I'm looking for the best option to repair my passenger side rear lower quarter panel. Drivers side is in much better shape with surface rust along the underside. I'm not familiar with bodywork, however I don't mind attempting it, until I can do major bodywork in a few years. I just don't have the funds with a new engine getting built, and all the other priority parts needed for this build. I have some rust around the lower dash channel area, but I found out it's not too bad, and I can have metal welded in. Is it worth fixing the trunk or should I just replace it with a solid one? I have no fabrication skill, so I'm wondering if fiberglass is the way to go?

Thanks,
Kino

 

In my opinion . I would say find a donor quarter and weld it in, but I have fabricated a patch panel in the past and welded it in . I have no body work experience except on two cars that I owned and it didn't look bad at all but you could tell that work was done . I would not bondo over rust it will just creat head ace in the future

 

You might have to also patch the inner liner. That rust looks a lot more invasive than just surface, and judging by the deck lid - it will need replacing. Once the rust gets between the pinch welded areas you pretty much have to cut it out to get rid of it. You can buy replacement skins for the quarter, new liners/trunk drops too.

Take a good look at the vinyl near the trim moldings. Look for bubbling and press hard on it to see if it crumbles. You might have more damage there than meets the eye.

I'm not bashing the car - just making an observation. You're spending money on the motor - no problem. But you need something solid and safe you can then cruise in. Just from the small areas you've shown in pics, it looks like you have some extensive body work ahead?

 

I would say you may want to leave this work to someone who has body work experience. As Allan mentioned, the trunk lid is toast and needs to be replaced. And the rust on that quarter will get much worse by the time someone starts digging into the repair. I admire your willingness to give it a try but this is not be a good project for a beginner. The tools to fix this will also be an issue for you since you don't weld and have to farm that out. Find a good shop that's willing to work with you and you'll be much happier in the end. This is not a repair that can be fixed with fiberglass with the hope of it being a permanent repair. You need new metal that could get as involved as a new quarter panel, outer wheelhouse, trunk drop and maybe patching the inner wheelhouse. At first glance it may not look as involved as you think, but this is a fairly involved project and requires skills and tools.

Brian

 

X2 on above. Thats not a bondo or fiberglass job. If you dont have the time or money to do it right the least you can do is try to stop the rust from getting worse for now. POR15 is a good rust stopper.

 

Alright that is the feedback I was looking for! My uncle suggested I take the car to his buddy's shop. I had it towed there for $25.00 bucks. He put it on a lift, and looked it over, and checked the inner fender, pulled the chrome molding off near the vinyl top (no bubbling). He said it would not be a big deal to repair the quarter, somehow the rust is contained in that area shown. The outer and inner wheelhouse are good. He said he rather fabricate a patch panel than replacing the rear quarter. He agreed that another trunk lid is the way to go. I was shown a few cars in his shop that have had similiar work performed.

There were two customers at the shop whose cars were there. I told him that you guys bashed me for trying to do this myself, and he said "good", because I would of jacked a rather solid car..... He said if I was willing to learn small things I could come to the shop anytime I wanted to graudually learn. I told him I would be down there on my off days. I don't expect this to be done anytime soon, but it is a start. Here is a photo of my first task....

Thanks for the advice guys!

Kino

 

I hope you do take full advantage of that offer!! That's a perfect way to learn and to see exactly what is involved with auto body repair and painting. That's almost as good or even better than going to school to learn this trade. Maybe you can participate in some of the work on your car which would be cool.

Brian

 

Glad to hear you're getting it done professionally. And what's this about us 'bashing you'??? Well if it helped you negotiate a better deal that's ok too.

I'm impressed that they will let you come in to learn skills. Take advantage of that. ALSO, ask him when he's planning to work on the car so you can be there to take pictures of the progress.

The deck lid for your car is reproduced. I saw one that was bought from Fusick on a 72 Cutlass S at our 'All Olds Show' last July and it looked really good. Don't know how much tweaking went into it though.

Here's a quick lookup I did for you with vendors, part number and prices. Check with the vendor closest to you for shipping because these are "oversized" items and the shipping can vary with distance.

Fusick - part TL702S - 389.00
Parts Place - part BP1256T 329.00
OPGI - part C240247 310.00 (currently on sale) regular 342.00
USA Parts Supply - part A12.180D 359.00
Year One - not available for fastbacks

 

Thanks for the part numbers Allan. I'm going to take full advantage of his offer! I always wanted to learn paint & bodywork, but after high school it was baseball, then the Navy, college, and now my job. So I'm very greatful for this opportunity! I got a few cars in front of me. Pictures will be coming once the process starts. I guess I will have plenty of time to decide to leave it this color or slightly change it.

Kino

 

The car looks to be in overall nice shape. I looked at it on your home photos. Those stripes don't look right to me though, the car is not original paint is it? The W29 topic came up on another thread and I'm sorry I can't remember which one.

There were 8674 W29 hardtop/coupes produced in 72. Of that total, 7313 were AT, 1121 were 4 speed MT, and 240 were 3 speed MT. There were also 1171 CS vert W29's produced that year. Check and see if your VIN has a V in it. If it does your car was originally a 4speed from the factory. I know you had a Chevy 396 and 4 speed in the car. BTW, usually the SBO had the 3:23 gears and the BBO had the 3:42's. I was confused why you wanted to go the other way around?

I've never seen the sport mirrors color coded to the roof before. And 1 last question, who is that in your sig line?

 

I'm sure it was re-painted once. It doesn't match the paint code which is Saturn Gold. Looks like they attempted Baroque Gold, which still doesn't match, but I like the Baroque Gold, because it looks nice when you have the white interior. I never seen the sport mirrors color-coded to the vinyl top either, but its different, as is the color coded spoiler. No V in the VIN. It's a M code born with a 350 4barrel out of Lansing. Not sure what you mean by wanting to go the other way around with the gears? Never mind I just wrote it the opposite way in my post.

I'm building a 455, and with the specifications of the engine build a 3.73 gear is the best for it, but a 3.42 will do also, which I may do for better street manners. There is a 4.88 gear on it now.... Don't really understand why for a sorry 396 even with a 4-speed. The female in my sig line is a friend I met when I was in the Navy, who made it in modeling and minor acting. Her name is Vida Guerra. I still have Facebook contact with her even though she made it and is so busy. That was another good thing about the Navy I met alot of people!

Kino

 

Glad to hear you have help !! If you look in my album of my 72 cs I did all the body work including paint it was my first It looked a lot like yours in the rear quarters and idid patch panels . Made of some hoods going to the scrap yard .

Now on my current project I have a few friends in the body shop of a dealer that I work at and i have been watching asking questions so that I can do a better job this time around . But I got to say hands on learning with a pro is the way to go and when your done you can say I helped achieved this .

Just my 2 cents

Love the cutlass s

 

Is the 64 olds yours or a customers

 

If I can stay focused on my project it will remain another customer's 64, but I was looking at it very hard, because he just got done restoring another car, and now wants to buy a Impala. It's so tempting though,I already thought about making an offer, and hiding it at the shop, but my wife would chop me while I'm sleeping if I pulled the trigger. I may have to take her to Puerto Rico and a cruise, and use it as bait, LOL. I never see those cars around, until I have my hands full!

Kino

 

Lol so true. my 13 year old son found a 64 cutlass that some one stripped put in floor pan and gave up ,he wants me to buy it for him and as I take my stock parts out put them in it just to have a running car so he can build it during high school . Surprising my wife said if its still there at tax return time it's a go

 

Man that would be a awesome father-son project! My kids are still young, but they love helping Dad with his cars. BTW I really dig your 65! I prefer those over the 64's.

 

Thanks . it's a funny story how I got it , but it's in many pieces right now. I love the 64 tail lights and the 65 front clip I kinda want to build it with the 65 front clip no one would notice but a olds guy


I have to say I still love the 68-72 cutlass too

Sorry to have taken the thread off corse a bit keep us updated on the repairs

 

I thought that was Vida......she is a very sexy woman. She used to do that lowrider show didn't she?

 

Yes she is, and she hosted a show called " livin the low life " on the Speed Channel. Awesome color on your Cutty!

 

Thanks for the compliment, that was a cool show, cool cars, hot host! I think she is Cuban descent? My first wife is Cuban.....

Your car is an awesome find! Don't see many w-29's being done! If it was Nugget gold, IMO, one of the hottest colors offered! Take your time on the car. It's worth it....need any advice, let me know!