Moparts

Dart wheel wells

Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Dart wheel wells - 12/12/12 12:30 AM

I don't know if its okay to post this here or not but since most of you know I'm losing my job and won't have money for the Dart and I still want to work on it and keep moving toward getting it done, can someone help me with some how too's on putting quarter panels on my Dart and stretching the wheel wells! I have goodmark quarters for it already!!!
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/12/12 03:01 AM

It depends on the 1/4 panels, my 1969 dart had the rear wheels mess up when I bought, somebody before me had tried to do the 1968 SS/A Hemi cut on it I had the rear wheel wells on my 1968 Baracuda done years ago, we cut the rear 1/4 panels in the middle of the wheel wells and moved the forward part forwards three inches and the same on the back part back three inches for a six inche stretch We added a seven inch piece in the middle so we had enough material to attatch the the old 1/4 panels, we overlapped both ends and the top right at 3/8 inch and tack welded them together, we later sticthed welded them so there was very few gaps in the metal, that needs to be done a short piece at a time so you don't warp the panels I had a tool that would put a 1/4 inch step into the sheet metal so the overlap fit flush My Duster was another story due to the body lines on the rear quarters It was a real pain due to all the angles and trying to get them to look stock I had several other junk Dusters to rob the 1/4 panels off of and we still had to fab some pieces into the rear quarter panels to make it look stock Take your time and measure several times before cutting, make some cardboard templates up and tape them on so you get the look like you want it to end up looking like Not real easy to do to make it look good so a good body man needs to be your freind And it ain't me either
Posted By: 408strokerdart

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/12/12 05:29 AM

Quote:

I don't know if its okay to post this here or not but since most of you know I'm losing my job and won't have money for the Dart and I still want to work on it and keep moving toward getting it done, can someone help me with some how too's on putting quarter panels on my Dart and stretching the wheel wells! I have goodmark quarters for it already!!!




I stretched my wheelwells on mine. I fit a 31" tall tire with lots of room to spare. The stretch was 3" IIRC. I cut at the top of the wheelwell (where it is near flat), moved it all forward 3", made a 3" patch formed to the lip shape and tigged it all back together very carefully. Keep the heat down or you will oil can the quarter just below the mid body line. If you can stretch them before hanging the quarters it is probably easier. Just go very slowly on the welding.
Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/12/12 02:13 PM

So should I use the flange tool that I have or just butt weld the new panel after I stretch the well?
Posted By: 408strokerdart

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/12/12 02:33 PM

Quote:

So should I use the flange tool that I have or just butt weld the new panel after I stretch the well?




I don't know about hanging the quarters, but I took the time to fit and butt welded the stretched part. You can't tell they are stretched from either side....even if you run your finger over the inside. I also stretched my wheel opening trim to match.
Posted By: BBLM23

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/13/12 04:17 PM

http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/wopen.shtml
Posted By: 70dusterjohn

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/13/12 04:24 PM

Thanks I saw that, but was hoping someone could give me so info on replacing the whole Quarter. Thanks much..
Posted By: dvw

Re: Dart wheel wells - 12/14/12 12:42 AM

Does it need complete 1/4s? If they're only rusty on the bottom and they're going to be streached anyway I would get some cheapo skins and stretch them. Less work, the factory 1/4 will always fit better. I didn't have it as good since I fabbed the rust replacements my self. They're butt welded except the stretch. I felt the lapped joint would stiffen the 1/4 without the original inner wheel well. look close you can see the weld. This was the first set I have ever done.
Doug

Attached picture 7502228-015.jpg
© 2024 Moparts Forums