767-9029  cell   

[Silver R/T]

Hey guys

Don't go with out new quarter panels before you check with me. I have posted that I now own Classic Body Designs Inc. and I have made in America 68,69 and 70 charger quarters and now the door skins. They are beautiful and of the gauge the are suppose to be (18 gauge) and I know mine are a little expensive compared to the ones made over the waters but I have put the offer out to the forum member to work out a group buy. I have sold quite a few already and so far everyone is happy with them. Just give me a call and we can chat that can't hurt can it. I will not promote anything I can't ship I promise that. I am sure that you are all aware of the cost to do these right but like I said I would like to work out a deal for all the charger people that are members of this forum . Hoping I can help

Thanks

Ron Lushia
Classic Body Designs Inc.
248-623-5952 office
248-767-9029 cell

can you set up a group buy?

[70charger_boy]

I wanna know if you're gonna make any 70 charger fenders?? 

[700jfm]

If you have all the equipment and somewhere to work on it I say go for it. That"s what I"m doing I need two quarters and trunk with connectors. I called Paddock and almost bought there 88"x 32" skins and the man said if i could wait they might be getting the full quarters in a few months. If you decide to sell- how much do you want???

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Hey guys

Don't go with out new quarter panels before you check with me. I have posted that I now own Classic Body Designs Inc. and I have made in America 68,69 and 70 charger quarters and now the door skins. They are beautiful and of the gauge the are suppose to be  (18 gauge) and I know mine are a little expensive compared to the ones made over the waters but I have put the offer out to the forum member to work out a group buy. I have sold quite a few already and so far everyone is happy with them. Just give me a call and we can chat that can't hurt can it. I will not promote anything I can't ship I promise that. I am sure that you are all aware of the cost to do these right but like I said I would like to work out a deal for all the charger people that are members of this forum .  Hoping I can help

Thanks

Ron Lushia

You get waht ya' pay for. Do not buy cheap Asian queaters.
Classic Body Designs Inc.
248-623-5952 office
248-767-9029  cell   

[rlushia]

Just for the records i did not put the comment you get what you pay for in my message to you all. I can see it is a feeling out there but I try not to put the competition down, and just try to have the best product out there. I am optimistic that all the devoted Charger people will check it out.

Thanks

Ron Lushia
Classic Body Designs Inc.

[69XP383]

Thanks for the input so far, if the state I work for would ever decide if we were foing to be laid off or not, maybe I could make a decision as to wether to sell the car or not. I wasn't planning on replacing the quarters, but at least the passenger side should go if the car was going to be right. Maybe I should post pics and get some more opinions as to wether or not to replace them. Not much rust, just a lot of filler in some areas; quarters were already replaced once...

[The70RT]

If there isn't much rust you may be better off straightening them but to me that would be more work but would be the best choice I think. If a body shop did it it should we less than replacing it / them, unless they are really banged up. I only replaced one. It had a fair amount of rust and the lower wheel housing needed patched. I could of repaired it but someone drilled holes all the way down the center where the line is and i knew if I repaired all the holes and tried to get a good center line back It would take longer than it is now. If I could have paid a body shop and maybe saved it but I probably knocked off a couple grand on body work.

[dodgecharger-fan]

If the wheelhouses need replacing, then I, personally, would pay to get it all done.
The repop wheelhouses are made for Coronets. Chargers are a bit different. As such, you need to cut a triangle out of part of the wheelhouse and then weld what's left together to get the right lines.

http://www.69hemi.com/rq/page_02.htm
second picture from the bottom.

If that doesn't scare you at all, then most of the rest of what needs to be done shouldn't.