patch panel question

[srh3trinity]

I am going to try my hand at making a patch panel and I want some advice. I bought some 16 gauge metal. The rust is on the front fender behind the wheel well down near the rocker where a piece of trim was. How far up should I come to splice the part in? Try to find a flat part of the metal and butt weld it in or do I take it all the way up to a body line? Thanks in advance.

[scherp69]

I would just go as high as you need to, so like you said find a flat spot and go to there. I don't think you would want to take a change wrecking the body line by trying to weld it there. Easier to clean up a flat spot than a body line.

[srh3trinity]

I am going to pull the fender and see how far up the damage goes. I will hopefully be able to stay underneath the body line.

[MetalShaper]

Definately stay under the body line..but also a strong part of the panel and somewhere easy for you to put your dolly behind to plannish out the weld seem to straighten out the panel.

[Jon Clough]

yes stay away from body lines