Using lead for body work

[Jagarang]

I think thats what everybodies refering to as an 80% quarter.

[68protouring454]

yes that is a skin, but the goodmark one goes up into the window sash and back along the bottom of the sail panel, doen into trunk jamb. the facotry 1/4 goes inside door jamb, inside ttrunk jamb, to 1/4 rear panel seam, this way you have no major body work to to, some on sail panel and some at tail panel, where as the 80% you have to weld below upper body line all the way to trunk, which you have a great chance at warping it to hell, but iwoudl rather see an 80% go on then mess with the mess you have.
have the 1/4s ever been repalced??
jake

[rockdogz]

I'm not sure if they have been replaced, I would say not but just repaired. There does look to be some repair/welding on the rear window channel and around the trunk opening though. I just don't think the quarters were totally replaced because of their condition and plus when I replaced the trunk side panels, about 35 years of dirt was stuck in there absorbing moisture and starting to rust the quarters from the inside.

[BRIAN]

Repairing it is a free try so I would go for it. I have done worse. Putting a skin will use just as much plastic. Do not mig weld any holes until you get it bumped out as mig weld is not workable. After it is straight close the holes and give first wipe of Kitty Hair, then proceed with poly plastic. That is heavy sheetmetal and is workable with the right amount of patience. If you do not have the skills changing the 1/4 will cause even larger mess.

[rockdogz]

The metal is very thin around the holes. It sounds to me like cutting out the bad area, flanging the existing metal, and then welding a patch on would produce a better result. I haven't done either type of repair before though so I'm not sure. Why do you say that a patch will require just as much plastic?

[68protouring454]

it will use just as much filler cause you will have a huge weld seamon a 80% 1/4, if you did a complete 1/4, you would use barely any, but the 80% will have a 4-5 ft seam that you will need to weld solid, taking your time, not to heat it up too much, i would weld an inch or so at a time going back and forth to each end, i would take a whole day top weld it at least, just inbetween welding work on another area of the car.
but like you said if you do not do the whole thing, buy the 80% 1/4 then cut a patch out of it you need, i would splice right under the belt line about an inch,ack to say an inch off the tail panel, and then probaly an inch or so off the wheel well, make the new patch over lap by way of flanging, and tack weld up, then tack away until its solid welded, grind, check for pin holes, touch up, then fill away, using a fiber resin bondo first if you wish, but if it is no more than a 1/16th or an 1/8 i would put a good quality filler to it, goodluck
jake