How would you fix this gap?

[BA.]

I was thinking that my gap on my trunk lid is a bit excessive and I wanted some input.

It's about 1/4" everywhere that it is by either of the quarter-panels. Only about 1/8" along the front leading edge towards the rear window panel.

I'm wondering if this extra 1/8" or so by the quarter-panels would normally be filled with bondo, or, would you weld in a rod of steel or use All-metal. I was concerned since I'd be extending an edge line and not just smoothing a panel.
FWIW, the panels seem to be on very well, but they are a pair of the very first repro's from Paddock from about 15 years ago. There were some minor fitment issues that I wonder if a newer pair wouldn't have had. Maybe it's my trunk lid that is fubar'd? It is a stocker though, from a different car.

[BA.]

Oh, sorry, I realized after the fact that the tape measure is just too damn small to be useful in a pic for the web. :(

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[LSRS7]

Looks just like mine! Make sure the deck lid has an even gap across the tailpan too. I am welding rod on mine.

[restomodbird69]

i am also welding extra metal in mine to make them consistant

[BRIAN]

So hard to tell from pics. Did you try pulling the 1/4 inward from the rear sections? I would also try hanging rear bumper to see fitment. Somebody has to have measurment for you from gutter to gutter to determine where you are off. If it was the lid, was the poor gaps there before?? I would try and reserach and adjust the 1/4's before you modify the lid. That is a bit much to be off.


On the other hand if you do have a gap you want perfect either tig or mig the gap alomst closed than use a cut off wheel to get the perfect gap. Then make sure you have enough metal on both the front and back sides to metal finish. I would recommend lead but if not use as much metal as possible as bodo will chip and is not good in stressed areas. All metal is not a fix as most people think.

[Ricoch3T]

When I put new 1/4s on my 69 I ended up with the same problem you have. I'm still looking at what to do about it myself. I have the tailpan off of it right now and if I take a ratchet strap around the 1/4s it will pull the gap closed a little more. I hadn't played with it much though to see if i can get it looking better than the 1/8th or so that I have b/c I'm not ready for the tailpan install yet. I am still looking around for ideas while Im finishing up the truck area

[paul67]

becareful as you have seal to get in line as well , might have to seperate the centre panel and remove some metal , can you show a pic with the trunk closed. As the rear of the car panels might not be square. Is the trunk lid square as you need this as the datum , measure from the rear window left side to the rear of the trunk right side when the trunk lids fitted then the same the other side if thats square then alter the panels to suit, if you add metal to 1 side only the cars going to look off if you have add then do both sides to make it look square .

[Duesey]

For the heck of it I'd put a 4" or so wide hook made out of angle near the back of each side and put a come along between them and carefully give it a tug and see where it ends up. A lot of time you can manipulate an eight inch here and there. Or anything to spread out the contact point of the hook if you have some extra hands around to hold up under the lip. Makes sense to me in my noodle but I'm not sure if it's coming out right.

[bingham72]

I've got the exact same issue. Must of happened when the body shop installed the quarter panel, roof and rear deck panel.
I'd go with trying to pull the quarters together some how.
....marking my spot....

[68fusion]

To keep a good gap you usually have to leave the gutter on and trim the old qtr so you can lap or step the new one on the flat. These qrts are known for this problem - only solution I've found... I've done the bondo/allmetal route -it's easiest but not the most durable.

[Duesey]

If your into filling it a gap like that would best be leaded. I've done it on other cars but not a camaro. Lead isn't gonna crack like bondo or all metal can. Your best bet is to rig up something and pull it together. Especially since it looks good about midway up. You'd be surprised what can be stretched.

[BA.]

Well, i'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this problem! Whew!

All this talk about pulling the quarters together, is that with the tail panel still welded in place, or would I be cutting that out so that the quarters can be pulled inward?


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[Duesey]

I'd try it in place. Carefully pull and see what it wants to do. If the sail appears to be holding up some movement then I'd run a cutoff wheel down it probably in the center then pull it and weld it back together where it looks good.