Re: making patch panels
[Re: Jerry]
#7064
11/15/03 01:09 AM
11/15/03 01:09 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,064 Arlington, Texas
earlybee
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,064
Arlington, Texas
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make a pattern in cardboard an transfer. it looks flat to the lip. should,nt be hard to do. i get flat patch sheets at the j/y, like roofs, van sides, hoods, trunks. on the inside lip contour make a cut carefully to butt edges and weld. you,ll get the hang of it. or spend the bucks at shermans. http://store.shermanparts.com/cgi-bin/sherman/product_list.html?img_num=305
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: earlybee]
#7065
11/15/03 01:14 AM
11/15/03 01:14 AM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,929 Tri-Cities, Washington
VITC_GTX
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,929
Tri-Cities, Washington
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I cut the piece out of the car. Gently tap the piece flat, removing any body lines, edges, structure, etc and then use that as my pattern to cut my patch piece. Once that is done, use body hammers to shape the patch panel. If you take your time it will work well. Of course, this system only works when there is enough metal left on the car to cut out
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: VITC_GTX]
#7066
11/15/03 02:44 AM
11/15/03 02:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089 Sorrento, BC, Canada
4speeds4me
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Sorrento, BC, Canada
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Let me tell you now, this is NOT going to be fun. The pic you posted will be deceiving to anyone who hasn't paid close attention to what the wheel opening on these cars looks like. I managed to find something on another car that had all the major angle I needed, and then I modified it from there to rebuild both wheel openings on a 73 Satellite I did last summer. It's difficult to explain how to do one. I've read lots on the subject, but it never really helped me. I just had to start cutting metal, and in the words of Nike, "Just Do IT!"
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: James74]
#7069
11/15/03 11:09 AM
11/15/03 11:09 AM
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Anonymous
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Cutting an old quarter panel up is easier of course, but you probably can't find one for a reasonable price. 4speeds makes a good point about the contour of the wheel opening. This is how I make them. -Make a cardboard template of the wheel opening before you cut the rusted piece out. -Cut out the rust....straight lines are easier to patch. -Cut your patch.......make it lots bigger than the hole, bend the lip -Clamp it on the car in whatever position is required to maintain the contour of the wheel opening. -With the patch clamped in position, reach in behind with a pencil and trace the hole opening onto the patch. -Remove the patch and cut along the pencil line. -Tack and weld. Take your time and remember......you can't make it worse. -jr
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Re: making patch panels
#7071
11/15/03 02:31 PM
11/15/03 02:31 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Quote:
Cutting an old quarter panel up is easier of course, but you probably can't find one for a reasonable price. 4speeds makes a good point about the contour of the wheel opening. This is how I make them. -Make a cardboard template of the wheel opening before you cut the rusted piece out. -Cut out the rust....straight lines are easier to patch. -Cut your patch.......make it lots bigger than the hole, bend the lip -Clamp it on the car in whatever position is required to maintain the contour of the wheel opening. -With the patch clamped in position, reach in behind with a pencil and trace the hole opening onto the patch. -Remove the patch and cut along the pencil line. -Tack and weld.
Take your time and remember......you can't make it worse.
-jr
Instead of cutting along the line you made from the inside of the wheel well, take a drimmel tool with a small cut-off wheel and score along that line ever so lightly. After you've score it, you can bend it around to create the inner lip. After you have it tacked in place you can trim off any excess from your fold from inside the wheel well. My experience is: You should not cut out any old metal until you have made your patch.
Rob
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: Jerry]
#7073
11/15/03 09:05 PM
11/15/03 09:05 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I also need to do this on my 74 Satellite.
Thanks, Trevor
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: Jerry]
#7074
11/15/03 09:39 PM
11/15/03 09:39 PM
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Anonymous
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Just made a rear quarter patch panel for my '67 Dart. First I made a template for the fore/aft shape of the opening, then another for the body side shape at the wheel opening and at the other end of the section I planned on cutting out (about 1" from the rear bumper) Then I cut out the rusted section, the upper was easy, but the lower part is continuous spot welded to the trunk wing at the bottom where it turns under. I finally ended up just gringing it loose full length. I used 18 Gage Cor-Ten steel sheet from Lowes, but any flat sheet metal from a hood, door or whatever will work. I cut out the patch panel using the removed section as a template. The next part is hoakey, but it works. Not having a brake, I rolled the patch panel to shape with a piece of 2" pipe in my lawn, just stand on the pipe and roll it across the patch, it take a little time, but you can get the shape perfect. Then I templated the wheel well lip and cut out a strip to fit. I welded this the patch panel inside and out. Eastwood sells a panel lipping tool, but I made mine from a pair of vice grips and a two 1/2" x 1" steel blocks that I hacksawed and filed to shape (take a look at Eastwood's tool) and tacked these to the vice grips. Whether bought or made, lip the patch and fit it to the car (unless you are REAL good and can make an unbacked butt weld). Tack it in place and finish weld it out with numerous small tacks (where I am now) to prevent heat build-up and warping.
Hope this helps
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: KingMopar]
#7076
11/16/03 12:38 AM
11/16/03 12:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089 Sorrento, BC, Canada
4speeds4me
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Posts: 8,089
Sorrento, BC, Canada
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Quote:
Goodness......how I know. Gotta do something with my 70 Swinger as well. Seems every A body I look at in the junkyard, above the rear wheel well and front and behind are rotted. Naturally..the more you dig, the more you find. Good topic!
You have an advantage, as there is at least repop panels and patch panels available for it. No go on 71-74 Plymouth B-bodies...
2 Demons...no, not my kids!
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: James74]
#7079
11/16/03 01:16 PM
11/16/03 01:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada
RUNCHARGER
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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Another thing I have done with compound curves is to make a wooden bucks with the curve of where you fold the edge over (female and male bucks). After you have the piece cut out to the proper size, you clamp the metal between the bucks with just the 1 inch edge (which you need to fold over to make the wheel lip edge) sticking out, then you knock this edge over 90' with a body hammer making it flat on the end of the properly shaped wooden buck. If you can figure out what I explained here, you will have a very strong patch panel in a compound curve with a factory looking folded edge in a curved shape not a straight shape. It really isn't that complicated but a bandsaw is needed to properly cut the wooden bucks. You could make this piece in about 1 hour with practice. Go to your library and rent a book called metal shaping by Ron Fournier. You don't have to read the whole book, but it will show how to do it properly and not get frustrated.
Sheldon
Sheldon
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Re: making patch panels
[Re: 4speeds4me]
#7081
11/16/03 04:57 PM
11/16/03 04:57 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I agree with 4speeds, you are just going to have to jump in and give it a shot. Shaping metal is something that takes practice. On 90 degree bends I use some modified vice grips to bend the metal. They keep the panel from arching when you make the bend. The metal is going to want to kink around the wheelwell so your either going to have to notch it or work the kinks out with a hammer and dolly. Easiest and fastest way is to notch, and weld the seams when your done.
I always try to find a donor panel before going through all that trouble. Find a late model car that closly resembles the curve you need and start from there. It will turn out much better in the end.
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Re: making patch panels
#7082
11/17/03 01:57 AM
11/17/03 01:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,614 Littleton, NC
KingMopar
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Posts: 1,614
Littleton, NC
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Yea, I see what you mean 4speeds....naturally, I could find rear quarters for a 71-74 Charger at Tabco(which are supposed to be thick sheet)...but nothing on a Plymouth. I always thought that they shared quarters.....quess I was wrong. Not up on the later B bodies. http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/
BTW....."somebody" is rumored with coming out with new Swinger sheetmetal(patch), higher quality/thicker sheet--Laysons is one person who has mentioned it. Have the Shermans quarter...and would rather use a good thick OEM piece patch or quarter if I could find a good one. Those Repops are thin.....but it is an option. Pisses me off when my bud breaks out his numerous Camaro supply catalogs..and what he can get!(but wouldn't stray)
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