2.3Turbo_T
Well-known member
First, I wanna thank the mods for reinstating me! Second, I'm not much of a welder. This is pretty much my first time welding sheet metal so try not to laugh! I've posted this on a couple of other websites and it got good reviews so now it's RRR's turn. I guess you can consider this a 'tech tip'. Wasn't quite sure where to post it. So, without further adeu, here's my contribution to dirt cheap rat rodding.....................
Quarter panels are shot! The bottom halves are virtually missing and the good metal is paper thin! After pricing repos ($500 a pair!), I decided to make my own on the cheap.
First order of business was determining the contour of the original panel.
Off to Pick-N-Pull to find some donor sheetmetal with just the right curvature. Picked up a '91 Chevy van hood for $35 on half price day! It seems all late 80's to mid 90's Chevy & GMC vans have the same hood. There's enough metal to do 2 quarters.
Couldn't have been more perfect!
Had to remove the inner structure. About 50 spot welds! Easiest way I found was to grind the majority of the weld down with a carbide bit in a die grinder then drill out the final millimeter with a 1/4" bit. Took about 20 minutes!
Quarter panels are shot! The bottom halves are virtually missing and the good metal is paper thin! After pricing repos ($500 a pair!), I decided to make my own on the cheap.
First order of business was determining the contour of the original panel.
Off to Pick-N-Pull to find some donor sheetmetal with just the right curvature. Picked up a '91 Chevy van hood for $35 on half price day! It seems all late 80's to mid 90's Chevy & GMC vans have the same hood. There's enough metal to do 2 quarters.
Couldn't have been more perfect!
Had to remove the inner structure. About 50 spot welds! Easiest way I found was to grind the majority of the weld down with a carbide bit in a die grinder then drill out the final millimeter with a 1/4" bit. Took about 20 minutes!
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