Camaro repro quarter ???s

[nkopper]

Hey guys,

I'm about finished fitting the passenger quarter on my '69 Camaro, but have a few minor fitment issues to resolve first. The repro quarter fits really good, but it bows out around the bottom of the door jam and won't sit flush with the rocker panel. The pics should show this better than I can explain it. Is there a relatively easy fix for this? I may try to put a self-tapping screw into the rocker, but would like to avoid putting a hole in the rocker if possible. When I bend it in where it needs to go, the quarter ends up about 1/8" too high at the top of the door.

Also, the body lines around the tail pain seem too low. Is this common with repro quarters? The upper misalignment is covered by the bumper, so I'm not too concerned about it, but the bottom body line is fairly noticeable. Nothing I can't fix with a little welding, but want to be sure it's not an alignment problem.

Thanks,

Nathan

[Paint God]

welcome to the world of chinese quater panels. You are on the right track with the self tapper. I use cleco's (aircraft removable rivits) when I hang those, but a self tapping screw will work. The rule of thumb on sheet metal work like this is to just be patient. It is going to take some hammering here and there as well as maybe even some cutting and welding. If it is bowing you might need to cut it, releave it, and weld it back up. Doing this in the middle of one of these quaters is very common. I know what you thinking "i dont want to cut up a new quater panel" but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. It still beats bondo'ing up the old rusty one!

[TT302Z28]

Nathan, were these name brand 1/4's? If so who's? I have had great success with the Goodmark and the Dynacorn fitting. Dynacorm seems to be more accurate that others.

[Paint God]

Goodmarks are good. They were better a year or two ago before the company was sold. The guy who used to own them started another company out of Texas I believe. That stuff fits awesome. I just did a whole back half on a 67 convertible with his parts. I cant remember the companies name but I purchased the stuff through mattsclassicbowties.com

[Gordz32]

From the pictures it appears to be the typical spots that the quarters are off on. On the lower flange that meets the rocker you can trim some material off the flange at the inside of the quarter to make it slip in further.( If that sounds appropriate) Keep in mind that you will most likely have to trim, cut, re weld, and hammer areas. Oh and make sure that you check alignment with the door as well b4 you weld that sucker up. Try and keep ur gaps at about 3/16". Also alot of times the top area of the quarter where it meets the door will have to be pie cut as well, but throw the door on to be sure. Goodluck

[nkopper]

The quarters are supposedly the same as the newer Goodmark retooled quarters without the licensing fee. I got them from Gateway Reproduction close to St. Louis. I'm very pleased with the fit and finish, especially for the price. I've seen Goodmarks that don't fit this good.

Nathan

[Andrew McBride]

From the pictures it appears to be the typical spots that the quarters are off on. On the lower flange that meets the rocker you can trim some material off the flange at the inside of the quarter to make it slip in further.( If that sounds appropriate) Keep in mind that you will most likely have to trim, cut, re weld, and hammer areas. Oh and make sure that you check alignment with the door as well b4 you weld that sucker up. Try and keep ur gaps at about 3/16". Also alot of times the top area of the quarter where it meets the door will have to be pie cut as well, but throw the door on to be sure. Goodluck

This is right. My quarters did the same thing from the quarter-rocker. Cut a line or two, 3, in the area where the quarter and door jamb curves, (Hammer and weld) that should take out that lip you are getting. It is hard to tell if the rocker in front of the wheel wells matches, but it appears it is lining up a little better than the front.

The rear tail panel lines-quarter has got me scratching my head. Are these full quarters or 80%?

[Gordz32]

Make sure you've got that lip as far as you can get it under the roof if there full 1/4's. Get yourself some visegrips and another set of hands. vise grip the rear window vertical chanel and the front jam pinchweld. Then lift up on the rear part of that quarter and have your buddy vise grip the area where the bottom of the quarter meets the drop off panel. See if that fixes your problem. once you get it where you want it throw some tech screws/clecos on the flange where the tailpanel meets the quarter inside the trunk.

[nkopper]

They're full quarters. If I raise the quarter enough to make the body lines meet at the tail pan, it sits about 1/4" or more above the weatherstrip channel and top of the tail pan.

Andrew,

Do you have any pics of where you slit the curve in the door jam? I made a cardboard template of the factory quarter and the bend on the repro doesn't match. The very front of the quarter at that area needs to go up more. That may be my problem. Just not sure where to cut to make it right.

Thanks,

Nathan

[Andrew McBride]

I don't have any good photos of mine. I didn't put full quarters on my camaro, but I did have the issue on the rockers. I would take a cut off wheel and make a cut or 2 in the area where the lip of the door jamb curves (the area at the bottom, below the jamb vents). You may have to run the cut up 2-3". Take your hammer and massage it in. All these pieces are just about the same when it comes to fitment. As long as you think carefully and just test fit and trim, test fit and trim, you will get it right. I believe everytime I do a quarter I take it on and off 50-60 times before I finally tack it in. It always helps to have a hand when working with quarters too.
Sorry if my explanation is confusing, I have it right in my head!!