Firebird Tail Panel

[slyck68]

I'm contemplating yanking out the original rear tail light panel on my 68 Firebird. However, I'm a novice at this kind of job and was wondering if it is something I should even attempt to tackle on my own? I've done some research and it appears the bulk of it is held in with spot welds to the inner tail panel and along the bottom flange. Other than that, how are the sides of the panel held in place (where it connects to the rear quarter panels)? Thanks guys!

[Tom Welch]

many more spotwelds, all around the perimeter of the panel. What is wrong with yours?

[slyck68]

When I bought the car it appeared to be tweaked ever so slightly. After I pulled off the bumper I saw it was poorly re-shaped after a collision and heavily Bondoed back into shape. The corner where the quarter panel and tail panel come together is rusted clean through and there is a hole the size of a ping pong ball. I tried a hammer and dolly but found that I either really suck at body work the metal has been stretched and warped too far.

[rohrt]

The job dosn't require a lot of skill just lots of patients. When I took mine out It was a crazy amount of spot welds. Be real carful around the trunk area. Don't rush the work.

Get a good spot weld bit tool and have some fun. When the panel is off use an angle grinder to grind down the spot welds.

Putting the new panel on requiers the same amount of patients.

[slyck68]

That's good news, I'm low on skill but high on patience!