anyone know if someone makes a patchpanel for the inner rear fenderwells.I started cutting into the 54 yesterday and the rot is not terrible,seems more the inner panels than the outer.I have new inner and outer rear quarters and the outer wheel arch panels but as I cut out the outer wheel well I seem to be miising the bottom inch of the inners.I can make something up and weld it in but sure would be nice to find a patch panel for it.I will post pics soon,just have to download them.
ok lets see if we can get some pics up.So for awhile I have noticed a crack just above the drivers side wheelwell.That and I knew the lower quarters were loose and the hole for the skirt pin was rusted out.I started on the drivers side cause I know its the worst of the rust issues.I used some aircraft paint stripper and after 4 layers of paint and primer I am down to bare steel.My plan is to take the entire car down to bare metal.I think however I will take off the front clip,trunk,splash pans and have them soda blasted.That will just leave the main body,doors,roof and rear quarters to strip.So once I was down to bare metal I found a area about 6 inches long and an inch and a half wide that had been cut out and then literally packed full of bondo.It was at least and inch deep,right back to the inner panel.It also appears someone tried to put in a patch just above it cause whwn I cut it out the meatl was twice as thick at least as the original metal.I cut maybe 2 inches above the original fenderline to get rid of the crappy stuff.Maybe a little higher but not because of rot,more just to gain access to the inner panel.Actually on the passenger side there is no rot on the outer panel,nice solid metal but again the bottom inch of the inner panel is bad.I may try just to replace the inner panel only from inside the wheelwell and not cut the outer.I also took off about four inches of the rear quarter to get back to solid steel.Again the last inch of the inner is bad and had broken away from the outer panel.I think the big job will be recreating the inner wheel well.I have all the replacement panels for the rest.I am a little disappointed in the wheelwell outer panels as they should have a good 1/2 inch lip on them and they only have a quarter inch on them.Lots of work ahead but will tinker as I can over the winter and be ready for paint in spring.
Got a few more hours to work on the 54 today and another gorgeous fall day to work with the doors open.So cut up another few inches on the rear quarters.Feel kinda bad cutting into good sheetmetal but a necessary evil I guess to get a good look at the inner fenders.I wire brushed off the old undercoat to get to bare metal.Got some work to do but not terrible and i'm pretty sure this is the worst side by far.Next a did a quick wire wheel of the drivers side rocker and again not to bad.I thought it was going to be bondo front to rear but only from the front to the front door area.The rear is nice solid metal,except for the rear jut out under the chrome trim which I know is rotten.But hey only half a rocker to replace on this side.
Brian, i do not know who carries sheet metal panels for your car but i wanted to just let you know....................... you are doing a fabulous job brother. Hopefully someone can pipe in and let you know where panels are sold for your car. Continued good luck with your resto. Cheers. George.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Thanks George,i actually don't mind doing the cutting out part.I actually have 90% of the panels I need,just the rear inner wheelwell arches that i'll have to hand make.Actuallt just the bottom inch and a half or so good and solid after that.I'll pick up some 22 gauge metal tomorrow.I think the scariest part for me is welding everything back in.I have a little 110 air liquid mig welder but been a bit since I've used it for anything.I'll start on the inner so I can hide some of my mistakes if I have to.Hopefully by the time I get to the outers i'll be practiced up a bit.Wish me luck
