Scored a pair of completely rust-free quarters for my 70 yesterday. These were properly removed from the donor with cuts well beyond the factory seams. The quarters have the inner and outer wheelhouses still attached (cuts were through the trunk floor). I haven't checked the condition of my wheelhouses yet, but I'm wondering if it would be better to leave these wheelhouses attached to the quarters and replace the whole thing as an assembly. That keeps the factory welds at the fender openings - all new welds are well hidden. My question is, can you even do this? Has anyone tried it this way? Can you physically fit the combined quarters and wheelhouses in place in one piece and can you access all the spot weld points if you do? I suspect that alignment would be easier if I left my wheelhouses in place. Thanks.

 

Joe, while I haven't done what you propose, I have replaced quarters in the past. I think it would be doable to replace the quarter and wheelhouses as an assembly but it would be much harder to do. You would need to align may peices all at the same time. Plus, it would involve drilling out a lot more spot welds for the inner wheelhouse because it not only attaches to the trunk floor but you also have the brace to the deck lid hinges. The outer wheel house also connects to the trunk drops and also into the rockers. If your wheelhouses are in good condition or if the rust is limited to the outer wheelhouses, I would give thought to just replacing what needs to be done and leave all else alone. If you do decide to replace everything, it may be easier to take things apart and weld everythng back together. If you go that route, drill small holes where there are no spot welds before taking pieces apart and use them as alignment marks and places where screws can be installed to hold things together along with clamps for welding. That way it goes back togther in the same exact manner. Just my opinion. See if anyone has done it and can comment further.

 

It would be very hard to do that as one big assembly. Your best bet is to clean it all up drill all the spot welds out and doint piece by piece. The more bulk you have the harder it is to align things up . You also can't really use the spot welds or in between for align ment because they can vary i know for a fact not all factory spot welds match. I usually use vice grip/ claps and align things and sheet metal screw it all together it if fits and i have no major flaw's gap's etc then i take it back apart and weld it all up after the metal is prepped for welding.

 

I appreciate the comments. I had a hunch that it would not work in one piece, I just wanted confirmation if anyone has tried it. In looking at the quarters, there are some dings at the wheel openings that will be much easier to get out if I separate the quarters from the wheelhouses anyway. Just seems a waste to drill out those factory welds.

 

Yes,it can be done,and yes,it has been done.It takes the right person who has the patience & skill.I did a car like that before,and I am still glad I did it that way.

 

I have done em in pieces and its. Just easier for me. I have done quarters on newer oem cars like that in one piece but there is always guys in the shop to help me. When I work on my car I fly solo.