i have a 1972 skylark with some rust in the rear quarters. what is the best way to handle this. this is a car that i have had for 10 years and i am very attached to it. i have done EVERYTHING on this car and, mechanically, it is finally where i want it. soon (in july 2005) i can begin the task of getting the sheet metal taken care of. i have thought about everything from a body transplant (from a GS car that had a great body but nothing else) to the aftermarket rear quarters idea. i know that this has bee rehashed to death, but what is the best way to go? also there is some rust creeping up on the rear area between the rear window and the deck lid (i am blanking on the name). can someone tell me what the after market quarters are like? are they good or junk. i think that i need just the wheel opening areas (and the lower quarter panels from the back of the rear wheels to the bumper) and not a full quarter replacement. thanks john
The Qtr. skins from Tabco seem to get the best review. They don't sell any qtr. patches. Skins run in the area of $170 ea.
Tabco rear Qtrs Here is what Tabco Qtrs looks like. I am happy with them Of course NOS GM would be the real deal but these work out pretty good, just a lot more body work. Dave
another angle Here is what Tabco Qtrs looks like. I am happy with them Of course NOS GM would be the real deal but these work out pretty good, just a lot more body work. Dave
they look good to me! i am very happy that i have found an option. i really love my car, it has been with me for a while. when times got tough, i would sit back at my desk, look at my pictures of my skylark and dream. that usually made things better. i can't wait to repay it for what it has given to me..... john
can some one explain to me the difference between door skins and a quarter panel replacement (like from NOS stock or from a donor car). john
good question, I also need the answer. I am thinking the skins fit over the existing body work and are not as thick???
NOS Gm quarters are full quarters including the trunk lip and door jamb. The Tabco skins cover the quarter below the top body line and to the jamb but do not include the jamb. George has an article on installing the Tabco quarters on his website www.buickperformance.com
so...with the skins, do they fit OVER my existing quarter panel or do i cut the old metal away and replace the old metal with the new skins. john
new qtrs You have to cut out the old ones. I just left about 1" on the old ones around the primeter so I had something to weld to. The trick is you cannot weld in a row you have to go at it like putting on a wheel in different spots so that the metal doesn't heat up to fast or the panel will warp. Mke sure that you use a weld thru primer on the part where the two metals meet or you could have some problems.
great! i was hoping that was the case. i need to replace the areas around the wheels and just behind the lower rear wheel well. i want to keep as much of the old quarters as possible. do you know if a 1972 4-door car's quarters (or at least the wheel well openings and the lower quarter area) is the same as a 1972 2 door car.
Hope this helps The wheel openings should be the same but the distance from the front on the wheel opening to the rear door will be different. I have attached a picture what the finished product should look like. Dave
that looks great! i thought that the distance from the front wheel to the door jam was different. but these skins look like the way to go. i think that my passenger side is worse than my drivers side, but i will more than likely do them both. what is the area from the rear windshield to the begining of the trunk called? i have a little rust there too. it is just where the chrome trim starts. john
