I have been busy doing surgery on my 66 442, removing the rusted out pieces of the lower rear quarter panels, dropoffs and trunk pan. I have new parts ready to weld in, and I am looking for guidance on the best place to start. The trunk pan I have is individual pieces, not a complete pre-made unit. I am thinking it might be easier to weld up the trunk floor sections and bracing before installation? Looking for whatever guidance you can provide (yeah, I know, take it to the body shop and let them do it). I am one of those committed (or should be) do it yourselfer's, just wind me up and point me in the right direction. I can weld, and have done body work, just never this large a project from scratch.
Thanks,
Randy

 

Randy:
I am at the same point in my body off resto of my 66 Cutlass, I would really like opinions of some of the guys who have done this before.
Thanks Ron

 

Well Ron, looks like we're on our own.............

 

I think you will get a better fit in the trunk pan putting the 2 outside pieces in and the the center. That is how i did mine and i think trying to get thepeice installed in 1 piece would be difficult. I was worried about placement of the braces but with careful measuring mine lined up perfectly- I did a frame off.

 

shoot guys im a body man

 

How is this-

 

looks very nice i would add some more welds around the inner wheel housing to the truck floor are and i would also add a few more welds in between the welds. grind them down. then care fully brush seam seal over them after you add a good primer over the welds. I like to tape off the areas i dont want seam sealed so i can get a nice even uniform look. You can also just add enough tac welds to cover it all up and just grind em down which at that point no seam sealer would be needed. it's personal preference.

 

Thanks for the tips. Since we have the lower quater panels removed, would the flow go - floor pans, then dropoffs, then quarter panel patches?

 

The way i like to do it is center out back to front. So yes rear trunk , then drop offs, then quarters then you hang your doors and align them then put your fenders on and align them the the hood. Now only if it was that simple lol. I would put the center piece of the floor in sheet metal screw it in place then your side pieces then your drop offs. once you get everything where it should be leave the screws in to hold things in place start welding remove the screws and weld the holes shut.

 

I totally agree and have proved this assembly as coppercutlass recommended. Be aware the repop drop offs sold for the cutlass are generic, possibly based on chevelle dims so it is a couple inches short. I cut mine in half and installed front and rear and made a piece to section in.Again it came out pretty nice with some patience.

 

My frankenstien rear qtr patches. Sectioned old front fenders for the wheel lip and then i had some stainless I bent to fit the rear.

 

I was able to find a set that are the correct size.

 

Randy
Please post the source and p/n
I couldnt find them although it was 2010 and more and more repops are available

 

[QUOTE=Mikes65;537155]Randy
Please post the source and p/n
I couldnt find them although it was 2010 and more and more repops are available[/QUO0TE]

The Company is CARid. Here is a link to the item: http://www.carid.com/1966-oldsmobile...nks-tailgates/
Their prices are good too.

 

Mine is a 65 the Goodmark drop offs listed say 66
Mine looked the same as pictured and were Goodmark but were short