I have finally had some time to get going on the 70 Cuda I want to build for my daughter. I have some questions about saving, or not saving some sheet metal. I would like to use as much original metal as I can. First off is the cowl. It was rusted under the lower windshield molding and someone had brazed patches in. I have cut out the patches, but still have brass in places. Has any one tried with success to cut the cowl panel off and spice the lower half with a reproduction top half, so as to leave the original vin stamping. Also, do you have to remove the inner fender extensions to be able to pull the cowl cap off???






Next would be a question on the quarter panels. I was going to replace them with reproductions. But after looking at them I would rather repair what I have if it is feasible to do. I want to cut them off, do the repairs that are needed, and weld them back on. Will I warp them by trying to weld on them off the car?. Or should I try doing the repairs and then cut them off so I can metal finish both sides and get things cleaned up behind them. I don't want any surprises 6 months after I get the car painted.
These panels are beautiful around the wheel openings.










Thanks!
Dan

Leave those quarter panels on!! Just patch them on the car. I made the mistake of hanging new ones on my car when I should've just patched them. But all that was available at the time was Sherman garbage.

But I want to be able to grind down both sides of the repair welds, and get primer on them. Also, I don't know what I might not be seeing hidden behind the panels. I want them off so I can sandblast, and clean everything up. Then I know it will not be back to haunt me someday.

Thanks
Dan

thats the same thing i was told by a resto shop.. when you take them off you can see what is behind them. problem is they say i can just replace them for the same money so why bother with repairs to old metal when you can get full rear quarters and have zero rust anywhere? i just posted a topic on this .i was worried about value one way vs the other.

I would patch those 1/4's and not replace the whole panel. You can weld or use a bodywork grade panel epoxy glue for repairing panels(go to a body supply store, they have it). Those 1/4's look really workable to me.

You are on the right track.Drill the quarters off.Then you can clean ,repair,prime and paint both sides before welding them back on..We drilled the quarters off a 69 GTS ragtop that looked mint stripped over the wheel wells.Once off ,they were ready to pinhole from the back side.Same with the cowl top.Drill it off and repair it.There is no primer on the backside from the factory.The firewall can be cleaned and any pinholes repaired around the air vent water damns.It's not correct but you can put lipstick like paint on the inside...we even paint inside frame rails when we have the floorpans out.

IMHO, and 30+ years of restoring vehicles...I only save original sheetmetal if it's free from rust out, and can be straightened properly,...if it needs "patches", partial panels, has cracks that need to be weldd in high stress areas, I'd rather replace it,...I don't care how skilled one is, the repair will eventually rear it's head in the form of cracks, telegraphing, etc...be it a few years or decades down the road,...unless you like re-restoring your projects every few years, then "frankenpatch-it", otherwise replace the failed components with good used, NOS, or repro sheetmetal

Mike

rust will always return no matter what anyone does.

the best way to prevent rust returning is replace the entire panel, sandblast and repair the rust on the inner panels, weld and apply a quality rustproofing when complete.

i myself would section the bottom of the 1/4 panel below the body line. after cutting the outer metal off you might find you have to replace the trunk extension lower also. then after painting use a quality rustproofing that seeps in between the panels when it gets hot.

on the cowl.
if you are carefull you can cut the original cowl about 1/4" above the bend. then cut the replacement one 1/4" below the bend. then slide the NEW panel UNDER the old metal and weld the seam solid. you should have long reach vice grips to clamp the 2 layers tight before welding. it would also help to screw the clamped metal tight along the entire seam before welding also. if there is any gap between the layers you will have problems welding.

I think we're all going to find that this question is a matter of opinion. As a body guy myself, I could go either way. Personally, just to clarify, I don't like the idea of removing the panel and re installing. Not from a structural standpoint but I like the look of the original spot welds. It's one of the first things we all look for when we buy a car new or old. If I told you I took the panel off to clean it up, and reinstalled it would you be inclined to believe me or assume I threw on a repo panel? Patch what needs patching, watch your warpage, butt welds and good to go. Alot of it has to do with being a good welder, and doing the repair properly. Compete panel replacement is the other option and is alot more widely accepted now with AMD parts. Still, I like to use a resistance spot welder if I can, so I can duplicate the factory spot weld appearance.

If your dealing with a good 5 inches of 1/4 panel rot, how are the extensions? It's alot easier to get at those with the bottom of the 1/4 off and they tend to collect crud as much as the 1/4 itself.

Thanks for everybody's replies. I think I need to get theses old quarters cut off, and decide what should be done.

So, anyone done the cowl replacement? What HAS to be removed to get it off and back on??


Merry Christmas to all!!

Dan

I agree with Superbeeman 100%.Thats experence talking.

Shermans?? Frankinpatch!! A Decent sheet metal man can fix anything!

Looks pretty bad dont it!

Remove and rebuild!

Top it off with a new skin, all hand hammered
Voila!

For the record, just because you can, doesn't always mean you should lol but good skills my friend! Hope you threw some pinchweld and epoxy primer back there! You saved a panel that alot of people would've tossed and I can't find a flaw in that.

BB65, nice work. Could you elaborate on your tools used to form the patch panel. I have the skills to cut,fit and weld sheet metal pretty well. But I don't have much to work with for shaping the patch. No English wheel,planishing hammer,pan break etc.

Thanks
Dan.

"Would you really think someone would do all that work and not follow the proper steps?? "

Ive seen it more times than not. It wasn't a slight on your work...not by a long shot. I simply stated some basic knowledge for those that might not know.