1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back - Body Advice Needed!

[70_440-6Cuda]

Hey all, been pretty busy closing our fiscal year, and some pauses on the work on my 'Cuda but they got back into it the last couple weeks and of course found some not nice stuff.  Seems like I was getting somewhere with the trunk, but have to rethink strategy again!

Long and short of it is I need to replace both rear quarters to a certain degree.  The marker light recess was weleded up- I was hoping just Bondo, but nope, welded which of course warped the shit out of the panel and THEN they filled it with half inch of Bondo. Plus there is some rust at the bottom behind the wheel opening, among other places.

Question for the experts: what are ethe chances of finding decent original sections or quarters, and is it even worth trying?  I ditched my AMD front fenders because the sheet metal is so much thinner than factory, plus * was trying to maintain as much original sheet metal as possible.  At this point I had to replace the trunk floor and trunk extensions, plus the piece below the tail panel.

I know buying AMD quarters is the fastest, simplest way but I would really prefer to use factory sheet metal if possible.  My brother says I am over thinking it ... Besides, lots of drag racers were acid dipping the bodies to thin the metal and lighten the cars so there is that

[Brads70]

You can only use what's available......

[pschlosser]

Finding decent patches of OEM rear quarter sections is a long shot, at best.  With all the work needed to get the patch installed and in place, even if you hated the AMD parts, you could make them work.

I ditched my AMD front fenders because the sheet metal is so much thinner than factory.

I have experienced the opposite with AMD fenders and AMD Shaker Hood and Front Upper Valence.  They were, as far as I could tell, the same gauge metal and the fit was great.  It leaves me wondering if you were sold poorer quality reproductions as AMD.

As others suggest, you must work with what you have on hand, or can find and buy.  OEM sheet metal, especially in the rear quarters with the (1970-71) side marker light cutout, will not be easy to find.  And what you do find may be rusted, bent, warped, and have other issues.

Many experienced body guys can make your warped metal work.  It requires patience, experience, time and $$$.

It won't be much longer (another 5-10 years, maybe) before the AMD market for these panels will be so low, they will stop producing them.  In some ways, you're very fortunate to have one or more options for this problem.

Even the damage to a (Ferris Bueller's) 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder going over a cliff can be pounded out and repaired, given enough $$$ to repair.

[70_440-6Cuda]

ok, I agree anything can be fixed for a price, Antonio (my builder) said he can fix it, but cheaper and better to replace the entire quarter.  I guess my question is if speaking strictly from a "quality" standpoint, is the result going to be that much better trying to patch what is there, and is there any value in retaining the original sheet metal with patch panels vs. an aftermarket full 1/4?

He was mentioning the work just to undo the marker light is going to be brutal and expensive, which I would have said go ahead if the rest wasn't a mess.

Another question for the experts, since I don't know, is looking at the seams where the 1/4 and trunk pieces all come together, do they look right or is that another botch job covering who knows what?

I ordered my AMD front fenders directly from them, so I am sure they are legit, and I may go back to them again if I end up replacing that much anyway.

Just looking for some pointers on if it is worth trying to salvage vs. replace if cost is not the deciding factor - don't get me wrong, I am not made of money so it always matters, but if the end result is better / brings more value to the finished product I would rather delay and save

[pschlosser]

The lower quarter panel as a common place that rusts, especially in a snow state (with salted roads) but even an LA car, spending it's entire life in Southern California (no salted snow) the rear lower quarters were showing some rust by mid-1980s.  This is an area that may get clogged with dirt, and retain water.  Same goes for the front fender lower area.  Keep it clean and draining.

Also, many of the trunks on Barracudas are rusty, because rain leaks in there presumably from a poor design.  Getting all those panels to line up, sealed and spot welded is a must, if you're tearing things down this far, anyway.

Shop rates for body work can vary, but in our tariff economy, $200/hr is pretty common in populated areas.  The cost of a reproduction $1000 quarter panel is quickly justified when factoring in the time to prep and repair OEM sheet metal.  In these cases, it is cheaper to replace than repair.  Will buying $2000 in quarter panels pay for itself in savings?  If this equates to 10 hours shop time, I'm betting it does.

IMO, since you must cut into the quarter panel, anyway you slice it, replacing the entire panel will likely cost you less, and produce a cleaner look (when inspecting inside for signs of repair) than making what you have work with (or without) OEM sheet metal patches.

Some may even buy the full quarter panel, and cut it up to be used as patches.

[70_440-6Cuda]

@pschlosser that is actually super helpful - I hadn't really thought about the "patches" being visible when done.  Although my car is a factory undercoated car, so could potentially hide most of that.

Likely going to buy the full 1/4's, and sort of decide from there.

Any opinions on where the 1/4's meet the trunk area, or some of the seams I shown in the photos?  If those are not original looking, then it makes even more sense to replace the whole 1/4.  I just don't know what the seams are supposed to look like

[RUNCHARGER]

My opinion: We are lucky to have the AMD panels available. They aren't perfect but the quarters are pretty darn good. You've got enough problems that you've found on those quarters that new, full quarters are applicable. As much as you've found there will be twice as much that you haven't found. There will be bondo on the top of the wheel arches and likely between the door jamb and wheel opening as well. Perhaps some collision damage too. Also around the rear window opening will be rusted and patched as well.
It's tempting to buy patch panels and fix the problems you've found but there will be more problems you haven't found yet. Do not buy patch panels and weld long seams. I've seen it done lots and in the extreme hot or cold weather seams that you don't see at 70 degrees will become apparent unless carefully tig welded and metal finished. Bodymen promise to do that and don't. Buy full quarters and use the full quarters, don't do a patchwork quilt please, after all it is a 440+6 Cuda and deserves to be done correctly. IMO changing a full quarter as opposed to welding and grinding patches will take less shop time anyway. I welded these half patches on my son's 68 Charger and I made a promise to myself to never, ever do it again, full quarters only.

[70_440-6Cuda]

Thanks to everyone for their input - new AMD full 1/4's on the way...... OUCH. 

Well, thats a biggie I wasnt expecting...

Any thoughts on the seams and if that is what they are supposed to look like?

I may be in for a package tray also since they replaced the lower section under the window and hacked up the package tray and installed it poorly - FML

[jimynick]

I hear you, but, the new, full panel will be a much better repair. If we were in Lower Slobovia and couldn't get that panel then maybe repairing it would be the only way out, but you can't make chicken salad out of chicken $hit, no matter how much mayo you add. Ideally, you'll only do this once and the knowledge that you've made a repair that won't start to go somewhere else will help assuage that financial pain. Good call 

[pschlosser]

Any thoughts on the seams and if that is what they are supposed to look like?

Another question for the experts, since I don't know, is looking at the seams where the 1/4 and trunk pieces all come together, do they look right or is that another botch job covering who knows what?

Are you referring to the trunk lid opening parts mating with the quarter panel?  It is unclear by the images provided which area you refer to.

[RUNCHARGER]

As far as seams go: You have to make sure they all match nicely. One area that used to be a real problem with Cudas is the unwelded seam where the rear valance meets the quarter panels. Warn your bodyman that he must pay attention to them and fit the rear valance to the quarter panels carefully before getting too far into things. There is a possibility that there may be some slight metal working necessary there. I have not fitted AMD Cuda quarters so I am not sure if it's still a problem or not. 20 years ago it was with repro parts on a Cuda.

[jimynick]

OR, you braze the seam up and if you're good with the torch you can get the brass to run into the seam if you want to retain the look of it or you Tigerhair the welded repair and do away with the troublesome SOBs for good. Guess what I did with mine and never regretted it for a minute. Your car, your call at the end of the day. 

[70_440-6Cuda]

Thanks for the replies- it's tough making decisions because I want to make sure I do it accurately and well; so many times I seee cars for sale and the comments here pointing out all of the inconsistencies or areas that clearly point to a restoration done incorrectly.and or poorly.

As for the seams, I tried to get a few photos of what possibly looked off - such as where the very rear top of the 1/4 ties in- looks covered in Bondo, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.  I don't know what the factory seams are supposed to look like, and I want to be sure to tell my guy how it is supposed to look.  Funny, he was lamenting that the way you used to do it wa sti braise everything together, making it easier to separate.  On my car it is all welded up so lots of work to separate everything properly.  One relief is Antonio is a serious craftsman, you can see it in the way he has meticulously taken everything apart.

1 other detail, the panel below the rear window was replaced previously, although not well- they butchered the package tray to do it, and didn't even weld it together.