70-72 Skylark/GS Convertible Rear Quarter Panels

Discussion in 'Parts wanted' started by drspencer, Oct 1, 2010.

  1. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Hi Jim-New would be nice, but would be interested in a decent used pair. What do you have (PM or email details)?

    Thanks
     
  2. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    there was (past tense) a pair of convertibles at North US 54 Salvage in Alamogordo a few years back, but they were both 69's and I believe the owner has largely crushed out. might try memory lane, desert valley, azchevs, etc.
     
  3. gstewart

    gstewart Well-Known Member

    u will have to find a pair of hardtop rear quarters or partials and cut and fit.
    check tim's website for information on this subject. he had to perform the same repair.
    http://members.shaw.ca/ritc1/
     
  4. bizerre

    bizerre Gold Level Contributor

    My friends resto shop is doing a convertible right now with hardtop quarters. Had to do mods to the trunk pan to. Big job but looks good so far. I'll take some pics when I get the chance.

    Leo
     
  5. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    That would be helpful.

    I actually have a pair of new hardtop quarters from Mark Reeves. People always talk about how easy it is to graft them onto a convertible, but I've never seen pics of it being done.

    Thanks
     
  6. 70 gsconvt

    70 gsconvt Silver Level contributor

  7. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    I've seen that article before, but thanks for the link.

    It was explained to me that while a hardtop Tabco quarter skin, like those shown in the link, will work. The side lines on a hardtop quarter skin are completely different than the lines on a convertible quarter skin.

    Thanks
     
  8. LonghornSS

    LonghornSS Well-Known Member

    The replacement quarters that are available are a great piece. Avoid using a skin where possible. If you use the new replacement 1/4s this is a very feasible option to quarter replacement on these cars. and a fraction of the cost of NOS.

    I am actually an owner of the shop that bizerre was mentioning where we did this conversion. The 1/4's are not actually welded on just yet as we are still doing some clean up on the inside of the structure in the car.

    Send me a PM if you need any more information.

    We actually replaces the full floor from the firewall back to the tail pan,(the rear section of these trunk does not match anything available aftermarket so we had to save and fix what we had) we also replaced the rear rail where the body attaches to the frame. There are new inner rockers and floor braces. We installed lower inner wheelhouses and repaired the outer wheelhouses as well. The car also received a new rear seat support and Trunk Drop off sections due to previous damage.

    Here are some picture of the work we have completed.

    IMG_1102.jpg
    Here the trunk pan was welded back to the original tail section of the original trunk.

    IMG_1101.jpg
    Both the inner and outer wheel houses were repaired using lower Coupe wheelhous sections. We did not replace the full inner with convertable sections due to structural regidity issues whit removing the whole wheelhouse when as much of the floor was rotted away.

    IMG_1104.jpg
    In this pic you can see the main floor and the rear seat support have been replaced.

    IMG_1099.jpg
    This in the rear trunk cross brace replaced.

    IMG_1103.jpg
    Just another shot of the wheel house repairs

    IMG_1098.jpg
    The front section of this drop off is actually meant for a Chevelle. We maid the repair this way because the replacement drop offs for these cars do not look right, the fit is not the best, and material is too thin. In this case the existing upper section was still good enough to reuse.
    IMG_1109.jpg
    Here is the replacement Coupe 1/4 that we cut off..... Notice how high we made the cut. This will allow us to retain the strength in the top peak of the original 1/4

    This is as far as we have gotten and will be welding the 1/4 on the car after it comes back from media blasting to remove any remaining rust and otherwise unwanted debris from the car.

    IMG_1105.jpg This is the jig the car was built on. All sheet metal replacement was carried out on this jig. The door braces were installed in the doors only after the body was secured to it and the jig was squared to factory specs. The car is off the jig in the pictures to gain access to grind thinst all the welds and to be blasted. Before we install the 1/4s we will again place the body on the jig and test fit the doors.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2014
  9. StratoBlue72

    StratoBlue72 Well-Known Member

    I've got the pair I was saving for our 72 Stage 1 conv. listed on here for sale. If I sell them, we will probably just part the car out.
     
  10. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Please PM your contact info.
    Thanks
     
  11. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    These pics look great, but aren't the side lines on a convertible quarter different from those on a coupe quarter?

    I have a pair of nice Repro coupe quarters from Mark Reeves. Are those the same ones you're using?

    Thanks
     
  12. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    I used HT quarters to do my '70 Stage 1 convertible about 25 years ago and it came out great. The side lines were the same. My body guy cut the HT quarters to match up with the top convertible body line and when he was done, you couldn't even see the splice from the inside. It was amazing and the car won 2nd best '70 convertible at the GS Nats in, I believe 1990. I have a pic somewhere showing him fitting the panel just before welding if you'd like to see it.
     
  13. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Yes, I would definitely like to see this being done.

    Thanks
     
  14. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    Here you go. I haven't taken this old photo album out for years.

    [​IMG]
     
  15. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Guys, thank you so much for posting these pics, showing that it actually can be done.

    Does anyone know of a good body man in New England who would be up for the task?

    Thanks
     
  16. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Hello Ray-Thank you for the pics.

    If you look at the first pic in the series, you see what is a 'V' shape covered in filler on the drivers side quarter panel.

    It was explained to me that this 'V' is due to some sort of relief cut that has to be made in the metal in order to keep the hardtop quarter from bulging out when modified to fit a convertible.

    Do you see what I'm describing? Can you comment?

    Thanks, again.
     
  17. drspencer

    drspencer Well-Known Member

    Sir, do you know if your rear quarters were flange welded or butt welded?

    Thanks
     

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