I was looking for a while just to have a pair. The last pair I saw was about $7,000. For that much, I'd have been better off finding a Skylark convertible with no rust from out west, cutting off the quarters and parting out the rest of the car. I may still do that.
Yes they are. SInce you install them on the side of the quarter under the belt line they can be used for a convertible. www.thepartsplaceinc.com has the convertible outer wheel housings which are different also because of the roof assy. You can adapt part of the hardtop ones but the tops on a convertible outer wheel house are flattened out for the roof
John, You have that backwards the coupe outer wheel houses are available. No one has the convertibles. Duane
Here's my dilemma; at some point in my '71 Converts life, 2 new rear quarter skins were put on, and they're now starting to show their age around the seams. When these skins were installed, they were welded on waaaay above the belt line (I'm assuming that the 'belt line' is the crease in the middle that runs along the length of the skin). Theses skins actually run along the entire perimeter of each quarter, leaving only about 2-3" of the original panel. I was told that the lines (belt lines?) that run down the middle of the convertible quarters/skins are completely different than the Hardtops. What are my options? Thanks
The factory replacement qtr panel goes all the way to the pinch weld. I have attached a picture of chevelle convertible qtr. I know they are different but the attaching points are the same. They now repop chevelle convertible out wheel housings. The rear deck area is where a convertible differs from the coupe. That is why it has to be cut before there. If I needed convertible qrts I would buy factory coupes and cut them on top and butt weld them. I hope this helps. Nelson
"What are my options?" This is not the first time you talked about this. Below is a copy of my post from another thread where you asked..... "Lots of people tell me that the coupe quarters can be modified to fit a convertible, but I've yet to talk to someone who has actually done this successfully." All you have to do is talk to Kleiner and/or Mark Reeves. Both have done this successfully and probably Joe Castragano as well as Nick from Ivyland Collision. So I have to ask, Did you contact any of these guys? I am sure one of the professional body men here could answer your questions if you contacted them. Duane
Why yes, in fact, I did. When I personally spoke with Mark Reeves, he said that people often cut up hardtop quarter panels to fit convertibles, and suggested that I buy a pair of his Repops (people have said they are of outstanding quality). I then forwarded this information to not one, but two, well known restoration shops (not body shops) in my area. One shop said that while, yes, it can be done, it's really not worth the time, effort, or expense. He said that by the time you actually get them to fit, you've chopped them up far beyond their original intended use. Other people on this forum have suggested the same thing. The second Resto shop owner (who specializes in Buicks) was also skeptical, and suggested that before we proceed, I ask Mr. Reeves for detailed pics and a description of exactly what needs to be done to his pieces to make the project successful. Some time later, per my request, Mr. Reeves forwarded me a series of blurry pics of a car, which I assume was a Buick (you could not tell from the pics) with new quarters being modified and welded to a car. Unfortunately, these pics did not offer any clarification to myself, or the Resto shop owner, as you could not discern what modifications were done. A before and after comparison was out of the question. So, again, what are my options? Thanks
Install;ed exactally like a skin would be. Just a better stamping details and thickness. The full quarter that T&N sells attaches just like a original full quarter everywhere except on the top on a convertible. Most skins do not go into the door or all the way to the trunk drop. They also do not have the detail around the wheel well. I must have thought that TTP had the convertible pieces as they stated they were going to make them. I can see where they would have to be cut and spliced to reuse the flat portion
as done by Paintworks Unlimited using a reproduction hardtop quarter skin on my '72: hope these help!
Yes, I've seen those pics, and your car looks great. As I mentioned earlier, my skins need to be replaced right to the top of the quarter panel, yours only needed to be stitched on at the half way mark. If I recall correctly, that halfway line is one of several areas that are distinctly different between hardtop and convertible quarters. Coincidentally, Paintworks was the second Resto Shop I forwarded Marks blurry pics to. Sean is a great guy, who runs a tight shop. However, we both didn't feel comfortable proceeding with the restoration with the limited information we were given regarding the hardtop/convertible quarter conversion. Still searching for answers.......
Over the years we have done quarters several different ways do to parts not being available. The one shown above I call a parcel and can be done in many different fashions. One way to do a quick repair is to do as above but use a flange tool and panel adhesive with minimal welding. This way very little body work with no warping and quick. One of coarse is to hunt down a convertible in a south western recycle yard. If you need the pinch weld area all the below selections are out. You can install in the area shown in the second picture which leads to the trunk upper opening. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o></o> The third you could do as above but run the upper ridge to the rear extension point. <o></o> There are many ways to do the repair but if you need the pinch weld area it will greatly reduce your options. If so your best option is the first another involves using two panels to make one. <o></o> There are many good and talented guys on this forum. The better you explain what you need to be done the better you answers will be. Sometimes pictures are way better. <o></o> Well wishes to your hunt [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]<o></o> [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Nelson [SIZE=3][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]<o></o> [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/redmanf1/p1.jpg[/IMG] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][FONT=Calibri][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/redmanf1/p2-1.jpg[/IMG] [SIZE=3][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/redmanf1/p3.jpg[/IMG] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]<o></o> [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE]
Thanks for posting, this looks like what I may need. My car currently has skins stitched on in the same manner. Unfortunately, you can see the repair, as the seams are starting to fail. How many times can you install skins this way? It doesn't look like there's a lot of original material left to weld to after you cut away the old skin. Should I choose to go this way, would I be better off buying a full hardtop quarter and cutting it to pieces, or can I get away with just using a Tabco skin? Thanks
There you go GSXER has it going on, nice stich. If you have damage door area you can just take on into the opening. If you cut off to where the old skin attached to then you can grind the replacement skin off so that you still have your original attachment area. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://v8buick.com/ /><o></o>[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] * <font size=" /><o></o>[/SIZE] <o></o> [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]If you do not have a good welder to do the long weld you can use the panel adhesive with the flange method. [/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]<o></o>[/FONT][/SIZE] <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Nelson<o></o>[/FONT][/SIZE]
