1971viking

Besides buying a complete quarter panel any suggestions on how to fix this?

Rear drivers side quarter panel wheel opening rust.

2blu442

If your good with body work or have a friend that is, you can replace just the wheel opening lip. But be sure you get all the rust. You should be able to see part of it from inside the trunk. Then the front part may take a mirror and bright light, going in from the back seat side panel. I've sold a couple wheel well openings to guys with a similar problem. John

1971viking

Thanks John. Now all I need is the wheel well opening. I hate to buy a entire quarter panel for that small piece. Any ideas?

joe_padavano

Two comments. First, replacing the entire quarter at the factory seams will provide a MUCH better end result. Unless the welding is flawless, the seam will always show if you only splice in a small piece. More importantly, no one makes just the lip - you either need to buy a full quarter and cut it up or cut a patch from a parts car.

And if you find a rust free parts car and cut the fender for a small patch, you should have your head examined!

1971viking

You are correct. Doing the entire quarter panel is the way to go. Unfortunately I can't afford the extra expense. I don't need a concourse restoration but I don't want to have to redo it in a few years either. I may need to replace the outer wheel housing as well. I don't want to have $20k into a car that is worth $14k. I don't mind being a little bit in the hole but you have to draw the line somewhere. This is not a 442.

The car is from Alabama so the rest of the body is a 8/10. Maybe I will just focus on the mechanical repairs/upgrades and worry about the body and paint last.

oldsguybry

im in the same boat except mine isnt half as bad as yours , and mine has rust holes at the bottom behind the wheel..... maybe we can split the cost and buy a rear qtr and cut what you need and ill take what i need ( if i get some money in my hand that I can spend that is )